Debunking winter tire myths

It's that time of year again when motorists have to brave the icy roadways. It also raises questions about the need for winter tires. We asked an expert to explain.
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[@Zorbino88]

As a flat lander, all season tires seemed to be the best fit for me. My car was FWD and I had to put chains on in the snow regardless. They fared reasonably well, but when I put actual snow tires on, it was a game changer. Ironically even the dry handling of the car got better with these tires, which is generally the opposite with most winter tires. I then got a Subaru last year and put the same winter tires on the car, it was like a driving cheat code in the mountains. Never slipped once, even after an ice storm hit the lower elevation town that I was staying in.

[@jasonbeallie5535]

I'm on my 3rd. Subaru and have always used winter tires for them. Here in Saskatchewan the tires are on my Forester for 7 months, minimum. I agree to the statement: AWD doesn't mean all-wheel stop.

[@tchevrier]

I was the same. Always thought all-season tires were fine.... Until I got a set of winter tires. It was a game changer

[@philojudaeusofalexandria9556]

Under 7 degrees C, even the dry/wet grip of winter tires will exceed summer/allseason tires. Anyone will notice the huge difference in ice/snow traction and handling, but it is also important for emergency braking/manouvering even on wet/dry surfaces (90%+ of the time in most places in the winter).

[@LHa-wd4uh]

⁠@@philojudaeusofalexandria9556Winter tires make too many sacrifices to wet/dry performance that there are still many all-season tires that will simply outperform a winter tire down to about freezing and even beyond. Summer tires on the other hand, absolutely, down around 7 degrees performance degrades and even starts to gets dangerous as that rubber hardens approaching freezing. For these reasons, I’m surprised an all-weather tire which can truly be used all year round was not mentioned. A tire like the Michelin CrossClimate2 is extremely well-reviewed and has the 3PMSF symbol but still works without excessive wear into the hot summer months. It’s very highly rated for its wet/dry performance in both cold and hot months. Sure, for extreme conditions in either winter or summer, a dedicated seasonal tire would be better but for the everyday driver who lives in a mild region year-round, like those of us in Vancouver, I think an all-weather tire is the best all-in-one solution, all without seasonal tire changes! Don’t take my word for it, there’s plenty of reviews that test the CrossClimate2 across different conditions and against dedicated winter tires, summer tires, and all-season tires. Likewise, plenty of reviews that show how a good all-season tire can outperform a winter tire in the dry/wet even when it’s cold.

[@jamesphillips2285]

@@philojudaeusofalexandria9556 All weather tires (with the snow flake) work better below freezing.

[@Itsme-vo4fx]

The most important thing is DO NOT DRIVE IN WINTER WEATHER LIKE YOU WOULD DO IN THE SUMMER, no matter if you have winter tires on your vehicle. Just because a winter tire will give you a bit more traction than an all season tire doesn’t mean you can now drive a little bit faster.

[@diyaasaeed7959]

It’s not about how fast u can drive, it’s about how fast u can stop. This is what people still don’t seem to understand after god knows how long

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

I plowed snow working for a local school district for 35 years and so many times I would be traveling between schools in the plow truck and people in their SUV would go flying past me and sure enough down the road they would be in the ditch, or in one case upside down. I know they were thinking, I have four-wheel drive, so I do not need to slow down. They may go a little better, but they do not stop or go around corners if you are driving too fast just like a regular car. Winter tires and sensible driving go a long way to winter driving.

[@MM-tf5gg]

@@scrambler69-xk3kv Agreed, this folks do not know the difference between ability to go and stopping/traction.

[@dkrawk8309]

Oh God save us......what are your statements based on?

[@a64738]

Yes that is true, because with winter tires you can drive LOT faster ;) Here speed limit is 80 and some places 90km/h and we pretty much drive at the same speed summer and winter. Also here if you drive with summer tires in winter on snow and ice here you will loose your drivers license and get a huge fine for every summer tire on your car.

[@bpicard2786]

Sure winter tires are great, but if you still have bad driving habits they won’t save you.

[@tchevrier]

winter tires with bad driving habits is a lot better than all-season tires with bad driving habits.

[@nrfnrd]

It’s not what u drive but how u drive.

[@alphanation368]

@@nrfnrd ok then drive a one wheeled bike with polished wooden wheel on ice and lets see how far you go without an accident then

[@beatonthedonis]

I live in a central European country where winter tyres are mandatory once snow has settled on the road. I'm still on summer tyres, which are still very drivable once the temperature drops below 7c, but you notice the grip reduces the lower the temperature goes. Where winter tyres are absolutely useful is once snow and ice are on the road surface. The grip is incomparable to summer tyres on ice and snow.

[@LowVoltage_FPV]

around here ( northern BC) winter tires are absolutely needed. In fact it is the law. All season tires will take you right to the scene of the crash!

