Here’s Why You Should Get Winter Tires, Even in Vancouver

Winters in British Columbia can be unpredictable, especially in Vancouver. What’s evident is that our climate here is unlike anywhere else in Canada. With a few exceptions (like last year, for one), we tend to get mostly rain in winter coupled with a few light snowfalls that don’t really last longer than a few days at most. With that in mind, do you really need winter tires if you live and work in Vancouver?

The answer is yes, and here’s why. Your summer or all-season tires don’t need snow to be unsafe.

Rubber Doesn’t Like Cold Weather

The most important component of your tires is the rubber. Rubber is a substance that changes based on its environment. When it’s cold outside, rubber gets harder which means that your tires get harder. It doesn’t need to be freezing outside for this to happen either. Anytime the weather outside dips below 7 degrees, your tires become rock hard which leads to increased stopping distances and reduced grip on the road.

One thing we do get in Vancouver is rain, and hard tires will be even more dangerous when the road is wet. Winter tires are designed to remain pliable up to -45 degrees, often more. That means that they are still soft when the weather hovers around the freezing point, and they stop sooner and remain safe in any road condition.

If we were elsewhere, we would tell you that winter tires have deeper treads and specifically designed grooves that evacuate snow efficiently and grip better on ice, but you’re not likely to encounter snow very often. Still, with a good set of winter tires, you won’t have to change your plans when the snow does fall this winter. You can also head up to Whistler or wherever else you like to ski or snowboard without having to worry about the weather you will find up there.

I Have an All-Wheel Drive Vehicle. I Don’t Need Winter Tires

All-wheel drive is a tremendous asset in winter, no question about it. That said, without proper winter tires, you’re not getting nearly enough out of your AWD system. It’s important to remember that the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road are the tires. Your AWD system can help you get out of some deep snow, sure, but it can’t help you stop. If you hit a patch of ice, it doesn’t matter if your vehicle has AWD, FWD or RWD. The only thing that matters is your tire’s ability to grip the ice and to do that efficiently, you need winter tires.

Where to Buy Your Tires?

Now that we’ve established that winter tires are necessary, where should you buy them? Well, given that not all winter tires are created equal and not all winter tires fit on all vehicles, you should probably drop by our Tire Centre. If you need winter tires for a Mazda vehicle, there’s no better place than a Mazda dealership selling winter tires. We also promise you that you won’t pay more here, and we can also store your tires for you.