Winter tires get all the glory. “It’s cold, get your winter tires.” “It’s slippery, get your chains on.” “Winter tires, buy them!”
Yup, those links are to our own content—we do it, too. It’s important information, but winter is not the only time to think about your tires. You use your tires year round in Canada, be sure they’re up to the task.
Winter Is Over — Why All The Fuss About Tires?
First of all, if you’re still rolling on your winter tires, STOP. It’s past time to switch back to your all season tires.
Winter tires and all season tires are made of different rubbers. Winter tires are optimized for traction in the cold. In the summer heat, they’ll be too soft—you won’t get optimal traction and they’ll wear very quickly.
Whatever tires you’re on, you want to make sure they’re in good enough condition to keep you on the road. Here are a few quick checks you can do yourself to determine if it’s time to replace them.
1: Check Tire Pressure
Hot tires, hot pavement and debris on the road pose real risk of a blowout. The best defense is to make sure your tires are always properly inflated.
This doesn’t just mean to check them if they look flat. Tire pressure increases with the temperature, so if your tires were perfectly inflated in December they’re probably over inflated today.
Check your tire pressure monthly and any time there’s a significant change in temperature and you’ll increase the life of your tire and decrease your chances of being stuck changing out a spare in 30+ ℃.
2: Check Tire Tread Depth
Your tire tread depth will determine how much traction you have on the road. You can measure this yourself using a tire tread depth gauge. To keep you safety on the road your tire should measure at minimum 3/32”, though anything under 6/32″ is less than ideal for driving.
If you need to check your tread depth in a pinch, but don’t have a depth gauge you can use a traditional Canadian penny. Place a penny in the tire groove with the Queen’s crown facing down. If you can see the top of the Queens crown, you need to replace your tires. You can also use an American penny. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you need to replace your tires.
3: Check for Uneven Wear
Not quite as mathematically straight forward as the tire tread depth check, but this is important. If your tires aren’t wearing evenly, it can indicate you need wheel alignment service. This inexpensive service can extend the life of your tires and save you time and money in the long run.
Tires Are Important Year Round In Canada
Spring and into the beginning of summer can be the hardest on your tires. This is when roads are in their worst state of disrepair. There’s dirt and debris on the road left behind by the melting snow, new potholes. Not to mention junk that’s blown out of boats or is left over from tire blowouts from less fortunate motorists than yourself.
Whether or not you need to take your car in to have your winter tires switched out and put into storage, you should bring your vehicle in to your local Manitoba service center. Better yet if you’re in Winnipeg, bring your car to our service center at 87 Oak Point Hwy (corner of Route 90 & Selkirk Ave) to have your tires inspected, rotated and serviced.
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