Tire Talk: Staying safe on the road
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Choosing tires that best suit your winter driving needs helps ensure a safer experience
The final part of a three-part series about how tires are key to safe driving.
Tires may not jump to mind when thinking about groundbreaking technology. But truth be told, tires enhanced with technological innovations play the most critical role in any vehicle -- helping keep us safe.
When it comes to winter tires in particular, decades of enhancements have redefined their performance. The first winter tire dates back to the 1930s. A new, thicker tread was introduced in Finland to help trucks negotiate the roads amid horses and carts. Studded tires debuted in the 1960s, and in 1999, the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol was created to denote tires that have passed a standard snow traction test.
In fact, winter tires are commonly referred to as snow tires, but “winter isn’t just about snow,” says Farrell Scott, winter product category manager with Michelin. “Winter consists of many different conditions – snow, ice, slush, for example. Consumers are in search of a tire that addresses all of their winter needs.”
Scott encourages drivers to look beyond the 3PMSF symbol, and consider whether a tire meets their specific winter driving needs.
Does your area get lots of slushy, wet snow or do you regularly drive on frozen, icy roads? Or, perhaps you drive an all-wheel-drive vehicle so you think you don’t need winter tires at all. “All-wheel drive helps you get going, but it doesn’t help you stop,” says Scott. “Winter tires are what make the difference in snow and ice braking.” Only winter tires are designed to handle all of winter’s elements. Choosing tires that fit your vehicle and your requirements will ensure a safer winter driving experience.
Rubber compounds and tread design
“Winter tires have evolved a lot from just snow traction,” says Scott. “Tires have improved through materials, tread design and siping to offer performance on any winter road surface.”
When it comes to rubber compounds, many winter tires are formulated with silica. “Silica helps keep the rubber flexible in cold temperatures so they can grip winter roads,” explains Scott. “You need a rubber that’s able to withstand the cold so tires don’t harden and slide as the temperature drops.”
Winter tread design has moved from traditional grooves that run lengthwise to more lateral grooves. Cutting the tread at angles creates voids – or spaces in the tread – that help evacuate slush and rain more quickly from the tire. Doing so helps to avoid hydroplaning in wet conditions.
Siping, which refers to small slits in a tire’s tread block, further improves traction by providing an increased claw effect on snow and ice. “When the sipes open, they allow for better grip on the road because they act as biting edges,” says Scott. Sipes accomplish for tires more traction on slippery ground, just as ice cleats do for boots.
“You want a tread that defines and optimizes the void, a tread sculpture with siping, and a compound that stays flexible for the highest level of traction for snow and ice,” he affirms.
All-weather versus winter
With the evolution of tire technology, a new type of tire – the all-weather tire – has emerged. All-weather tires are not to be confused with all-season or winter tires. All-weather tires offer improved snow performance over all-season tires and improved summer performance over winter tires with the added benefit of not having to swap tires between seasons. “They find the sweet spot between winter and summer,” says Scott.
But he cautions that while an all-weather tire can navigate snow, there’s no guarantee that it will execute in icy conditions. “One of the main things for safety is performance on ice – how a tire stops on ice, accelerates on ice and turns on ice,” says Scott.
“What a consumer needs to understand is that there may not be any level of ice testing done on an all-weather tire. It’s not required for the 3PMSF symbol. Simply put, all-weathers cannot substitute for winter tires.”
All-weather tires provide more peace of mind in winter than all-season tires, but because they stay on year-round in changing road conditions and temperatures, they tend not to last as long as summer or winter tires. For many of us, longevity of tires is important. But beyond just lasting a long time, tires also need to continue to perform well.
“Because tires are built in layers, sometimes you only have the ‘good stuff’ at the beginning,” explains Scott. That means the tire only has a good performance profile when it’s new. “We created a brand new compound where you get a micro-rough surface as the tire wears,” he says. “So, we’ve been able to demonstrate that from new through to end of life, Michelin tires can deliver leading winter performance. You want your tires to last, but you also want the performance to match.”
Tire technology will continue to advance, giving us even better performance, longevity and safety. It’s up to consumers to take advantage of these innovations – taking the time to find tires that best suit their driving needs.
Winter tire buyer’s checklist
Here’s a quick rundown of things to consider when shopping for winter tires. Most importantly, consider tires that meet your winter driving needs.
Tread design: Look for blockier grooves that create voids to evacuate slush, and full use of the contact patch for optimal grip performance on wet, snow, slush and ice conditions.
Tire compound: Consider silica-based compounds that maintain flexibility in severe cold climate conditions.
Siping: Having these biting edges means more of a claw effect on snow and ice.
Long-lasting performance:
Ask about testing with wear to ensure that the tires will provide longevity and winter performance throughout their life cycle.
For more stories from this feature, visit globeandmail.com