[@mtnphot]

Unfortunately m+s tires count S wonter tires here, but they are not winter tires by any stretch of the imagination. There is no comparison between tires marked M+S and the tirex with the mountain/snowflake symbol. Better yet, if you drive in an area that gets frequent freezing rain, studded tires are like driving on gravel instead of ice. No winter compound comes close.

[@Alex-js5lg]

Winter tires are great. There's no two ways about it: they shorten your stopping distance by roughly 25-35%. A used set of winters is better than a brand new set of all seasons.

[@vitaly062]

100%

[@philojudaeusofalexandria9556]

Depends on the tread depth and how old the used tires are. Once you see any cracks (i.e. the rubber has significantly lost its elasticity) or the tread depth gets below 4/32nds, you can be sure that a new set of all seasons will outperform the used winters.

[@nigelcampbell8460]

As a mechanic, I'm pleased CBC actually referenced someone from the industry. It's pretty obvious folks, you want security in all conditions? Only a dedicated tip quality winter can provide that.

[@gerrymcintosh4477]

Winter tires are a must in our home here in Ottawa. Makes a huge difference.

[@whytho5732]

Ahh yes Ottawa, the left wing dump of Canada.

[@unclemick-synths]

It does indeed 👍

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Trouble is, you cannot get that through young people's heads. they see winter tires as a pain, and the sad thing is they will never know the massive difference they make. How much is your life worth? And think about the other people on the road. I think living where winter tires are mandatory from this date to this date would be awesome.

[@peterwho9380]

My son's first winter tire purchase was the Bridgestone Blizza WS90's and his safety was my FIRST priority and not how much the tires cost!

[@T3K1000]

Tire repair technician here, one thing that is SUPER important that was not mentioned is the deference between an all season and a winter tire. All seasons are made to be more dense to get more mileage out of them, winter tires are made so that the compound is softer, making it not as easy to freeze ( think hockey puck density ) In hockey we freeze hockey pucks before games so they slide on the ice easier. Imagine driving on frozen Hockey pucks. Summer tires and all seasons will start to freeze at - 14 degrees Celsius. Also just because you have winter tires dose not mean you are invincible. when its - 40 out, i don't care what your tires are made out of it is going to freeze along with your seats, your suspension, your differential oil, your engine oil, washer fluid amongst other things. IF YOU DONT HAVE WINTER TIRES ON AND YOU GET INTO AN ACCSEDENT! you can throw your insurance coverage out the window. Don't believe that? call your provider and ask.

[@davidhenningson4782]

also... instead of just running the engine to circulate the oil and warm it up... drive slowly around a quiet block or parking lot for awhile to warm everything else up and get the vehicle ready for the road. Check tire pressure too, as a drop in temp is a drop in tire pressure... and a potential blow out.

[@c.s.herman860]

What about 'all-weather' tires? (With the mountain snowflake symbol)

[@T3K1000]

@@c.s.herman860 3 peak is considered winter tire

[@blustraw]

i live in quebec and i only recently knew that winter tires are not mandatory in other provinces, very surprised i think it’s not even a question in most of canada

[@uhhTabby]

Yes, im in ontario and always remebered quebec being the only one to mandate. I would say atleast 80% of people get winter tires on here

[@elizabethheinrichs7187]

Winter tires are mandatory in BC.

[@blustraw]

@@elizabethheinrichs7187 the designation M+S (all seasons) is accepted in BC which is not a real dedicated winter tire like the 3 spike snowflake designation

[@Exage304]

This needed way more information, especially for the temperate south coasties. Winter tires are designed for low temperature near freezing and feature a softer compound in addition to more siping and tread. This allows for more tire grip in lower temperatures, especially low temp wet roads and snow. The break-over performance trade between the All Season and Winter Tires is roughly 7C/45F in temperature (especially wet roads), yes it's that warm. Once the local climate starts to drop below 10C in highs, people should be rotating to a winter set. All-Weather tires are the new "All-Season" tires. They're winter rated with the 3 peak and can be used all year round but are the true compromise tire. All-Seasons are really meant for 7C and above and Summer Tires 10C and above, neither should be used in snow. If I'm honest, all Canadian drivers should be on a 3 peak winter rated from mid November to mid March regardless of where they live in this country.

[@joes6620]

Mind your speed, mind your distance and pay full attention on the road. I'm on my Toyo AT3 and having no problem at all. I don't need two sets of tires and needs to be changed two times a year. Drive safe and God bless.

[@jamiezhou5049]

They should broadcast in Toronto for 2 weeks nonstop

[@Grubbbee]

Even my well used (8+ years) old winter tires were night and day difference compared with bags new and seasons in Alberta winter weather. It should be mandatory for rental cars to supply winter tires too.

[@neutronpcxt372]

For anyone reading here: the biggest difference between winter and summer tires is just the compound being used. As temperatures get lower, rubber gets harder and which lowers grip. Winter tires uses much softer compounds which are more effective at temperatures below 7C.

