Winter Tires versus All Season Tires: When should Car owners Invest in Winter Tires?

Posted January 11th 2016

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What is the difference between winter tires and all season tires?

Winter tires are different in design and function compared to all season tires. As a car owner, you may be wondering if you need a set of high quality Edmonton winter tires. After all, with so many tires available in the market, it’s easy to feel confused about the right kind of tires for your car.

As a general rule, if the temperatures in your area drop down to below 45 degrees F, you may wish to consider investing in winter tires. On the other hand, all season tires may be the perfect fit for those who live in milder temperatures.

Winter Tires

Winter tires are designed to stay soft during freezing cold temperatures to maintain traction on wet, icy roads. Winter tires are typically characterized by aggressive tread patterns and ‘siping’. Siping refers to tiny, 90-degree slits in the treads. This helps improve traction on wet, icy roads and provides sharp edges for the tire to gain a better grip on the road.

Edmonton winter tires are designed to offer improved safety and control while driving your vehicle during freezing winter months. Winter tires offer 25 to 50% more traction compared to all season tires.

All Season Tires

All season tires are made of harder compounds. They are generally known to lose traction and pliability in temperatures in areas that experience temperatures below -14ºC. The conventional tread patterns are built to provide a life and a comfortable ride to vehicle occupants.

To summarize, Edmonton winter tires offer improved steering, stopping and braking on icy, wet roads. It’s a good idea for vehicle owners to invest in four winter tires (instead of merely two) for better stability and balance.