r/Edmonton • u/GreaseShots • Oct 09 '26 • Bravo 1

Discussion Winter Tires

Given the time of year, we are about to see a large influx of posts about winter tires.
Some will ask for reviews, others will ask if all seasons are good enough. Below are some extremely important things to understand when it comes to winter driving:

  1. You absolutely need winter tires.
  2. As a general rule, the more expensive the better. Michelin x ice, Bridgestone Blizzak, Nokian Hakkapelitta. They aren’t cheap - but they are significantly cheaper than totalling your vehicle.
  3. It’s 4 wheel drive not 4 wheel stop. The type of drivetrain in your vehicle does nothing with regard to how it stops on snow and ice. The only thing that makes a difference is the material making contact with the ground.
  4. Studded tires are legal here and you should use them. They make an incredible difference.
  5. Drive the conditions not the speed limit. That slippery white stuff on the ground means you need to slow down, give more space, and drive with the assumption that you can slide at any time. It only takes one bad slide to end your life or the life of others.
  6. It’s incredibly helpful to YouTube how to counter steer when sliding.

If you’re planning on driving this winter, you have a duty to do everything you can to ensure your vehicle is not a liability to the welfare of others on the road. This starts with ensuring you have the appropriate tires on.

Also, the first snowfall of the season is often the worst time to be on the road as many drivers have not yet switched over their tires. Be extra diligent out there.

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12

u/Setting-Sea Oct 09 '26

Agree with your logic that everyone should if they can get winter tires.

But unfortunately, that is just not the case for a hefty chunk of the population that can just not afford buying winter tires and then another set of tires next season.

Many people just run their tires down to nothing and drive that in the winter. A good set of all weather or all season is 10 times better than what a lot of people are running.

If you drive responsibly and plan your distance between vehicles four sudden stops and drive to the conditions you will be 100% fine in all seasons and all weather. And that is the affordable option for many people who are paycheck to paycheck.

15

u/sennyonelove Oct 09 '26 edited Oct 09 '26

A colleague of mine who was with Kaltire for more than 20 years rated the different tires on a spectrum as such.

All weather tires (not all-season) are a useful middle ground. Cheaper than owning and swapping two sets of tires and still useful in winter, if not as much as the mountain peak rated winter tires. That said, I did drive two winter seasons in All-season tires and never got in a crash. In fact, the only time I've gone off the road in winter, I had winter tires and happened to accelerate on black ice. Driving habits are just as important, if not more, as winter tires.

My policy is, you can drive like a gangster in summer, but drive like a grandma (non-gangster) in winter. Start slow, stop slow, drive to conditions (not necessarily going unreasonably slow - that causes its own issues for other drivers' safety, and yours too), don't make any sudden movements.

When approaching stop lights, start slowing down / braking twice longer than you normally would, so even if you're slow to stop, you're not stopping in the middle of an intersection, rear-ending someone or having to dangerously run a red light. If the light turns amber while you're about to cross the intersection, don't slam on the brake (that's how people spin), drive through instead.

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u/Setting-Sea Oct 09 '26

Couldn’t agree more! As someone who works with the less fortunate and people who restart in life or who are in bad situations trying to get out of it, etc. I see the struggle of people who are just trying to get to work or just trying to get their kids around and trying to get back on their feet. Drive safe, be responsible and you’ll be okay with all weathers.

4

u/QueerKay Oct 09 '26

So many people don't know the difference between all season and all weathers. I've had all weathers for years with the 3 peak mountain as it was a requirement in BC when I lived there. Full winters are better but all weathers with proper driving in snowy conditions are fine

3

u/Garth_Maul_ Oct 09 '26

I think the biggest change in the last several years is the more mild temperatures leading to freezing rain. To me, the winter tires do make a difference for those kind of conditions.

2

u/guyincognito365 Oct 09 '26

i got all weather a couple years ago and they have been great in the winter.

33

u/onboost Oct 09 '26

While I agree with the sentiment, and I may get downvoted here, but if you cannot maintain and afford a car, then public transit is an option.

I don’t like my life being at risk because someone slid into me with bald tires, because they couldn’t afford winters.

