Although the forecast may still throw us a curveball (this is Ontario after all), it's pretty safe to assume that spring is upon us. So, when's the right time to take winter tires off?
Maybe you routinely put winter tires on at the first sign of snow, or perhaps this year was your first time - and sure, the first snowfall is usually a safe bet to put them on, but is the first sign of spring the right time to make the change again?
Does It Matter When You Take Winter Tires Off?
Is switching out your winters for your all seasons or summers something that you do you based on the calendar? Should they come off at the end of March? The middle of April? Are you clear to wait until May 1st?
Our advice: don't go by the date, go by the weather.
More specifically, once we have temperatures of 7 degrees (or even sooner).
Why? To get a good grip on icy, snowy roads, manufacturers use a soft rubber compound to make tires that gives them better flexibility in the cold. When the temperatures are low, this gives you extra handling and gripping power on winter roads. When the temperature goes up, this rubber becomes even more flexible which results in higher friction and less control.
This could even lead to a blowout if they become too soft.
Safety's An Issue
You also want to consider your safety when you're thinking about when to take winter tires off.
A few years ago CTV News tested winter tires in spring conditions and the results show why it's important to get this task done early.
Here's what they found:
- On the test track, winter tires didn't stop as well on both dry and wet pavements. The stopping distance was much longer with the winters compared to summers. When they tested emergency brakes, the winter tires needed about a half a car length more than the summers. Stopping power matters: "When it comes to emergency or accident-avoidance stopping, every inch counts and that distance could mean the difference between stopping in time and hitting something, or worse someone."
- The winters didn't grip as well on corners, especially in wet conditions. It's all about the grip: "During testing, maintaining speed and fluidity on the slalom course and on the wet, sharp-bending course was difficult on winters, and we felt the tires lose grip and slip. The winter tires also started howling when pushed in conditions the all-seasons handled fine."
Save Money
Maybe this is the best reason to switch them sooner rather than later: money. The soft rubber used for winter tires wears much faster at higher temperatures, which means the treads wear down faster and the tires won't last as long.
To make your tires last as long as possible, you should take winter tires off when your weather app shows the temps at or above seven degrees.
Just like the winter season, once the push to get those tires off starts, the spots will start to fill up, so save yourself the time and call us today to make an appointment. At CSR, we're your tire (and every other car repair) headquarters. Give us a shout today at (705) 796-1796.
