It’s mid-summer in Calgary and though the days are hot, lengthy and sunny, it won’t be long before the air turns crispier, cooler, and thoughts turn to the dreaded first snow fall of winter’s next shift. Summer is such a tease here in Calgary and with a looming change of seasons, drivers begin their research on whether they should invest in all-season tires or stick to seasonal ones. This topic is truly an annual debate so if you’re wondering what is the difference between all season tires and winter tires, read on.
Winter tires, as their name suggests, are designed for prime winter driving conditions. Calgary roads are used to ice, heavy snow, and slush. Add to that, Calgary winters have a freezing bite where cyclical cold snaps maintain frigid temperatures for weeks on end. Tire Force is a mobile tire shop in Calgary and understands what these conditions do to your tires. The rubber on winter tires provides the kind of traction and grip you would want on winter roads and remains flexible in their design.
First off, the treads tell all. Winter tires have more cuts in the tread, deeper tread depths and unique tread patterns in their attempt to squeegee more water off the road. They essentially have micro pump holes that suction water off the road and spit it out as the tire rolls. Most importantly, in winter tires, their tread design allows for shorter stopping distances and better acceleration. Lastly, by design winter tires grip and hold snow better-all things you need and want in your vehicle’s performance as you tackle Calgary winter roads.
All season tires get put on your vehicle and don’t need to be switched seasonally, but their design limits them for Calgary’s degree of winter. Though they can handle some winter driving conditions and offer benefits to summer driving, they are not built to withstand the conditions Calgarians are exposed to at length. In cold weather, the rubber on an all-season tire stiffens akin to a hockey puck and is less able to provide sufficient traction. All it takes is for temperatures to dip below 7 degrees Celsius and your all-season tires will begin to lose grip, causing you to slide more. Though the mileage you get out of all-season tires is attractive, having better control on braking, cornering, and accelerating is why winter tires are the safer and more reliable option because simply put, physics always wins.
For many, the simplicity of not having to seasonally change tires is a deciding factor in this annual tire debate. Tire Force is your solution to this problem, since Tire Force always comes to you to perform your tire swap. We understand how valuable your time is so if you’re googling ‘tire change near me’, contact Tire Force. We will repair and change your tires at your location, and if you need your seasonal tires to be stored until they’re needed again, we can do that too.
