Studded Tires vs Regular Winter Tires: Which One Should You Choose?

November 25, 2021 by Hardik K

Driving in the Canadian winter conditions of having heavy snow, ice, and slush on the roads can be really challenging and scary for car owners. Roads in Canada during winter are highly unpredictable. The most effective way of getting your vehicle prepared for winter roads is going for a winter tire change.

If you are in the market for a tire change, you will have a lot of different options for winter tire change to choose from.
The two main types of winter tires that you will find are studded tires and regular winter tires (non-studded tires).
To help you choose the right tires for an effective winter tire change, we have compiled all details about these tires for you.

Studded Tires

As the name suggests, studded tires have small metal studs implanted in the tire treads.
These tiny but strong metal studs protrude out of the tire surface.
They are specifically designed to provide better traction by digging into the ice and heavy snow cover on the roads in winter.
The superior grip on roads that are covered with a thick layer of ice and snow is the main reason why drivers choose studded tires for a winter tire change.

Cons of Studded Tires

Studded tires often give a noisy ride due to the metal studs embedded in them.
They increase the stopping distance significantly on roads that are dry and not covered by any kind of snow or ice.
Studded tires can severely damage the roads when it is not covered by any ice or hard packed snow.

Restricted Use of Studded Tires

Studded tires are permitted for use on the roads in Canada. But there are certain restrictions. Many states in Canada only allow their use during the winter months.

Quebec: Allowed for use between 15^th December to 15^th March
Manitoba: Allowed between 1^st October to 30^th April
Northern Ontario: Allowed between 1^st September to 31^st May

Regular Winter Tires (non-studded)

Improvements in rubber compounds have made regular winter tires without studs more suitable and a preferred choice for many drivers in Canada.
Regular winter tires are able to maintain traction and flexibility on roads that are wet, icy, snowy, and even dry. It makes them a preferred choice for winter tire changes for many vehicle owners.
Even at freezing and sub-freezing temperatures, they are able to provide a smooth and comfortable ride to the drivers.
The advanced rubber compounding technology, improved tread designs, deeper tread depths, and softer and flexible rubber are the reasons why they are capable of outperforming studded tires.

The impressive performance of regular winter tires over studded tires is a big reason why drivers choose them for a winter tire change.

How to Maintain Tires for Safe Driving?

October 21, 2020 by Hardik K

Maintaining tires in better condition will protect you from accidents and collisions. Moreover, it will also save your money on roadside assistance and mobile tire change and replacement services.
To stay safe and to avoid getting stuck on the road we will share major tips for tire maintenance in this blog post:

Use tires that fit the weather. Canadians experience extreme temperatures. The season and drastic changes in the temperature also affect the road conditions. Therefore, using the right tires according to the weather is necessary. For example, in winter, you must switch to the winter tire from summer or all-season tires.
Regularly inspect the tire tread of your car. If it is balding, then it is an indicator that you will get reduced tractions on the road. This can be dangerous. As soon as you see this sign you must get a tire change.
Wheel alignment and balancing is another important thing you must put in your tire maintenance checklist. The right wheel alignment and balancing are necessary to have better control over the vehicle while driving on the difficult road. It is also mandatory for long term use of the tire and saving money on frequent tire change and replacement. You need to take the help of your technician who services the vehicle to ensure correct wheel alignment.
You should change the tire cross ways to reduce the wear of the tires. This will not only keep tires in good condition, but it will also help in avoiding puncture and other issues on the road.
If you are driving on slushy roads, make sure you do not spin your winter tire too much. If your tire is stuck, try moving back and forth to get out of that situation. Too much spin can damage the tires and reduce its life.
Always maintain the right air pressure in your tires. Before taking the first ride of the day, check the tires for the correct air pressure. Low pressure can result in puncture and too high pressure would make your drive uncomfortable by causing stability issues.
When you invest in tire change and replacement, invest in a complete tire change. For example, when you are going to change the tires due to winters, you should get a winter tire along with the tube and rim. Do not just get a rubber. Changing the complete tire will not only give better performance, but also expand the life of the tires.
In any condition, the vehicle should not be overloaded. Loading the vehicle more than the recommended weight can add stress on the tires along with other crucial components of it. This may cause small to major damages such as:

Flat tire
Increased fuel consumption
Balance issues on the road
And more

Tire maintenance should be part of your regular vehicle maintenance checklist to enjoy the excellent performance of your vehicle and safe drive.

Book an appointment to change tires.

