What You Should Know When Buying Winter Tires from Edmonton Tire Shops

Posted June 26th 2014

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Buying winter tires from Edmonton tire shops shouldn’t be a terrible burden, but many drivers find that their decision is complicated by a lack of knowledge about tires designed for winter use. Are all winter tires studded? Do all-season tires work the same on snow as winter tires? These are just a couple of the questions you’ll need to answer. Working with the right choice in Edmonton tire shops will help you make sense of the situation, but you should go into it knowing a few things.

Consider Wheels and Tires for Heavy Snow

Edmonton can see some heavy snow, and while the area’s road crews do a good job of clearing the streets, there’s a significant chance that you might find yourself faced with driving through deep snow at some point during the winter. If your vehicle has wider tires and wheels, it might be worth your while to consider a narrower set of wheels and tires (it’s expensive, but often worth it). Narrower tires don’t have to force their way through as much snow, making the going easier. However, the price involved often makes this an unappealing option.

Stick with OEM Size

If you’re not going to purchase narrower tires and wheels from Edmonton tire shops, make sure you’re buying the right size for your vehicle (the OEM, or original equipment manufacturer, size). This should be stated either on the driver door placard or in your owner’s manual. This is the tire size your vehicle was designed to use originally, and will give you the best results, particularly when you purchase OEM sized winter tires, which are specially designed for better performance on snow, slush and ice.

Studded or Just Winter Specific Designs?

There are two options available from Edmonton tire shops – studded snow tires and winter tires. Don’t make the mistake of believing they’re the same. Winter tires are designed for general performance in wintry conditions. Studded tires have metal studs embedded in the tread designed to grip the road during icy or snowy driving conditions. Generally, winter tires are the better option unless you’ll be doing a lot of driving on snow rather than asphalt. Studded tires can wear quickly on regular road surfaces as well, so you’ll need to remove them quickly when things thaw out.

With this information, working with Edmonton tire shops will be easier.