Dealership hours of operation
Mon - Sat 8:30am - 6:00pm
Sun Closed - Closed
Dealership hours of operation
Mon - Sat 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sun Closed - Closed
Dealership hours of operation
Mon - Sat 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sun Closed - Closed

Winter Tires vs All Season Tires

all season vs winter tires
Kia Harris Nanaimo - Tire Hotel

 

When the temperature drops below 7°C you are safer driving on winter tires.

While all-season tires are designed to provide traction in a variety of summer weather conditions, they are not made to provide grip in winter conditions. The primary difference between summer and winter tires is in the tread design and rubber. Winter tires are made with a softer, more silicone-rich rubber compound that stays pliable when temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius.

The title "all-season" is a bit of a misnomer in Canada, as all-season tires are really a poor choice for our winter conditions. Temperatures above 7 celcious, all-seasons will perform fine, but you will observe a dramatic difference once temperatures drop.

Switching a front-wheel-drive car to winter tires may offer superior traction than a vehicle with all-wheel-drive and all-season tires in the same conditions. A study conducted by the Quebec Ministry of Transport showed that a proper winter tire can improve braking up to 25% over an all-season tire, and can improve collision avoidance by approximately 38%. Of course, combining all-wheel-drive with winter tires will give you the best traction of all in the winter months.

If you're looking to purchase KIA Tires in Nanaimo, Duncan, Parksville or anywhere on central Vancouver Island then drop in to Harris Kia. We have large selection of winter tires for all Kia models in-stock, we also offer winter tires for all makes and models at competitive pricing! Plus we offer a tire hotel, so you don't have to store your tires at home.

Winter Tire FAQ

Only two of my tires need replacing at this time. Should I replace just the two?
To ensure optimum stability and handling we recommend that all tires be installed in sets of four. When identical tires are installed at the same time, overall handling is greatly improved.

Can I keep winter tires on my car all year long?
Winter tires are designed with softer tread compounds to allow them to dig into snow and stick to ice. Theoretically, you could keep your winter tires on your car all year long, but they will wear out much more quickly than all-season tires (during the non-winter months) and because they're heavier they would reduce your fuel economy.

Can I put snow tires on just the front wheels?
No. If you live in an area or drive in conditions that require tires with better traction, you should consider installing winter tires, but you must install them on all 4 wheels, not just the drive wheels. Again, be sure to use tires that are the same size as originally specified for your Kia.


winter tires in BC
You can book a appointment online!

 

Book a appointment

 

Make an Inquiry

    General Contact