STAY SAFE THIS WINTER

Brace yourselves, winter is here to stay! As you reach for your toques, scarves and mitts to protect you from the cold this winter, you should do the same for your vehicle, equipping it with the proper tires to get from point A to B safely. To help simplify things, I’ve partnered with Hankook Tire Canada to drive the message home about the importance of winter tires and how to prep your car for optimal performance and safety this winter. 

Different Season, Different Tire?

It’s important to understand that there are some pivotal differences between summer, all-season and winter tires – starting with the tread patterns and tire compounds. Winter tires are made with aggressive tread patterns to optimize grip, handling and breaking performance in those less-than-ideal weather conditions. The tires are also made with a compound that helps keep the rubber pliable in cold temperatures, lengthening the tires’ life. 

My Hankook Tires, the Winter i*cept evo2 (W320), are a premium class winter tire, designed for passenger cars, providing safe and comfortable handling in adverse conditions. Its wide shoulder provides the best handling performance and improves grip as its shoulder block is much wider than conventional tires. As well, its asymmetrical tread pattern ensures great performance, regardless of the weather condition and its numerous tread grooves evacuate snow and slush easily. 

How to Pick the Tire That is Right for You.

Hankook Tire Canada offers many different winter tires in various sizes and types, so you’ll find the perfect ones for your vehicle and specific driving needs. A little stumped on what tires are the ones for you and your vehicle? Talk to your local mechanic or head to https://www.hankooktire.com/ca-en/ for additional information – the website provide tons of great information to help the everyday driver get from point A to point B safely this winter!

Some Additional Fun Facts

Rolling Resistance: the force acting against a tire as it rolls down the road

Tire Tread: rubber surface of the tire that makes contact with the road

Tire Compound: the mixture of materials used to create the tread on a tire

Tread Depth: the depth between the top of the tread block and the bottom of the shallowest groove

The deeper the tread, the better the performance – it’s time to get a new set of tires when there is 2/32” tread depth remaining, meaning the depth of the grooves will have diminished

The Toonie Test – slip a toonie in between your tread block, if the tread reaches only as far as the letters (‘CANADA’ or ‘DOLLARS’), your tires are worn and need to be replaced

Aspect Ratio: ratio between the width and height of a tire