Across the country, cold weather is finally giving way to sunshine and summer, much to the delight of warm-weather enthusiasts. We've already mentioned it on this blog, but we can't stress it enough: these drastic weather changes have a significant impact on driving. Of course, snow-covered and icy roads are a thing of the past, but variations in temperature are also responsible for transformations invisible to the naked eye.
As a general rule, the hotter a material is, the more it expands and the more malleable it becomes. Your tires and the road are no exception to this law of physics! That's why the rubber on your winter tires is not suitable for summer use, and vice versa. That's pretty well known. But did you know that it's also the reason to remove studded tires? Pay close attention to the deadline in your province! In Quebec, for example, it's May 1, while in Ontario, it's May 31.
The advantages of studded tires
When you need maximum grip on hard-packed snow or ice, it's easy to see why studded tires are indispensable! Models like the Pirelli Ice Zero Studded are perfect for gripping slippery roads. Most urban drivers won't need this kind of performance, especially if they rarely leave the freeways. Indeed, in such cases, the studs in their tires reduce grip while compromising braking power. Quite the opposite of what you want!
What's more, it's important to understand that not all tires offer a studded version. On Blackcircles.ca, I invite you to look for the keywords "studded" or "studdable" throughout the various categories. Studded tires already include nails, while studdable tires have holes already drilled so you can install them yourself. Just don't try to do it with a conventional tire!
Why remove them?
With the exception of Saskatchewan and Alberta, all provinces have strict regulations governing the use of studded tires. In most cases, you'll have to get rid of them before the beginning of May! This may sound rather restrictive, but it's for good reason. Studded tires wear down the road surface much faster than conventional tires. The effect is even greater when there's no snow or ice on the road! Now that you know why, there's no reason to keep yours on in summer... Especially if you don't want to pay the fine!