[@bobsoft]

Silicon (Silica) content

[@geofflangdon4467]

Tread block design (as noted in the video) is also a key difference. Difference in compound *plus* the tread design work hand in hand. True summer tires of far fewer cuts and sipes (the extreme being high performance/racing tires that effectively are just flat rubber). All season is really the mid point between Summer and Winter.

[@dkrawk8309]

No, it is NOT JUST the compound that is being used, there is very many other factors

[@virgil3241]

All Weathers are a great way if you live in an area where you get warmer winters. Been running them on cars the last 15 years in Southern ALberta.

[@Fehr270]

They should have talked more about tread depth. A lot of people are selling worn out used ones that are “like new “

[@opensolaris6218]

yep, I believe 5/32 for the treads is the minimum. If you're buying used, bring something to measure!

[@MissX905]

And they still are asking a lot for bad used tires.

[@sghantous]

Caveat emptor

[@menguardingtheirownwallets6791]

Winter tires use 'Soft Rubber', that's 75% of the advantage they have over all-season tires right there. The other 25% is the extra little cuts that they have to provide more 'bite' into the snow. Even a worn-out 10-year-old set of winter tires will stop you on snow or ice much better than even the best brand-new all-season tires will on a -10C winter day where the roads are covered in 5 cm of snow. However, winter tires do get 'harder' as they age, so newer tires will always work better.

[@johnarnold893]

BS

[@kawkawmccarvs7802]

My FWD car with winter tires 100% out performs my 4X4 truck with all seasons.

[@oldbiker9739]

I have a 2005 Blazer 2 door 4x4 with studded tires all the way round , I have pulled a lot of cars out of snow banks with winter tires on, here in Alberta .

[@generalnawaki]

I got one minute and thirty seconds in before I remembered something, I've been doing tires for ten years in a winter country. why am I watching this? lol

[@Alex-js5lg]

Eh, it's good to challenge your own assumptions from time to time. You never know when you'll learn something new. For example, I didn't know until watching this video that tires are date stamped with the week/year of their manufacturing.

[@jordanbloomfield]

@@Alex-js5lg it’s very important to look at the manufacturer date when buying used tires. Most people selling them don’t even realize they’re selling super old and unsafe tires. The general rule of thumb is after 6 years a tire is at a higher risk of hidden damage and potential blow-out at high speeds. Anything close to 10 years and that risk goes waaay up, even if the tire is in good shape, it can deteriorate quickly when exposed to harsh elements or rough driving, and you never know when you’ll need to perform an emergency maneuver

[@b21raider27]

Massive difference, so much better grip. Winter tires also grip ice unlike all season. Top rated: Blizzak, Nokian, Michelin (X-Ice).

[@MM-tf5gg]

I run the Blizzaks , when traction is the absolute priority they are without peer.

[@DeltaDemon1]

I used all season tire for 12 years and had absolutely no problem (and I live in Ottawa driving in really bad snow storms as well as freezing rain during the "temporary January thaw"). I switched to winter tires when they announced that the ploughing services for streets would be reduced. I went through one winter with this reduced service and bought winter tire the next. It's an absolute pain.

[@tomindenver1331]

For fifteen years in Denver, I drove a Fiat Spider. I had a set of four studded Pirelli snow tires on steel rims that I could swap out in the garage in twenty minutes. The night before a predicted snow storm, on they'd go. Front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel-drive...al the really matters is the right tire.

[@Trigger-xw9gq]

I can't believe this "expert" didn't mention the other category of tire we now have, called "All Weather" tires. These have the mountain/snowflake icon, and are a great choice for year-round use.

[@unclemick-synths]

Sounds like a rebranding of no-season tyres.

[@ndychung007]

I have all weather tires on in Vancouver. They are great. I don’t have space to store winter tires, either.

[@mujtabarehman5255]

@@unclemick-synths Thats not true, its a different technology. Tires are actually quite sophisticated

[@deebro5305]

Yes, exactly!! Just found your post after replying to the OP mentioning the same thing.

[@MM-tf5gg]

Trigger Ok but run some Blizzaks in bad weather, the difference is well night and day.

[@sghantous]

There are some all season tires that have the mountain snowflake mark such as the Michelin Crossclimate line. In Québec, winter tires are mandatory for the season, and many of us who live in rural areas will install studded tires which can track well even on ice, but they are noisy on highways and overkill in many places.

[@jpsion]

living in norway, i can attest. winding mountain road and slushy hills are common.

[@mrblue4602]

My Dad was a mechanic he uses too say . No tire stop on ice . But use winter tires . For snow .

[@112boatman]

Studs for ice they work great

[@tchevrier]

not true

[@Tenasscity]

What myths were there? These are all great facts. The video is fantastic but the title is misleading.

