As the weather takes a turn for the better, snow and ice-covered roads seem to be a distant memory.
With BC residents gearing up for summer, it’s important to remember that you should be taking off those winter tires as they’re no longer required on routes in British Columbia.
Winter tires were needed from Oct. 1 of last year through Mar. 31 for most roads in BC, whereas select highways with heavy snowfall required tires until April 30.
Now that freezing temperatures are a thing of the past, driving on your winter tires when the thermometer starts to heat up can be destructive for your expensive four pieces of rubber.
The rubber for winter tires is designed to work best in the cold - they are made less effective at dispersing heat, which increases the risk of over-inflating and blowouts.
Soft rubber tread will change shape, creating more resistance in the heat and acceleration, cornering and braking will all be compromised.
Driving with winter tires in the summer can cause many issues with your wheels, tire tread pattern, and lack the necessary qualities to have a safer drive.
Using winter tires in the summer can also reduce their lifespan by 60%, but if properly cared for and stored can last for multiple seasons.
It may cost a pretty penny to get them changed over, but in the long run, it can save you a whole lot of time and money.
