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WINTER TIRE SAFETY TIPS
Living in Canada means dealing with cold, ice and snow, all of which can make for challenging driving conditions. The way your vehicle handles in these conditions can be greatly improved when the tires on all four of your vehicle's wheels are of the same type, size, speed rating and load index.
Winter Tires
Featuring a combination of specialized tread designs and compounds to provide effective traction in cold, snowy conditions, winter tires are the safest tires for Canadian winters. Marked with the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake, this symbol means your tires will meet the specific snow traction performance requirements — designed specifically for cold, snowy, icy and slippery driving. These tires are also designed for improved traction on cold, dry road surfaces.
Good Advice for Canadian Winter Drivers:
• Install Four Winter Tires
• Do not mix tires: different tread patterns, size, construction can compromise vehicle performance and safety.
• Check your tires: worn treads have less traction on all surfaces, especially on ice and snow.
• Monitor tire pressure: in colder weather, the pressure in your tires drops.
This affects safety and fuel consumption, so check your tires often.
The performance of your vehicle's tires is directly related to the temperature outside. As the temperature drops, even the best summer tires will fail to respond to road conditions. All-season tires, while designed for all types of weather, will not perform as well in ice and cold.
As a rule, whenever the average outdoor temperature falls below or climbs above 7 degrees Celsius (19.4 degrees F), your tires will be affected. As the temperature drops, non-winter tires lose elasticity and the grip they have on the road. That's why the best tires to have when the temperature drops are winter tires. Conversely, winter tires will deteriorate faster in hotter temperatures.
All-Season Tires and Winter Driving
You can spot an all-season tire by the M+S (Mud + Snow) marking on the sidewall. All-season tires do provide safe all-weather performance. But remember, in severe winter snow conditions, they are not the safest choice.
Tire Tip!
Reducing tire pressure to increase traction doesn't work. Driving on under-inflated tires is dangerous any time of year.
Reference: GM Goodwrench Tire Knowledge Center
http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/services/goodwrench/tires/safety-winter
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