[@jerryfacts9749]

Nothing beats good quality winter tires for winter driving. I am using high quality winter tires on my vehicle. BIG difference from all season tires. Winter tires make winter driving a lot safer.

[@paulsukhu]

Also worth mentioning the tire’s grip at a specific temperature. Summer tires don’t perform well under 15 C and all seasons will struggle below 0 C. This varies a lot so worth looking up the operating temperature range for your specific tires.

[@palco22]

Simple to understand and to the point. East of the Pacific coast winter in Canada requires winter tires.

[@HalifaxHercules]

Studded winter tires are recommended in Newfoundland and Labrador due to the rugged terrain, harsh winters, and slippery road conditions.

[@PriyabrataHalder]

I have a Subaru suv. I have a set of new winter tires. When there is a blizzard, I go outside for fun driving.

[@Transfixed]

Good video, wildly inaccurate title

[@imantsjansons5009]

with a note that there are all season tires which contain "the mountain with the snowflake" i.e. Michelin CrossClimate

[@ag4allgood]

Dedicated winter tires even lets a rear wheel sports car drive very well in the snow & ice. Being changing out the performance tires for 6 years. The warmer days up around 60 make the winter tires lose performance.

[@Lambo6fo]

Those who know know. Winter tires transform a vehicle and they really don't cost any extra over the length of owning the vehicle.

[@Lambo6fo]

@@musiccalgary Incorrect. But I don't have time to argue this. I've been living with two sets of tires for years.

[@prototypedenNIS]

I've never bought winters and have been a winter driver in Manitoba for over 20 years. What I have done is researched my tyres and bought ones that tested well in winter conditions. There are lots of manufacturers and models out there. Some all season tyres are actually designed and built on our continent. If you look, you can find some all season tyres that actually out perform some (or even a surprising amount of) winter tyres. Most importantly, drive to conditions.

[@MM-tf5gg]

Proto, yes their are some cross climate 2 comes to mind but unless you are a very skilled driver just go winter tire.

[@MissX905]

The main tire he was using to demonstrate was one that he said, "I wouldn't use this tire" lol

[@neoanderson7]

Anyone who's had to deal with winter here in Canada knows that "all seasons" are No-seasons. If you live in Canada, you're going to need 2 sets of tires. Dedicated winter and dedicated summers. I always find it funny how people are willing to dish out 50g's + on a vehicle, but when it comes to replace tires, they're looking to skimp out on them?? How do you think the car makes contact with the road?? 🙂 Also, check the tires out for wear and age. So many vehicles out there lately with tires that are older than 7yrs. Dry rotted and cracked all over. But they see a tiny bit of tread depth and they think they're good for another season or 2?! 😮

[@troyjollimore4100]

I get by on my all-seasons just fine when I have to. My winter tire set is preferable, though…

[@jamesphillips2285]

"All weather" (with the alpine snowflake) tires are now available that will work year-round in Canada. ("All season" tires are designed for California).

[@factChecker01]

Winter tires also have softer rubber that works better in cold temperatures. (They do wear out faster.)

[@starguard4122]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It was very useful and informative

[@Roddy451]

A good video, except there was no mention of the "All-Weather" category (it is a USA market thing...& in Europe, they are called "All-Season"). I do get snow during winter, but I do not get a lot, and the "All-Weather" tires were a good choice for me. I have two cars with the Crossclimate 2 from Michelin and one with the Hankook Kynergy 4S2. The other car has "Performance Winter" (another USA thing; they are called something else in Europe) tires, Michelin Alpin 5. The latter are winter-specific tires and are not for use during the summer. For that case, I have another set of wheels with Michelin Pilot 4S summer tires. Confused or not sure? I recommend the KZbin Channel "Tyre Reviews." It is an excellent channel. Nokian, Continental, Bridgestone, Michelin, Hankook, and Pirelli, to name a few, make excellent tires. Stay away, IMHO, from brand-x winter tires.

[@MM-tf5gg]

Roddy you know your tires, the cross 2 and 4S2 are some of the best "all weather" tires out there but I run Blizzaks ws80s in the winter, bullet proof, snow , wet, ice, come what may~!

[@Roddy451]

@@MM-tf5gg Like I said, I get snow here, but not enough to justify full winter tires. I have three sets of full winter tires, and I no longer use 2 of them. The one I still use is the Pilot Alpin 5. The Alpin 5 shines when there is now snow, or when the roads are wet. You should not use winter tires all year round. They will get destroyed, and they can't keep up in dry and hot weather. I know the WS80s (now WS90s) very well. You will get no argument from me on their winter performance. Those are not cheap tires, but you get your money's worth. That is why it is important to buy products from the best-known brands, and you chose wisely. 👍👍👍👍 Again, I recommend the KZbin Channel "Tyre Reviews", and he also has a a website.

[@MM-tf5gg]

@@Roddy451 I watch that channel all the time! I live in the mountains of northern Jersey and travel even further into the mountains of NY for work everyday hence have to have snows.

