Winter tire recommendations for 2009- 2010

It’s unlikely that your all-season tires are adequate for winter driving in most parts of Canada. All-season tires provide modest traction on snow and ice when they are new, with grip diminishing as the tires age. The rubber compound of an all-season tire hardens as the temperature drops, providing poorer grip, even on dry surfaces. The compound of a winter tire is more pliable and retains its grip in cold temperatures.

The APA recommends winter tires because of their effectiveness on snow and ice. The APA emphasizes performance on uncleared roads over handling on dry payment, which accounts for differences between the APA's recommendations and published reports from other sources. The tires listed here include most of the highly rated models on the market.

Speed codes are shown by a letter that establishes the maximum speed capability of a tire when properly loaded and inflated. Winter tires for touring cars and SUVs are seldom rated higher than T. 

Here is a table giving the maximum speeds for each category for non-winter tires.

Tire speed ratings

DECODING TIRE MARKINGS

(A): P195/65R15
P: this letter, which is occasionally absent, identifies the vehicle category the tire is designed for. P (for passenger) identifies that the tire is a passenger car tire. LT (for

light truck), is a truck tire. AT (for all-terrain) usually an SUV tire with some off-road capability.

95: the width (in millimetres) of the tire from one side to the other. In general, it is proportional to the size and performance of a vehicle. 

65: height of the tire sidewall, expressed as a percentage of the width (in this case, 65 percent of 195 mm, therefore 127 mm).

For any given width, a lower percentage of sidewall height indicates a lower profile tire.

Tires with a sidewall height 55 or less called “low profile” generally provide very good handling, occasionally at the expense of comfort. They cost much more than mainstream tires (a sidewall height of 60 to 65 or greater), and are often standard equipment on sportier cars. Low profile tires are also wrapped around large diameter wheels on high-end versions of compact and intermediate cars.

R: radial construction tire, which is virtually universal today.

15: the diameter of the wheel in inches. Fourteen inch wheels are typically reserved for the base versions of subcompact cars; 15 inch wheels are used on most compacts and on high-end versions of subcompacts; 16 inch wheels are standard on some compacts, intermediates and many compact SUVs; 17 inch wheels are found on sportier compact cars, intermediate SUVs and mid-range versions of compact SUVs; finally, 18 inch and bigger wheels are used on sporty SUVs as well as high-end versions of many cars. Wheels with a diameter greater than 16 inches are rarely needed on a touring car, but have become fashion items over the last few years.

(B): 91Q
91: index of the maximum permissible load. For example, an index of 91 notes that the tire can support up to 615 kg (1356 lb.). Never install tires that have a lower index than that noted in the owner’s manual.

 Q: speed rating. Indicates the maximum speed the tire can roll safely for an extended period, assuming that it is in good condition and inflated to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer of the car it is installed on. For example, a Q-rated tire corresponds with a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Winter tires for touring cars and SUVs are seldom rated higher than a T (190 km/h).

(C): M+S
The M+S (Mud + Snow) legend indicates that the tire has wider than normal gaps between the treads than a summer tire. As there is no industry standard to define what M+S means, the level of traction in winter conditions is variable.

D): Snowflake inside a mountain pictogram.

All winter tires offered in Canada bear this symbol that denotes approval of the Canadian Rubber Association (CRA). In principle, it guaranties that the tire conforms to specific performance requirements regarding grip in snow, and that the tire is specifically designed for driving in snowy conditions. The standard does not currently include a test for grip on ice.

Until recently, the snowflake on a mountain symbol was a reliable indicator of with winter performance of a tire. However, BF Goodrich, Goodyear, Michelin and Nokian now offer tires bearing the aforementioned symbol, which have tread patterns more typical of an all-season tire and are approved for year-round use. These all-season tires are not true winter tires. When new, they have sufficient tread depth to pass the snow test devised by the CRA. But they weren’t designed to confront really cold weather, and their performance diminishes over time as their tread is used up. If the CRA performance standard incorporated an ice test, these tires might not meet the requirements for the mountain and snowflake symbol. The standard needs to evolve so the winter tire designation doesn’t lose its significance, like the M+S symbol has.  

Temperature

The rubber in all-season tires can begin to lose its elasticity in temperatures as warm as 7° C. The softer rubber compounds used in the construction of dedicated winter tires maintain their pliability, and therefore their grip, in temperatures going down to about -30° C.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen does help maintain a more constant tire pressure because it is less likely to escape from the tire than normal air, and is less affected by temperature variations.

The use of nitrogen in tires may also lead to fewer false alerts in cold weather on cars fitted with tire pressure monitoring systems than on tires filled with air.    
 

It costs up to $5.00 to fill a tire with nitrogen, which, while more stable than air, will still leak out eventually. If a tire is low, filling it with air from a conventional compressor will negate the benefits of nitrogen. APA’s recommendation: spend the extra money on a good tire gauge and use it.

Buying an extra set of wheels for snow tires

Buying a set of steel wheels for winter is a good idea, especially if your car is equipped with tire pressure monitors.

The initial $200 to $300 outlay can be recuperated over a two or three year period by eliminating the cost of seasonally mounting and removing summer and winter tires from a single set of rims. This can save up to $50 each time you swap tires.

In addition, steel wheels are better suited to severe winter driving conditions than more fragile alloy wheels. 

On vehicles with large original equipment wheels, buying smaller diameter wheels for winter allows smaller inside diameter, cheaper winter tires to be fitted.

If you do opt for a smaller diameter wheel and tire, it is necessary to maintain the same total diameter of the original equipment wheel and tire combination. Your retailer has tire guides that tell him what the appropriate substitute sizes are. For example, on a Honda Civic LX equipped from the factory with 16 inch wheels shod with 205/55R16 tires, it is possible to install 195/65R15 tires on 15 inch wheels.

Savings of $80 to $200 per set of four are possible by downsizing the wheel and tire combination, depending on the tire chosen.

U.S. Purchasing

Before adjusting for exchange rates and U.S. promotions, tire prices are 25-50% lower in the U.S. depending on the brand. The real savings, even if you pay duties and taxes, are significant for large size tires. Shipping costs will close the gap considerably, however. Customs Canada duty charges are as follows:

Tires manufactured in North America, no duty charges

Tires manufactured outside North America, 7% plus applicable taxes.

APA’s WINTER TIRES PICKS 2009-2010

PASSENGER VEHICLES

PERFORMANCE CARS

SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES