There are 4 basic tire types Summer, Winter, All Season, and Light Truck. Summer tires are generally a higher performance tire with a limited water rating. Winter tires use a softer rubber compound for traction on icy surfaces and an aggressive open tread design for snow and slush. Winter tires will wear much faster in warm weather and so should be installed in late fall and changed over to summer tires in the early spring. All Season tires split the difference between summer and winter tires and offer summer tire performance with enhanced grip for winter driving. The last category Light Truck tires are exactly that – meant for light trucks. They range from high millage highway tires to open tread off road tires. They also have higher load ranges for hauling loads.

Like everything else higher prices generally means higher quality. On more expensive tires the rubber compounds are made to offer smooth ride and higher wear characteristics. The design usually uses more layers (Plys). In 2008 I bought a 2003 Yukon Denali which had Pirelli Scorpion tires. It also had a set of Pirelli winter tires. I have never bought Pirelli tires because of the expense. However I still have the Denali and I’m still driving on the same Pirelli tires and they look like new. I have put over 100,000 Kilometers on that vehicle and the tires still have lots tread life. If you are planning to keep your vehicle for a long time an expensive tire will save money by outlasting cheaper tires.

I had always used all season tires until I bought the Yukon Denali which came with winter tires. I could not believe the difference. In both traction and stopping power on ice and snow, the winter tires were amazing. The cost of using winter tires is balanced by the fact that you have two complete sets of tires and use each for half the year and therefore get twice the wear life. I would advise anyone in Calgary given our winters that winter tires are well worth using. They will pay off in safety and piece of mind knowing you and your family is safer.