[@Roddy451]

@@MM-tf5gg Oh yes... you get a lot of snow. The Tyre Reviews recommendation was not directed at you but for anyone who bothers to read my long post. Sorry for not being clear about that bit. The first time I tried winter tires, finding out how much of a difference it made when braking was amazing. Those were Michelin X-Ice (the original of that model).

[@Osprey23-o8l]

Good information but should have mentioned all weather tires and that consumer reports does testing on tires. Some winter tires do not perform as well as some all weather tires under some conditions.

[@Babine125]

Not at - 10°C, 4 seasons tires are a danger for yourself and others.

[@Osprey23-o8l]

@@Babine125 the tires I am referencing are called “all weather”. Different then all or 4 season. Check consumers report or go to a good tire shop.

[@Babine125]

​@speciallevo3170 all weather are slightly better than 4 seasons but never like good quality winter tires. If you're in Canada, it's winter tires in the winter.

[@Osprey23-o8l]

@@Babine125 mostly correct. In milder areas the best all weather can be rated better than the poorest winter tires. And no switching tires.

[@Babine125]

​@@Osprey23-o8lno one is talking about Chinese winter tires, all seasons tires will never be as good as winter tires for the same quality. On average you have only 1 square foot of rubber touching the road!

[@alsheremeta]

So what winter tire myths were debunked in this video?? Click bait.

[@randallnguyen7405]

Just get all weather tires that a step up from all seasons because they have the mountain snowflake symbol.

[@4x4gear33]

If you want maximum performance, Nordic winter tires are the way to go and will outperform "ANY" all-weather tire. Don't put too much faith in that 3PMS.

[@randallnguyen7405]

@@4x4gear33 I have a set of all weather nordic tires. Of course you don't want too much confidence in them but they handle much better than all season tires which in reality is only 3 seasons. Where I live, we get the occasional snow fall that last only 3-4 days and it turns back into slush. All weather fits my needs without having to waste time swapping out tires.

[@mikman7219]

It is not easy to choose winter tyres. A presence of the snowflake symbol is just the beginning of this process. Tyres come in different flavours. All-seasons with the snowflake symbol (all-weather tyres), performance winter tyres, mild winter tyres, severe winter tyres, studdable tyres with or without the studs. You have to select what fits your driving style, you climate, your road conditions, the type of your vehicle, legal requirements.

[@elimoses2732]

HI, CAN YOU TELL ME IF WINTER TIRES BE OK IN FLORIDA? I LIVE HERE AND NEED TO CHANGE ALL 4 OF MY TIRES..THANKS

[@big_rich]

Some people run beaters in the winter with tires that old or have some weather cracks is what it is, mine are going on 18 years lol keep a space tire ready to go!

[@yeeaahhzz]

google dry rot tire blow outs :)

[@MissX905]

If you watch those Russian car videos they use their tires till they're bald it looks like. They crash everywhere in snow conditions

[@604mattcee]

They forgot to cover all weather tires which. These tires can be regularly used in cities like Vancouver where the weather doesn’t swing to the extremes.

[@drwalker9093]

Have they changed the title since you watched the video? Or are you presenting information for possible debunking?

[@604mattcee]

I wouldn’t say that they did. It doesn’t seem like it anyways. All weather tires are a great option for some consumers. This option of tire does have a three peak snow flake designation on it. This comment is to inform people of this option.

[@lamAnyone]

0:30 I get it. Winter tires are horrible when you are reversing. Moisture got pushed towards the centre of the tires.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Make sure the winter tires you buy have sipes that go the full depth of the tread. Some do not, and winter tires lose a lot of their traction when the sipes wear away.

[@MM-tf5gg]

Or just buy Blizzaks....................

[@jesdavetravel8592]

I live in southwestern Ontario and I have never used winter tires. All season works for me.

[@MissX905]

Sometimes just rotating your snow tires helps too.

[@st170restoration]

Great video can’t beat full winters! Not sure I’d want to run a tyre up to 10 years old though. Normally change mine at 3 years max and keep a minimum of 4mm tread. Really notice the compound hardening after 3 years

[@velvetsmack2645]

There's a glaring omission that I cant believe was not covered. Speaking to the benefits of winter over all seasons , the rubber compound remain more pliable when the temperature drops therefore offering better traction. The compound is much softer. Hopefully I missed him speaking of it but wow - thats one of the biggest differences b/w summer/all seasons and winters.

[@artstech]

Are those rocks stuck in the treads safe? I never see that many in all season tires.

[@troyjollimore4100]

Yeah. You’ll get rocks and pebbles stuck in all kinds of tires. Just makes noise, and even a ‘stuck’ rock will wear down to the rubber surface pretty quickly.

[@10mudpuppy]

50 years driving without snow tires no accidents stuck once got out kicked the snow away from the tire and that was that.

