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When Should You Take Off Your Winter Tires?

A car in summer terrain
Spring is finally here, and for vehicle owners, it is a cue to take off their winter tires. Snow tires don’t do well in summer because of their deep tread depth and soft tread compound, which increases the thermal load of the tires while driving on warm road surfaces. If you’re thinking of leaving them on for spring and/or summer, that’s a big no-no. Winter tires are designed for traction on slippery winter roads. When you notice the icy winter blanket clearing off and the temperatures start hovering around 7°C and above, get your winter tires swapped with summer or all-season tires right away. Stay tuned to learn further about the perfect time to get rid of your winter tires with the experienced technicians at S&B Keswick Motors, your go-to car dealership, offering a comprehensive range of certified services like seasonal tire changes. 

[Read More: End of Winter Auto Maintenance Tips]

Why Should You Not Leave Winter Tires On Through Spring & Summer

Driving conditions change significantly during both winter and summer. Winter driving is tricky because of the sloppy road conditions. On the other hand, in summer, the warm road surface is your biggest challenge. For those who don’t know, the rubber compound and different designs play a significant role in tire construction and performance, helping you withstand the challenges of differing seasons. Moreover, many vehicle owners also think that winter tire treads help you get through rain smoothly and easily, but that’s not always the case because they’re primed to push the snow away, and their rubber material more easily wears away on the hot road surface. While summer tires are ready for rain and prevent hydroplaning with their larger surface area and broader tread pattern. 

Leaving on your winter tires may also affect your fuel economy, delivering less gas mileage. They also lead to poor stability in the summer and spring, extending stopping power and leading to unruly responsiveness. The limited stability on spring and summer road surfaces may also lead to different sorts of safety concerns. 

When is the Best Time to Swap Back to Your Summer Tires?

As mentioned above, the standard recommendation to switch back to your summer tires is when the temperature consistently stays around and above 7℃. If you’re using this factor for swapping your tires, please keep an eye on the forecast for at least a week or two, as the weather in Ontario can be a little playful. You may get snow showers in spring as well, so plan your tire swap accordingly. This may sound like a hassle for some, but you can also swap to spring tires before putting on your summer tires, as they’re fully capable of withstanding the last drizzle of snow dust while providing the necessary stability and fuel economy on warm road surfaces. 

Need help with a tire change? Visit the service department at S&B Keswick Motors, where our highly trained technicians use the industry standard practices and OEM recommendations to take care of your vehicles. To book an appointment, call us at 844-510-1513, today!