A reliable way to get yourself into trouble is to drive into winter weather in a vehicle that is not suitable for slippery conditions. The first is proper vehicle maintenance and decide whether to install a set of snow tires on your car, truck or SUV.

Snow tires—or more accurately, “winter tires”—have special rubber compounds and tread designs that allow them to maintain grip in weather conditions where standard tires perform poorly. If you live in an area with snow, ice or cold temperatures, winter tires can provide you with safety advantages that all-season tires cannot provide.

“Winter tires” is an industry term that is often used instead of “snow tires” because the new tire design improves the car’s acceleration, braking, and steering capabilities, even in cold and dry weather.

The mission of winter tires is to expand the range of conditions under which the tires maintain grip and provide traction when ordinary tires are sliding. They can be an expensive purchase, so buyers will want to see if they need to buy them and when to put them in their car.

Robert Saul, director of North American consumer product strategy at Bridgestone, said: “If you live in a climate where temperatures continue to be below 40 degrees Celsius or lower for a long time, I think you should consider using winter tires.”

Saul added that if you often go to the mountains to participate in winter sports, your hobbies may also influence your decision.

Tests conducted by Transport Canada and the Canadian Rubber Association have shown that all-season tires deviate from the test track at a speed of 40 to 50 km/h; this will not happen to cars equipped with winter tires.

A study by the Quebec government concluded that installing suitable winter tires on your vehicle can increase braking performance by up to 25% and collision avoidance by approximately 38% compared to all-season radial tires.

New car manufacturers recommend properly fitted winter tires, to achieve the best safety and performance during winters.