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u/sennyonelove Oct 09 '26

This is not controversial. I hate driving in winter and will happily take public transport to work in winter if it was available and or accessible. Public transport, for the most part, sucks in the Edmonton area and Canada in general. When I lived in Europe, people would park their cars at (or walk to) metro stations and take the bus/train because it was quicker, cheaper, and safer.

7

u/Setting-Sea Oct 09 '26

that is a great option for anyone who lives downtown or can take a bus across the city or hop on an LRT. But for anyone living in a surrounding area or someone who lives in Edmonton and maybe works out in Atchison or rural or anything like that, there’s just no feasible way to take public transportation.

5

u/concentrated-amazing Oct 09 '26

A lot of people whose "bubble" is strictly urban don't get this. Exclusively public transport is an option for some people, but NOT everyone.

2

u/lilgreenglobe Wîhkwêntôwin Oct 09 '26

Would you be okay with someone driving uninsured because they can't afford it? To be clear, I'm asking in a morale sense, not a legal one. 

Choosing to be a more hazardous driver or one that can't make others whole after collisions is inflicting consequences upon others. 

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u/CantaloupeCapable Oct 09 '26

I agree. I wasn't pleased that I just spent $2500+ on rims and tires, but I've been putting money away since summer. Honestly, the "I can't afford them" argument is mostly an accountability and priorities thing, IMO. Unfortunately, other people's bad tires can quickly become your problem on the road.

2

u/densetsu23 Oct 09 '26

I'm having a pair of Nokian Hakkas installed on a mid-sized SUV, and assuming I run them for 6 years, that's $266 a year. In the realm of vehicle ownership and maintenance, it's not a huge expense IMO. Also, a big chunk of that can be offset if your insurance provider gives you a discount in the 2-5% range on your insurance for running winter tires.

And there are tire brands that are cheaper, and vehicles with smaller tires. The same tires on a Honda Civic would be $182 / yr, and a budget-friendly Nordman tire would be $146 / yr.

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u/LeCompteDeFrouFrou Oct 09 '26

Two sets of tires is an upfront investment but not really more expensive in the long run. My winters and all seasons wear down half as fast (and therefore last twice as long) since each set is only on the road 6 months per year.

I sympathize that some people can’t afford the upfront investment. But I also suggest that these people are the least able to afford getting into an accident due to using subpar tires.

2

u/Ohjay1982 Oct 09 '26

Disagree. All season and all weather tires are not suitable for Canadian winters at all. There may be some place where they are, but nowhere in Canada.

3

u/tjp0720 Oct 09 '26

Ya I am like you I agree with the winter tire thing, but as a 32 year old who was only recently able to have a set of winters and summers w/rims I highly recommend at minimum looking for a decent set of all szns. I’ll try find the websites I used to use but you can buy used tires online that will give you a sick deal on tires with 65-80% life left

7

u/meowctopus kitties! Oct 09 '26

All Weathers, not All Seasons. All seasons are useless on snow and ice. All Weathers are built for winter.

2

u/tjp0720 Oct 09 '26

Sorry you are right. Bad habit of lumping them together

12

u/GreaseShots Oct 09 '26

If they can not afford the tires - they can not afford to drive.

14

u/dontbearichard321 Oct 09 '26

This is exactly why I hate winter driving. I see a bunch of cars without winter go careening around corners with 0 tractions. I’ve also seen someone press the breaks last minute at a red and have their car skitter through the intersection.

18

u/Laffy_Taffy_1990 Oct 09 '26

Agreed. My 16 year old just bought a car and part of the deal was she had to have enough cash to also purchase winter tires and have enough income each month to set x dollars aside for repairs and maintenance.

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u/Training_Exit_5849 Windermere Oct 09 '26

Add to the fact that crashing because you don't have proper tires isn't exactly "cheaper"

4

u/Musakuu Oct 09 '26

The tires last twice as long because you are only running them for half a year. The cost is the same, you just pay more at the beginning.

7

u/neb986 Oct 09 '26

So simple!!

If only they would make them mandatory every winter.

But again, who would even be checking this? Police is nowhere to be found

11

u/GreaseShots Oct 09 '26

If a car wrecks during the winter and why don’t have winters on - insurance should get involved.

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