How to break in your new winter tires

Tires are made up of several layers of rubber and steel. Because of these different materials, your new tires need a break-in period to ensure optimal ride quality and performance.

Tire manufacturers recommend a break-in period before subjecting a new tire to maximum acceleration, braking or cornering power. Tires are manufactured using a mold. A lubricant is applied to the tire's surface to facilitate mould removal. This is also the case for winter tires, which are more slippery when new. After a few hundred miles, the lubricant residue disappears, and the tire provides superior grip and traction.

If you've equipped your vehicle with studded winter tires, you may have been told to be careful driving during a break-in period. Why should you do this? To avoid losing the studs! Because manufacturers install studs with lubricants or water, they can be lost when they are not properly inserted into the tires.

To avoid damage or loss of studs, it is advisable to drive less aggressively (hard braking, fast cornering, rapid acceleration), which allows the studs to set appropriately.

Although the factory-installed studs are more resistant than those manually added by a mechanic, we still recommend a short break-in period. This will allow the nails to sit correctly on their base. This will make them stronger and less likely to come off the tire. You should drive carefully and moderately for the first 500 kilometers, which is about a week, a full tank of gas or a full battery charge in an electric vehicle.

Studded tires can be used in all provinces and territories in Canada. However, there are restrictions on the time of year and total number of studs in some areas, such as Ontario, where studded tires are only allowed in the northern part of the province. In British Columbia, studded tires can only be used on British Columbia roads from October 1 to April 30.

Please note that studded tires are permitted from October 15 to May 1 in Quebec. Some indoor parking lots (private or public) do not allow vehicles with studded tires.

How to break in new winter tires?

• Drive safely: accelerate, brake and corner smoothly.

Things to remember:

• If possible, drive on dry roads during the break-in period;
• Drive at a moderate speed;
• Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you, as your braking distances may be longer.

What to avoid:

• Accelerate hard brake hard.