a man in overalls swapping a car tire

Do winter tires really make a difference?

We deal with a lot of snow and frigid temperatures. A lot of factors can contribute to whether or not winter tires can make a difference. Do you need winter tires if you have an SUV with all-wheel or four-wheel drive? Are all-season tires good enough? It’s important to understand how integral your tires are to safe driving.

Investing in a set of four snow or winter tires can make a huge difference. Most of today’s high-quality winter tires can almost make it seem like you’re driving on dry pavement when you’re actually on a snow-covered road. Handling and stopping are noticeably easier with a good set of snow tires.


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If you live in an area like Edmonton, conditions can quickly exceed the capability of an all-weather tires during the winter months. The difference between driving with a set of quality winter tires versus a set of factory or all-season tires is actually quite eye-opening.

Difference between winter tires and all-season tires

Finding the right tires to buy for the season can be difficult, as many of them can all promise great handling and performance no matter the condition. We recently came across this video by Jason Fenske of the YouTube channel “Engineering Explained,” which we hope you’ll find helpful in your search – check it out!



Can stopping and handling be improved?

Yes. Stopping and handling can be improved with winter or snow tires. Higher quality snow tires are generally more expensive, but can provide better performance. When you spend a lot of time on the road in the winter, buying quality snow tires can make a world of difference.

If you’ve recently noticed your vehicle slipping on the drive to work, it may be time to consider purchasing a set of snow tires. The team at Sherwood Ford serving Edmonton AB has more answers if you have any other questions about whether or not buying winter tires is right for your budget. Feel free to reach out to us over the website, give us a call, or stop by in person!