5 min read · Cape Breton Car Wash
Installation is a job for a licensed technician. This guide covers buying, not installing. Have tires mounted, balanced and installed by a licensed technician.
When to switch
- The common advice in Canada: put winter tires on when temperatures stay at or below 7°C, and take them off when it stays above 7°C in the spring.
- In Cape Breton that's often late October to November, and back off around April. Book early. Shops get busy once the snow starts.
Look for the right symbol
- Mountain and snowflake (3 peaks with a snowflake) means the tire passed a standard snow traction test.
- M+S alone is not the same. Many all-season tires carry it.
Get the right size
- Your size is on the sticker inside the driver's door and on your current tires, for example 215/60R16 95H.
- 215 = width in mm. 60 = sidewall height as a % of width. R = radial. 16 = wheel size in inches. 95 = load index. H = speed rating.
- Match the size and load index your vehicle calls for. Ask a licensed technician before changing sizes.
- Buy a set of 4, all the same model. Mixing tires can make the car handle unevenly.
Tread depth
- Tread is often measured in 32nds of an inch. A tread depth gauge costs a few dollars.
- Many new winter tires start around 10/32 to 12/32 inch.
- Winter tires lose much of their snow grip as they wear. Many tire makers suggest replacing them around 5/32 inch (about 4 mm), well before the legal minimum.
Check the age
- Find the DOT code on the sidewall. The last 4 digits are the week and year it was made: 2223 = week 22 of 2023.
- Rubber ages even in storage. Ask for tires made recently, and think twice about tires over 6 years old.
Wheels or no wheels?
- A second set of wheels for your winter tires makes each spring and fall swap quicker and is easier on the tires.
- Steel wheels cost less and handle salt well. Ask what fits your vehicle.
General buying information, not advice for a specific vehicle.
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Hand wash and detailing on Grand Lake Rd, by appointment.