Don’t Skip Out on Winter Tires This Year. Here’s Why…

Why Are Winter Tires So Important?

If you were to ask anyone in the Downtown Tyee Chevrolet Buick GMC Service Department what the most important thing they can do to take care of their car in the winter, the top answer would be getting snow tires installed when it’s time. Every year there are quite a few people that push back on this idea, often times because they’ve been relying on outdated information. So, why are winter tires important? We asked our master service technicians to put together a quick and easy guide to give people the best possible information. 

READ MORE: Contact Our Parts Department for New Tires

What Makes Winter Tires Different?

Ambient outside temperatures don’t need to get all that low before regular, summer or all-season tires become compromised. Conventional wisdom says that when the average outside temperature is below 7°C, it’s time to have your winter tires swapped in. The most important reason for this is because the 7°C mark is when regular or summer tires begin to harden, causing them to lose grip on the road. 

The chief difference between winter tires and any other kind of tire that might be used through out the year is the rubber formula to make them. Winter tires are specifically designed to remain soft, pliable and sticky in cold temperatures and on cold or icy road surfaces.

Winter Tire Tread Design 

In addition to using a special type of rubber that stays soft in the extreme cold, the tread design of winter tires is pretty different than summer or all-season options. The tread design used on winter tires is typically deeper and more intricate than other kinds of tires. Deeper treads provide better grip on the road while the specific tread pattern is used to channel snow and slush away from the tire.

All tires also use a design feature called biting edges to help while the vehicle is turning. Winter tires have more biting edges than other tires to accommodate their special purpose.

Make an appointment with the Downtown Tyee Service Department if you’re ready to make your winter drives a little safer with a new set of winter tires.