Winters in Edmonton aren’t like winters anywhere else. We’ve got to contend with the cold and snow as often as any other Canadian city – but then there’s the ice.
You know what we’re talking about. The thaw/freeze cycles around these parts happen so fast, it can send your mind skidding as fast as it can send your truck skidding. That’s why Edmontonians trust Canada Custom Autoworks to put premium winter tires on their trucks, cars, SUVs, and other vehicles.
Give yourself the gift of traction this winter – get yourself a new set of winter tires in Edmonton.
How snow tires work
and the advantages of snow tires
Winter tires, snow tires – whatever name you want to give them, the science behind them is the same. It’s some pretty heady stuff, but the result is a smoother, safer winter ride.
Let’s start with the rubber. Your average tire has rubber that will begin to harden under 7°C – and when rubber is hard and rigid, it doesn’t stick to the road. That kills traction. The soft rubber used in winter tires help it cling to imperfections on a road’s surface, helping you stay on the road.
There are other features that make winter tires a better bet, too. They have grooves that are designed to send water to the sides, which can help you avoid hydroplaning. Ice melts when it comes in contact with your tires, so these grooves are important tech.
And modern winter tires offer a much smoother, more comfortable ride than the old models used to. Thinking about all-season tires? Don’t. The folks who designed all-season tires didn’t design “all-seasons-in-one-day” tires – they’re not built for the extreme climate we have here in Edmonton.
Studded tires
Looking for even more traction? Studded winter tires are the way to go. If you’ve never used a set of studded tires before, you’ll be amazed by how much more control you get. You’ll corner better, stop faster, and have a smoother ride – as long as you’re on ice or hard-packed snow.
How winter studs are installed
Winter studs can only be installed on studdable winter tires. There are preset holes in tires for the studs to be installed into, using a stud gun.
Pros and cons of studs
The pros of studs are really straightforward – they grip to packed snow and ice like nothing else. They’re all the power of winter tires plus metal grips – you’ve never had control on ice like this before.
The disadvantage of studs? They actually perform less well on dry or wet surfaces – basically anywhere that there isn’t hard, compact snow or ice.
They also make a bit more noise than non-studded tires – but not nearly as much as they used to, thanks to new technologies. We can use studded tires year round here in Alberta, so if you’re looking for more traction, they come highly recommended.
F.A.Qs
How much do winter tires cost?
Winter tires cost from from a little under $100 to over $200 per tire, depending on the quality of the tires you’re purchasing. You’ll also need to get new rims, so you’ll be looking at $1000-$2000 for a new set of winter tires.
How many years do winter tires last?
Transport Canada says you can use winter tires for about 10 seasons, while some manufacturers say winter tires should last for about six seasons. To get the best performance out of your winter tires – especially if you drive as much as most of our customers do – we recommend only keeping the same set for about 4 or 5 years (seasons).
How often should I check the air pressure during winter?
As the temperature drops, your tires lose pressure. You need to check tire pressure more frequently in the winter. We recommend checking your tire pressure twice a week if you want to be extra cautious. You can also check tire pressure after any serious drop in temperature.
How fast can I drive with snow tires?
Winter tires offer more control and they allow you to brake faster. You should still practice safe driving in the winter – in hazardous conditions, go below the speed limit. Winter tires are no bottleneck on speed, however – you can easily drive well over 100 km/h with winter tires without risking their structural integrity.
Stay safe! Don’t drive too fast in the winter.
Do snow tires help on black ice?
Yes – the grooves in winter tires help to move the water created by melting ice away from your vehicle, and the added traction from the softer rubber can help grab on to any imperfections in the ice. Black ice can still be a real problem, though.
The best solution for black ice is studded winter tires – those studs will bite into the ice, giving you much more traction.
Can I keep my winter tires on all year?
You can – but you shouldn’t. The rubber compound in winter tires is designed to be soft when it’s cold – when it’s warm, there’s too much traction, and the tire will wear quickly and unevenly. If you want to get the most out of your winter tires, you should only use them in the winter.
See our stock of Winter Tires
Here are some of our more popular tires this season:
Haida HD878 | Haida HD617 | BFGoodrich K02 | Toyo Open Country A/T III | Haida HD868