Some motorists avoid the switch to winter tires. But it's time for a reality check. All season tires don't have the traction to stand up to the cold. When the temperature dips below seven degrees Celsius, all season tires harden and lose traction, compromising handling and performance. In fact, winter tires offer 50 percent more traction.
Most important, winter tires provide 30 percent better stopping power than all season tires.
Winter tires provide a more aggressive tread and a softer rubber compound appropriate for the extreme cold. That means when the tire presses down on the road surface, it grips better. In the old days, it also meant that winter tires were noisy and didn't perform as well. But with modern technology, treads are aggressive without being noisy or compromising performance.
Some drivers believe having all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) eliminates the need for winter tires, but that's not true. AWD and 4WD can help with traction off the line, but do absolutely nothing to help with braking. And technology such as ABS and traction control does not provide more traction in icy or snowy conditions. That's the job of the winter tire, with its specially designed compound and tread.
Whether you're driving on snow or even ice, you'll get better control over braking and cornering with winter tires. You won't get stuck when there's a snowfall, or worry about spinning out in slippery conditions.
It makes good economic sense to make the switch, as you're saving wear and tear on your all-season tires by only using them for part of the year. Car Help Canada recommends mounting winter tires on a separate set of wheels from your all-season/summer tires. This will reduce the cost of tire changes and prevent long-term damage to the tires.
Sailun's Iceblazer winter tires offer strong value for money and top-notch winter performance.
With so many different tire brands to consider, how do you know which ones are best? Car Help Canada recommends the Sailun Iceblazer lineup; an affordable range of winter tires that claims to offer the quality and performance of many top-tier tire brands for far less than you’d expect to pay.
Like many top-rated winter tires, the Sailun Iceblazer lineup of tires has been professionally tested to deliver true cold weather performance in all types of winter driving conditions. They deliver strong winter performance through the use of a soft rubber compound and an intricate tread design. The tread pattern consists of aggressive sipes and V-channels which are designed to channel snow, slush, and water for maximum grip in severe conditions.
Sailun offers three Iceblazer models which are available in a wide range of popular sizes. The Iceblazer WSL2 is a studless performance winter tire designed and engineered for sedan, coupe and crossover application. The WST1 is a similar tire but can be studded for maximum traction. The WST2 is another studdable model designed for passenger trucks and SUVs.
The Sailun Iceblazer is available at an aggressive price point when compared to other more expensive major winter tire brands on the market. Sailun claims that its tires can be priced up to 30 percent less than comparable tires from other big name brands. For those who prioritize value for money, the Sailun Iceblazer should be strongly considered for your next winter tire.
We compared the price of the popular Sailun Iceblazer WST1 to other winter tires using the tire search feature on Fountain Tire, a reputable tire distributor. At the time of our search, a set of four Sailun Iceblazers in size 215/55/R16 cost $499.96 plus mounting, balancing, and sales tax. Comparable winter tires from other similarly reputable brands cost anywhere from $563.96 to $741.16 plus fees and taxes for the same tire size.
Like most Sailun Tire products, the lineup of Iceblazer winter tires come with an excellent manufacturer warranty. The tires come with up to a 60-month warranty and are covered under the no-charge Sailun Tire road hazard replacement program for total peace of mind.
Winter tires can save you money on auto insurance.
In Ontario, motorists can save on their insurance by installing winter tires. "Check your policy to find out when the winter tires have to be installed," says Debbie Arnold, Group Business development Manager at Sound Insurance Services. "If you don't have them installed by the specified date, and have an accident related to weather, you may be without coverage."
She advises saving your receipt when you purchase winter tires, or sending a copy to your insurance provider. "Some companies will not allow the discount without proof of purchase," Ms. Arnold says. "Also check to see if there are any restrictions on the age of the tires."
The discount varies from carrier to carrier, ranging from one percent up to 10 percent. It will not apply to comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage. All winter tires showing the snowflake/alpine insignia should be eligible for the discount, but restrictions exist and vary from one carrier to another.
In Quebec, mandatory use of winter tires has resulted in a three percent drop in deaths and serious road injuries.
For a more thorough review of the Sailun Iceblazer, please see our tire test final verdict article.
Those who are interested in purchasing Sailun tires should check out this tire locator tool which offers a map of nearest locations.