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What Are The Best Winter Tires For Calgary Weather?

Winters can be rough here in Calgary, and if you’re wondering how to make things easier, you might want to know what the best winter tires are for driving in this area.

Do You Really Need Winter Tires In Calgary?

The first question many drivers have is, “Are winter tires even necessary?”. The truth is, as many as half of all Canadian drivers might risk driving on all-seasons in any given winter. Is this a risk you should take?

At Trail Tire Auto Center, we would strongly advise you to not take this risk. Please drive on winter tires, or all-weather tires, during winter. All-season and summer tires cannot provide you with adequate safety in cold weather. And while it can get bitterly cold here in Alberta, it doesn’t even have to be that cold to impair the effectiveness of all-season tires.

The rubber in all-season tires stiffen when they get too cold. This prevents them from gripping the pavement properly, so they can’t provide satisfactory traction. This can cause skidding and problems with steering and braking.

All this can happen at temperatures as warm as seven degrees Celsius. In Calgary, the daily mean temperature in October is 5.2°C. That means for most of October, all-season and summer tires don’t function at optimal levels. Not only are winter tires (or all-weather tires) critical for winter driving in Calgary, they’re also important for much of autumn and spring.

Winter Tire Treads

Tire manufacturers use different rubber compounds when making winter tires. They also use special tread patterns and siping. These features allow winter tires to grab cold and icy roads to provide traction even on the most frigid days in January. But not just any winter tire will do. You want to buy the best winter tires for your vehicle, your driving style, and your driving needs. If you just commute on Calgary streets in a passenger car, you will need different tires from somebody who takes their light truck off-roading every weekend.

Also consider whether your car is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive. Different configurations favour different tires. The tire experts at Trail Tire can recommend winter tires that suit your vehicle and driving style.

What About All-Weather Tires?

Despite their similar names, all-weather tires and all-season tires are significantly different. All-season tires are not suitable for winter driving in Calgary. All-weathers are. The Rubber Association of Canada designates all-weather tires as safe for winter driving. This is why all-weathers are embossed with the snowflake mountain pictogram. Even so, not all all-weather tires necessarily offer the same features as some winter tires.

What Are The Best Calgary Winter Tires?

The best winter tire is the Michelin Winter X-Ice. Unless you think it’s the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter tire. Some say it’s Continental’s Viking Contact 7. If it’s not clear yet, the best winter tire for you depends on your vehicle and your preferences. Come visit us on 16th Avenue and we can help you decide.

Come To Trail Tire Auto Center For All Your Tire Needs

At Trail Tire Auto Center, located at 1624 16th Avenue NW, we have the best winter tires for sale. To learn more, you can visit our website, contact us, or call us.  We look forward to discussing your tire needs with you.