Make your appointment now for your winter tires! Waiting any longer would result in a stressful mad dash to get them done in late November.
Tip: Start shopping NOW!
As always, a good set winter tires are without a doubt the best safety feature.
It’s early October 2023 and depending on where you live, as I write these lines, it’s 25 degrees Celsius and sunny outside. Looking down from the blinding sun, you’ll not be able to ignore that leaves are changing colour, and you know what that means – WINTER IS COMING.
2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Yokohama Tires | Photo: Matt St-Pierre
Mornings are already extra-cool, barely hovering above the freezing point. This means that the early morning commute will see ambient temperatures will barely reach 7 ºC and we all know that all-season tires really don’t like chilly morning air. Sadly, it’s going to get much colder before it gets warm again.
Think of it this way: Making an appointment now to get your winter tires installed is like making an appointment to see the dentist – the date is set but you’re not going in the next day, or week for that matter – but the timeslot is frozen.
As we continue with our daily routines and venture outside, we often rely on our vehicles to get us to various destinations, from taking kids to their activities, shopping at bulk stores, to visiting loved ones during festive seasons. To ensure a smooth journey, investing in quality winter tires is essential.
Further advice: Genuine winter tires offer drivers optimal traction, control, and braking capabilities for safe driving in cold conditions. It’s worth noting that the price often reflects the tire’s performance, durability, and overall value. Opting for a more affordable tire might mean compromising on its lifespan and effectiveness, even if it appears in good condition.
To guide you in choosing the right winter tires for the season, we have curated a list of top recommendations.
Here are some choices for the popular Toyota RAV4 (17-inch tires), presented in alphabetical sequence:
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 / WS90 – Quiet, soft compound, great all-round performance – one of the best there is.
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV – Very good road manners – feels like an all-season, good performer but with reduced thread depth.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV – Aggressive tread pattern, improved snow traction over the previous R3. Excellent performance in all winter driving conditions.
Pirelli Winter Ice Zero FR – Reasonably priced, compound resists temperature changes (gets more flexible in the cold, firms up when warmer), good overall traction.
Toyo GSi-6 LS – Good durability, deep thread, very good in snow and slush.
Yokohama Ice Guard G075 – Good all-round tire, softer compound, quiet.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 Winter Tire Review: Winter is just Another Season
Here are some recommendations for the top-selling Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic (16-inch tires), presented in alphabetical sequence (previous descriptions closely match these):
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 – Quiet, soft compound, great all-round performance – one of the best there is.
Michelin X-Ice Snow – Excellent overall winter traction, not the most affordable but worth the money. (We will be reviewing these tires this winter. Updates will be posted in the near future).
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 – Aggressive tread pattern, improved snow traction, excellent performance in all winter driving conditions.
Pirelli Winter Ice Zero FR – Reasonably priced, compound resists temperature changes (gets more flexible in the cold, firms up when warmer), good overall traction.
Toyo GSi-6 HP – Good durability, deep thread, very good in snow and slush.
Yokohama Ice Guard IG53 – Good all-round tire, softer compound, quiet.
Nitto SN3 Winter Tires | Photo: Olivier Delorme
