How do All-Season Tires Perform in Vancouver’s Winter Weather?

Knowing and understanding the difference between so many types of tires can be confusing for many people. With all-season, all-weather and winter tires, it can be tricky to decide what is best for your driving habits. One common belief is that all-season tires are great for any season, as the name suggests. However, all-season may in fact not be the best choice for Vancouver’s winter weather.

All-Season Tires
All-season tires are an excellent option for Spring, Summer and Fall driving, offering good performance and longevity. All-season tires are also called 3-season tires, as they are no longer a viable option when the Winter cold rolls in. All-season tires are specifically designed to work better in temperatures above 7C.
As temperatures begin to fall below 7C, all-seasons begin to become less effective, loosing their grip to the pavement. This is due to the fact that these tires are designed with a rubber compound that becomes harder as temperatures get colder. Many people falsely believe this is only a concern when there is snow on the road, however this is false. Rain, combined with low temperatures, make all-season tires underperform, and much more prone to sliding.

All-Season Performance Versus All-Weather
When comparing all-season to all-weather tires, braking under winter conditions can be drastically affected. In many cases, it can take up to several meters more for all-seasons to come to a complete stop. This means less control under winter driving conditions.

All-season tires are also designed with a tread pattern that gives a smoother, quieter ride, and improve fuel efficiency in regular driving conditions. The rubber compound used in them also lasts longer under other driving conditions than the natural rubber used in all-weather and winter tires. With this in mind, it is recommended that all-season be used during warmer driving conditions, and all-seasons be switched in when the cold sets in.
Gary’s Auto is able to provide quick and correct tire changes that will have you as safe as possible on the road this winter season. If you are in need of new tires, make sure you head down to Gary’s Automotive.