The proper fit and use
One thing that couldn't be stressed enough is that climate and road conditions as well as your driving habits and style must be taken into consideration when choosing a set of tires for your car. Why do you think motorsport teams carry so many different types?
Tire quality is tantamount to on-road performance. Your car may boast all the safety features in the world, like antilock brakes and stability control, but their effectiveness heavily depends on tire grip.
Likewise, all-wheel drive sure helps during winter, especially when taking off from a standstill or negotiating a corner. However, if your AWD car rides on crappy tires, driving downhill or on rough pavement could spell doom.
The evidence is there
A study conducted in 2001-2002 by Transport Quebec, CAA-Quebec, the Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec and the Association des spécialistes du pneu du Québec revealed that winter tires generally out-perform all-season tires in winter driving conditions.
On a slightly snow-covered road at -20°C, winter tires considerably reduce braking distances whether you're driving a car, a minivan or a 4x4.
Four-wheel drive and all-season tires together allow faster accelerations from 0 to 50 km/h than two-wheel drive and all-season tires, but braking performance is not necessarily adequate.
In the study, winter tires also displayed superior grip on heavily snow-covered roads at -2°C, especially upon braking.
Only when a bit of snow covers the road and the temperature rises back do all-season tires offer an advantage over winter tires. According to the results, only a subcompact car riding on winter tires will take longer to reach 50 km/h. But in the case of a minivan or 4x4, winter tires again prove their supremacy.
One thing that couldn't be stressed enough is that climate and road conditions as well as your driving habits and style must be taken into consideration when choosing a set of tires for your car. Why do you think motorsport teams carry so many different types?
Tire quality is tantamount to on-road performance. Your car may boast all the safety features in the world, like antilock brakes and stability control, but their effectiveness heavily depends on tire grip.
Likewise, all-wheel drive sure helps during winter, especially when taking off from a standstill or negotiating a corner. However, if your AWD car rides on crappy tires, driving downhill or on rough pavement could spell doom.
 |
| Photo: Thinkstock |
The evidence is there
A study conducted in 2001-2002 by Transport Quebec, CAA-Quebec, the Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec and the Association des spécialistes du pneu du Québec revealed that winter tires generally out-perform all-season tires in winter driving conditions.
On a slightly snow-covered road at -20°C, winter tires considerably reduce braking distances whether you're driving a car, a minivan or a 4x4.
Four-wheel drive and all-season tires together allow faster accelerations from 0 to 50 km/h than two-wheel drive and all-season tires, but braking performance is not necessarily adequate.
In the study, winter tires also displayed superior grip on heavily snow-covered roads at -2°C, especially upon braking.
Only when a bit of snow covers the road and the temperature rises back do all-season tires offer an advantage over winter tires. According to the results, only a subcompact car riding on winter tires will take longer to reach 50 km/h. But in the case of a minivan or 4x4, winter tires again prove their supremacy.