[@martymcglame7781]

Seriously?! At about 1:30 in the video when he's describing what worn rubber looks like on the side of the tire... dude, you work in a shop with all sorts of tires = find one to SHOW as an example. If you're really trying to inform people who aren't aware of some of the important factors about tires, then why wouldn't you just show it? This kind of content comes across as someone who just wants to be seen on youtube instead of someone who really wants to inform people.

[@pistachio42076]

Gonna have to put my trust in mythbusters on this one lol

[@fozziecoyote]

There was no mention of traction on ice. I don't buy winter tires for snow; I buy winter tires so I can control the vehicle when on ice. How many times have we seen cars spin out or fail to stop when they hit ice?

[@dubplatenate]

The great white north calls for winters. I was tossed in the fire with winter driving at 16 with all seasons. I do not recommend that at all, winter tires help you stop in an appropriate amount of distance. Provided you're not hooning around. Spend the money on winters, you will thank yourself when you're able to stop or take a corner.

[@TheMELTDOWN911]

practically the rubber is also much more soft so it won't become hard ( LOL!) during the extreme cold days, I purchased a car from New Your with brand new winter tires, on January 2023 but purchased it in SOUTH TEXAS! LOL! so I procrastinated to replace the tires for "normal" Texas tires.. so around 6 months later they were completely bald! all tread was gone! THERE I understood the difference since for us in South Texas winter tires are practically non-existent

[@finerbiner]

Michelin Cross Climate II is good everywhere. Except maybe mud. Summer/ Winter- no problem.

[@glennelliott708]

How come he didn’t talk about all weather tires, not all season, all weather. Big fail.

[@juliogonzo2718]

It was funny a few years ago when the media went on about tire shops selling tires that were a few years old. All of a sudden most places started mounting tires with the date code facing inwards lol

[@4859carcar]

Date codes are only printed on one side genius. Maybe look on the other side of your car

[@juliogonzo2718]

@@4859carcar unless they are directional tires all four can be mounted with the date code on the inside, genius, which is what tire shops started doing after the media ran stories about how they were selling tires that were a few years old.

[@robi4387]

Many tyres can only rotate one way. Many are marked outside and inside. Some people aren't fussy about their tyres and buy the cheapest. If only they had neon sign on them saying caution cheap tyres avoid me.

[@juliogonzo2718]

@@robi4387 Westlake lol

[@jakubkrcma]

I would only recommend all-season tires if you drive in mild winter conditions and are an experienced driver who knows when to slow down in advance to avoid a potentially critical situation. If you expect lots of snow/ice or you're not a great driver, do not even consider anything but winter tires for the winter.

[@smileychess]

I drive like a total granny, but last year, in relatively mild snow, I went to stop at a light. Ended up sliding at least 3 car lengths and gently bumped into the guy in front of me. Funny thing is that he was already stopped and talking to the guy he had just tapped into. No damage done, but it convinced me that winter tires are helpful even for the most boring driver like me.

[@jakubkrcma]

​@@smileychess Acceleration, braking, and cornering are substantially worse on all-season tires. The car will slide massively with any sudden driver input. However, I once borrowed a car and drove it for over 50 kilometres in a hurry (a bit faster than anyone around me) on snow and ice. Then the owner told me it had worn summer tires. So, all-season tires in a proper shape can be sufficient for ordinary use.

[@user-cg7cc7zj3e]

lol my Jeep was brand new with cracks in the rubber. Mopar, stands for Subpar.

[@halaheleu7013]

Summer tires in winter make you more alert driving in snow.😂

[@freakyflow]

Hockey pucks fly on the ice.....So do alot of tires You want to look for the class of tire for winter rating These are a softer compound like the video said The down side is they wear out if you driving them after winter....On my own truck which is 4x4 i have firestone winter tires with studs And my tips to new drivers Dont go cheap There are bridges and turns out there And people like me that can infact stop sooner infront of you than you can with what you have on now .....Most rear end hits where you are at fault is because of poor tires

[@mateofernando5066]

If there isn't too much snow or ice, you could also consider getting 4 seasons tire that also qualify for snow tires. For example, the Michelin CrossClimate. The tire should have a snowflake on the mountain symbol to qualify as a snow tire. This will save money from having to swap the all season with winter tires every year.

[@MichaelIreland]

I have the Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires on my Tesla model 3 AWD. Absolutely the best tires I've ever owned.

[@mateofernando5066]

The only issue with the crossclimate is that the tires are unidirectional, so they have to be mounted in the same direction as the arrow.@@MichaelIreland

[@MichaelIreland]

@@mateofernando5066 fair 'nuff buuuuut that doesn't change the fact that my car feels like it's on rails when cornering, even on snow & ice. According to my local tire shop, they probably won't need to be rotated, as long as the wear is even. So far so good.

