Auto123.com presents its winter tire buying guide for 2022-2023. Today, winter tires for cars and small SUVs.
Watch Tomorrow: Our Guide to the Best Winter Tires for SUVs and Light Trucks in Canada for 2022-2023
That’s it, here we go once more! At the time of writing these lines, many motorists are beginning to take an interest in the need for new tires for the coming winter. This need is felt even more by drivers in Quebec, where winter tires are mandatory from December 1, and in British Columbia, where they are mandatory in certain parts of the province, including major highways in the north and interior and especially on the important Sea-to-Sky route, in addition to some portions of Vancouver Island.
Demand for tires is strong this year, as many motorists have had to keep their vehicles longer due to the shortage of stock at dealerships. Many will have to switch to new winter tires. Add to this consumer awareness of tire quality and specifications. In other words, if you need new tires, you might as well buy them in advance because good quality tires at a reasonable price go very quickly.
And if you don’t know the tire industry, know that when a type or size of tire is sold out, a tire dealer can NOT make others because the manufacturers have already switched to the production of tires. of summer!
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Tendencies
Canadian consumers are increasingly informed regarding the quality of the winter tires offered to them, but also regarding their performance. Obviously, quality tires are sold at a higher price! As for tires of so-called “regular” quality, they too are subject to the laws of the market. If your budget limits your choices, choose at least big brand tires with serious guarantees.
The choice of a winter tire must be made according to the needs of the driver. If you are a frequent traveler who rides a lot in winter, you should look at a tire that performs better on ice or on wet pavement. If your trips are mainly in more mountainous northern regions, a tire with a more aggressive tread pattern would be a wise choice.
Some more fearful drivers will prefer studded tires (although in this niche, you have to take into account restrictions such as the one refusing these studded products in underground parking lots!).
The symbol you must see!
Tires approved for summer and winter
The latest trend (and the one that is gaining the most speed) is that of tires specifically designed for both summer AND winter. But be careful, make sure they display the mountain silhouette logo with a snowflake in its center on its sides!
Being spared the need to change tires twice a year is appealing, however not much is known regarding the effectiveness of these tires. That’s why Auto 123 is putting some of these (highest quality) tires to the test. However, it would be best to consider them only if you don’t use your car much in the winter, avoid driving it during heavy snowstorms, or don’t get a lot of mileage outside of urban situations.
Our first tests have shown us that these tires are quiet and very efficient on dry or wet pavement. But they perform less well in deep or wet snow.