How to Know Whether You Need a Tire Change or Not

September 11, 2020 by Hardik K

To have a smooth and worry-free drive, you need to use specific tires depending on the season. With the start of September, almost all regions in Canada start experiencing early winter conditions. You might even have started thinking about a winter tire change.
To choose the right tires for your car for the season, you need to know two things:

Types of tires
Size of tires

To help you select the right tires, we will share vital information about different types of tires along with tips on knowing the size of the tire for your car.
How do you know tire size?
Look at the following places to identify your tire size:

Sticker inside the door of your car
Sidewall of the tire

Look for the following numbers on the tire:

Width: The first number indicates the tire width in millimeters
Profile: The second number indicates the aspect ratio
Rim Size: The third number shows the tire rim size. This number starts with “R”

Type of Tire:

Once you know the size of your tire, now is the time to learn about the major four types of tires:

1. Winter tires

A Winter tire change is required if you live in any of the Canadian regions which face snow and extremely cold temperatures.
Winter tires, also known as snow tires, come with additional biting edges to provide more traction on the snowy roads.
You must get a winter tire change for all four wheels. However, if you need to save money and only get two winter tires, then make sure to get them for the front two wheels.

2. Summer tires

Once the season starts to change, winter tires might not give great performance and you will require mobile tire changing services. Summer tires give excellent performance when the temperature is 25 or more.
It can also perform exceptionally well during rainy days. It means summer tires can get you going in summers and rainy days.

3. All season tires
If you are thinking once you invest in all-season tire change, you will not need to change the tires through the year, please finish reading this section.

All season tires sure can work in different weather conditions, but for extreme winters, you will need a winter tire change.
These tires are multi-seasonal tires, which give great traction throughout different road conditions.
It has a harder rubber compound than summer tires, which makes it last longer than summer tires.

4. Mud tires

You need mobile tire changing services to drive off-road.
Mud tires, also known as mud-terrain tires, are designed to hold the grip in off-road conditions.
Mud tires are the most durable ones with puncture and cut resistance features.

Now, you know the different types of tires based on your needs and weather conditions, get the right tires for your car to have a smooth drive.

Read To Next Blog: When to Change Your Winter Tires to All Season Tires?

We, Urban Lube, are renowned for our mobile tire-changing services. Contact us for a winter tire change or consultation to know whether you need a tire change or not.

When to Change Your Winter Tires to All Season Tires?

April 11, 2020 by Hardik K

If you own a vehicle, the perfect time for a tire change depends on where you live and which climate you are currently experiencing. If you are in Canada, the end of winter is marked by longer and warmer days. This is an indicator for you to get an all-season tire change done.

Going in for a tire change at the right time will help you get better mileage and save money. While a tire change may appear to be quite tedious and inconvenient, in the long run, it is good for your wallet and safety.

When Should I Change My Winter Tires Back to Summer Tires?

Winter Tires and All-Season Tire Change

When to change winter tire? As a general rule, winter tire change is recommended once the temperature drops below 7 °C. Similarly, when the temperature rises above 7 °C, an all-season tire change is advisable.

Winter tires and all-season tires are manufactured using different rubber compounds. The use of different rubber compounds allows different tires to be best suited for a particular temperature range.

Winter tires are built to perform optimally at sub-zero temperatures in snowy conditions. Winter tires have a large number of soft and flexible treads. Winter tire change provides a better grip and traction on icy roads. To put it in simple terms, winter tires are well equipped to handle cold climate conditions. However, when the temperature warms up the features of winter tires become ineffective. This is the time to roll out your winter tires and go for an all-season tire change.

In warmer temperatures, the rubber compound from which the winter tires are made becomes too soft. Driving with winter tires on dry and hot pavements will wear them out quickly. The friction between the tires and the road results in the generation of tremendous heat. This has a significant impact on braking and vehicle handling.

Are All Season Tires Good for Snow?

All season tires are engineered to enable hassle-free driving for the major phases of the year, i.e. during spring, summer and early fall. They can move smoothly over muddy and wet roads. The rubber compounds that make up all-season tires can resist heat and do not wear down quickly on hot and dry roads. Also, the unique tread design on all season tires offers great year-round performance for driving. An all-season tire change also offers a comfortable ride during light winter conditions when there is no snow accumulation on the road.

When it comes to a tire change, timing is everything. It is best to keep an eye on the weather conditions and opt for the appropriate tire change to match the conditions. Whether it is a winter tire change or an all-season tire change, you must never be in a hurry or too slow to switch over the tires. But once the snow and cold have disappeared it is time for you to get an all-season tire change done.

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