[@alanb3213]

All weather, not to be confused with all season, tires are a decent compromise in areas without a lot of ice, my Nokian WRG4 all weather stops a bit better on ice then my crossclimate 2's but my Michelin ice x stops even better. The key is drive for the conditions and the limits of the tire. Stopping is the issue, never got stuck with the crossclimate 2, WRG4 or Ice X tires

[@donaldmiller2654]

In the 60's,I had a pair of what was called sawdust recaps,they didn't wear well but they sure worked well on a rearwheel drive car.

[@daphnelhunt]

So, what about the all-weather tire (not the same as all-season)?

[@Ethan_Fox_CM]

Lol i like his tattoo wedding ring 🤙🏻

[@jordanbloomfield]

It’s actually a smart move working in that industry

[@Francois_Dupont]

into the thrash it goes!

[@unclemick-synths]

Winters and AWD. Thankfully we were out test driving and got hit with snow and got to feel the difference between AWD and FWD. Well worth the cost difference.

[@philojudaeusofalexandria9556]

AWD only helps during acceleration and on-throttle turns. It does nothing in the most important situation: braking. And it will often have you driving faster than you should since you overestimate the amount of grip you have on the road. It will help prevent you from getting stuck (or get out of a ditch), but not from getting into a collision or ending up in the ditch in the first place. Tires, ABS, and electronic brakeforce distribution (standard on most cars these days) are the only things that help in the most critical emergency braking situations. And only tires help during emergency collision avoidance. So get winter tires!!

[@unclemick-synths]

@@philojudaeusofalexandria9556 "Winters" = winter tyres. Like I don't know all the rest? 😀 I still would pay the extra for AWD because the front end goes where you point it when pulling into traffic instead of sliding into the gutter. Safety is cumulative, not either-or.

[@philojudaeusofalexandria9556]

@@unclemick-synths Oh. I misunderstood your comment. Thanks for the clarification - 100% agreed. I thought you meant "AWD and [Canadian] Winters" are the perfect combination (winter tires not necessary).

[@barnonnee]

How about studded tires are they as good or better than just winter tires?

[@troyjollimore4100]

Studded tires are better in areas where you get an ice or snow ‘pack’ surface on the road for an extended period of time. The studs bite into that surface for extra traction. In areas where the road is cleared to pavement quickly, or there’s a lot of slush or loose snow, they don’t do anything extra.

[@Peter-yn8uy]

I drive about 50,000 kms per year. I use all weather tires. No need for steel wheels.

[@SpencerLupul]

it’s just a shame that we need videos like this, instead of every province requiring a comprehensive driving course before issuing a driver’s license, like many other places. Since Canadians rely so much on driving and because of our poor weather, it’s crazy that we still learn to drive from our (unqualified) parents

[@SpencerLupul]

@@musiccalgary sounds like you taught your kids how to drive

[@zcvele]

It is not a myth, winter tires work and there is no institution called all season tire in Canada, even on dry paved road below +7. All you need is +3C, moisture and underpass/overpass. In most of European countries, certain stretches' of HW's in BC and Quebec winter tires are mandatory. Why not for the rest of the country.

[@GiarkReleos]

nice! a carpenter whose a mechanic talking about rubber

[@DT-km2ci]

Is it recommended to use the winter tires the whole year?

[@4x4gear33]

Nope. The soft rubber compound will wear quickly in the summer heat. Winter tires also perform poorly in the summer. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong.

[@ararsoetana1471]

I think AWD and all season would do fine in Toronto

[@ninkapoop]

I winter drive a rear wheel drive car and using Nokian Hakkapalita studded tires plus 150 lbs of sand in the trunk is the difference between me being able to drive straight or ending up wrapoed around a street lamp. 10/10 would recommend 👍

[@randomrazr]

arent studed ties ilegal in southern ontaio

[@ninkapoop]

@@randomrazr I'm in central Alberta and they're definitely legal here (thank goodness considering how much snow and ice we deal with) Wasn't aware they were illegal anywhere tbh! I can see why though if a large number of people drive around on studded tires when there isn't much or any ice to protect the pavement

[@titusmccarthy]

@@randomrazr Are studded tires legal in Ontario? In Ontario, studded tires are allowed between September 1st and May 31st each year, but only on vehicles that are registered in Northern Ontario. This area includes Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Temiskaming.

[@randomrazr]

true, but studed tires have come along way in how they are designed so they dont tear up roads. either that or they jsut want more organ donors with more accident s@@ninkapoop

[@randomrazr]

they are illegal in southern ontairo. well if u get caught of course ;) i think they should make em legal though. that law was put in place back in the 70s or 80s and studed tech have come along way that they wont tear up the asphalt@@titusmccarthy

[@winstonsmith935]

When you drive in Mountains in Winter, at -20c , you want winter tires, the compound is different. I would never drive on all season. Hit some ice and you will find out in a hurry the difference.

