Winter tires

Are winter tires a good investment?

At PMCtire, we know that tires are a crucial part of your vehicle, especially on icy or snowy roads. While winter tires can be a significant expense, they make a difference in traction and overall safety during the cold season. Winter tires are designed to prevent snow from accumulating in their grooves. The depth of a tire's grooves allows for better traction on snow, quicker snow and slush removal, shorter braking distances and safe acceleration.

Having winter tires has many benefits, but the one you'll love the most is that they'll save you money! Here's how!

Optimized grip and traction

Most people know that changing your tire type in the winter is essential. Winter tires provide better traction, better grip and shorter braking distances during the winter months. When you replace your four summer tires with winter tires, you ensure better control of your vehicle. In Quebec, your vehicle must be equipped with four winter tires from December 1st to March 15th. Opting for only two winter tires can cause an imbalance in traction and lead to skidding or premature tire wear, resulting in a flat tire. Changing all four tires will prevent excessive wear and allow you to drive longer on your set of tires, saving on maintenance costs.

Safety

The groove depth of your tires should not be less than 1.6 mm. During the winter season, they are recommended to be at least 4.8 mm. To measure the depth of the tire groove, place a quarter in one of the grooves with the nose of the caribou pointing down the groove. If you can see the animal's nose, the grip in deep snow will be poor. According to tests conducted by the Government of Quebec, winter tires in good condition can reduce braking distance by 25% and maintain tire elasticity down to -40°C.

Durability

It may cost more to buy winter tires, but it will save you money in the long run. Using all-season or summer tires on icy or snowy roads causes premature wear, while winter tires become too soft in summer and wear out faster. This means you need to change your one set of tires more frequently. Having a second set of tires minimizes the wear on both sets.