Tire types explained

We spoke to Steve Carpino, Senior Consultant on Product Design and Development for Pirelli Tire North America, about the main categories of tire available to BC consumers:

All-season tires:

Formulated for a balance of attributes like comfort, noise and traction in wet, dry and light-snow conditions, all-seasons usually come with a high tread-wear rating, meaning excellent longevity. A better name would be “three-season tires,” however, as their rubber hardens and loses grip below 7°C.

Winter tires:

Created with softer rubber that maintains grip in temperatures below 7°C, winter tires boast a level of cold-weather traction superior to all other types. The three-peak mountain symbol (see above) on the sidewall means the tire has passed a government-regulated test for traction on medium-packed snow. Some winter tires come with metal studs that dig into ice, although there are laws governing when and where you can use them (in BC, tires with studs up to two millimetres are allowed on highways October 1 to April 30).

Mud and snow tires:

A variety of all-season tire (identifiable by the “M+S” designation on the sidewall), these are designed with blockier and deeper grooves for evacuating mud and snow. As well, extra siping, or small cuts across the tread four to seven millimetres deep, open to bite the road surface (see the diagram on p. 20).

All-weather tires:

“Think of these as all-seasons with a focus on the more extreme winter conditions of snow, ice and low temperatures,” says Carpino. These are an option for drivers in frigid climates who want a year-round tire, as the rubber compound is designed to stay flexible above and below 7°C. Yet they can’t provide the same level of cold-weather performance as true winter tires, and they typically wear more quickly in warm weather than traditional all-seasons.

High-performance tires:

Sometimes known as summer tires, these are usually found on sport- or premium-segment vehicles. They’re capable of travelling at high speeds and designed to yield a high level of steering response and wet-dry traction. “The improved steering response may give a slightly harsher [or bumpier] ride compared to the all-season range of tires,” says Carpino.

Caring for your tires

First and foremost: make sure your tires are always pumped to the correct psi, as indicated on the car’s driver-side doorjamb, says Stu Miller, Senior Operations Manager with BCAA Auto Service Centres. This helps with everything from ride quality to preventing accidental punctures. It also optimizes fuel economy, because driving on a tire that isn’t fully inflated expends extra energy. Regular tire rotation is also key to preventing early wear and other adverse symptoms – he recommends doing this every 10,000 to 12,000 kilometres.

It’s easy to monitor the health of your tread using tires’ built-in wear bars, notes Miller (turn the page to see a diagram).

“Wear bars are designed to be a visual indicator to tell you when the tires are worn out,” says Miller.

“When the top of the tread is even with what looks like a little speed bump in-between the tread pattern, the tires are essentially worn out.” And even if the treads look fine, have your tires checked annually by a professional, because rubber can degrade over time.

“You run the risk of popping the tire, and it’s also more prone to picking up nails or debris that could pierce through,” says Miller. “There’s also a loss of traction, since there are fewer grooves and less siping remaining. That could seriously impair your ability to control your vehicle in an emergency situation.”