[@markplain2555]

Most tyre manufacturers say that when a tyre is 10 years old the rubber is not good anymore.... I'm surprised it's only 10 years... I thought they would say 10 months.

[@c.s.herman860]

What about 'all-weather' tires? (With the mountain snowflake symbol)

[@anonymous4gent]

you can get away with summer tires in winter too (if you are skilled/experienced enough) . . but the amount of attention/stress you have to pay while driving is not worth it.

[@mikefromvernon]

Absolutely agree full winters over all season M+S. I run M+S touring tires in the spring summer and fall. An M+S will be okay in a light slush which what a freaky early snow turns into. Just slow down and give yourself a little extra time. The all season just means you're not stuck at home while waiting for your slot at the tire shop if you don't change your own.

[@MaxPivovarov]

No rubber works on ice or on wet ice. Soft winter tires are effective only on a snowy or wet asphalt road. Winter rubber is also not effective on country roads with frozen soil. You can take a piece of winter tire and use it like a hockey puck, but if you screw it into it a couple of self -tapping screws this will change it all. If you studied physics at school, you should know that the ice is slippery not by itself, but due to a thin layer of water on the surface. And this layer is only a few molecules with thickness, surface tension forces do not allow it to be squeezed out, moreover, it is instantly replenished from the ice itself. And only the bite into ice with the help of solid spikes can change.

[@tchevrier]

absolutely not true

[@TizzleT]

What about Michelin Crossclimate2 all weather with 3 peak and snowflake designation?

[@helldogbe4077]

Not as good as a pure winter tire as the thread pattern and compound is a compromise. Although they are among the best all season tires and a lot better than they used to be. Don't forget it's no longer good for snow under 4mm of thread, with 3mm being the very minimum for winter use as opposed to 2mm for other seasons.

[@neverbored01]

Great video Matt, definitely miss some class time to get away from the buzz of the shop and have some laughs in the lab 😊

[@nicehit]

Any comments about all-weather tires as year-round tires?

[@troyjollimore4100]

They work pretty good! Worth the extra cost if you can’t easily change and store a set of tires.

[@Thanos-b8k]

Winter tires just have better grip... if it snows and freezes a lot where you live, you should be on winters... its just that much better

[@johnarnold893]

Problem with Winter Tires is they wear out in a couple of seasons. A good set of M+S tires will last more than 5 years of continuous use. Winter tires means you have to buy a full set of Summer and Winter tires and rims. I've been driving for over 60 years, a lot of it in winter and even a few years of Ice Road driving.

[@brucenolin6726]

Most winter tires are good for 4-5 years of usable good traction - as long as you swap out to your all seasons in the summer. Also, by having a set of winters, this will extend the time period your all seasons will be good because they are not being used in the winter. And lastly, its not mandatory to get a second set of wheels for your winters but i would recommend it as its less wear and tear on your tires due to the mount and dismount and usually cheaper to swap versus a full changeover.

[@popuppete]

I got about 70,000 km on each of my last 2 sets of winter tires. Summers last a bit longer but it isn’t a huge drop. Unless your vehicle is near the end of its life they make a lot of sense to me. M+S grip fairly well in the snow but they leave a lot to be desired on roads when it gets cold.

[@MrBadboomer73]

I get 3 seasons out of my tires. It’s fru$trating.

[@papabits5721]

Winter tires are also designed for cold temps, they stay flexible

[@Zgryx]

Why not just use winter tires for all season?

[@WildernessGuyBC]

The rubber in winter tires is specially formulated for colder weather. While you can use them in the summer, they will wear out extremely fast in hot weather, so it's not really worth it for most people to leave them on all year long. With that said, I kept winter tires on my Ford E350 based camper van year round because the tires were also good offroad, and it wasn't a daily driver that I put a lot of miles on.

[@Dorian803]

Winter tires are softer rubber, so they wear faster in the heat and are less fuel efficient

[@jamiezhou5049]

Winter tires can be damaged quite easily and they are not cheap. You don't want to replace it every 3 years. I mean if you drive it all year round it may it burnt in one year.

[@christianyanez2449]

Breaking distance of a summer tire is quite less than a winter tire in hot conditions. The soft rubber of a winter tire is a is a bad factor in high temperature.

[@johnf6545]

M+S are more than adequate for winter, they are not an all season type tire, way more aggressive tread which can handle the slush and snow. No tire is any better than another on ice, all season or snow tire unless studded. That 10 year old tire looked fine, the reality is if the UV hasn't beat down on it for 10 years as in snow tires then the rubber won't degrade as quickly and some tires use better rubber than others so a blanket 10 year toss the tires on snows seems dumb and wasteful.

[@boydswain7993]

I was curious about the 'myths' referred to about winter tires. Disappointed to see that none were described. Should be labeled myths of all season tires.

[@arielspalter7425]

With the constant music in the background I thought it was a 3 minute ad.