Vehicle tires generally fall into three categories: winter tires, performance tires, or all-season tires. Learn about each category below and see which tire type is right for you.
All-Season Tires
All-weather tires help provide versatile traction for certain wet, dry and lightly snow-covered roads. Grooves in the tread pattern help disperse water to help improve grip. All-season tires are designed to perform well in a variety of conditions, but because of this, they will not provide the same amount of extreme grip and sharp handling as a performance tire, nor the ability to trek through deep snow or drive on ice like a winter tire.
Performance Tires
Sometimes called summer tires, performance tires are designed to help give increased handling, superior traction, cornering and braking in dry and wet warm weather. They feature unique tread patterns, construction features, and rubber compounds to help provide enhanced precision and responsiveness. One of the most visible features that can help you spot a performance tire is the short, low-profile sidewall.
Winter Tires
When the temperature dips below 7°C, it is time for winter tires. The rubber compounds remain flexible even in extremely cold temperatures, allowing the tire to grip the road better. Winter tire treads are designed with larger gaps to help provide increased traction on slush, snow and ice.
All winter tires come with a mountain snowflake symbol to let you know that they meet specific traction performance requirements set by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.