The short answer is yes. Winter tires are built with a special compound that allows the rubber to remain flexible in cold temperatures. They also feature deep, aggressive treads that make them better for biting into snow and ice, improving traction, grip, braking and handling in harsh weather conditions. So, once the temperature drops below +7C, we highly recommend installing a set of reliable winter tires to improve the overall safety and performance of your vehicle.
How do I identify a winter tire?
Winter tires come with the Mountain Snowflake symbol on their sidewalls, indicating that the tire has been specifically designed for use in winter conditions.
How do I know if my winter tires are worn out and need replacing?
Use a tread depth gauge. If your tread is less than 4/32 of an inch, you should consider replacing your tires. If your tires have tread less than 2/32 of an inch, they are considered legally bald and must be replaced.
Don’t have a tread depth gauge? Try the nickel test. Take a nickel, and place it in the deepest groove of the tire, with the year at the bottom. If you can see any of the year, consider having your tires inspected, as they are likely below 4/32 of an inch and will soon need to be replaced. If you can see the year completely, the tread is likely below 2/32 of an inch. These tires are considered legally bald and must be replaced.
For more information, see our video How to Check for Aging Tires.
What are the best winter tires for cars and light trucks?
Whether you’re looking for the most durable and comfortable winter tires for your car or the top-rated winter tires with the best traction for your light truck, Canadian Tire provides you with dependable and honest Winter Tire Ratings. Canadian Tire uses professional tracks, professional testers and professional instruments. We continually test new tires throughout the year, every year. The testing scores are updated regularly. To make the ratings as consistent and unbiased as possible, we use third-party auditors.
