Tire Shop Tips: Top Tire Brands for Vancouver's Unique Driving Conditions

Enjoy a Firm Grip on the Road — No Matter the Weather

Living in Vancouver, we experience a wide range of weather conditions, from torrential downpours to blanket snow cover. While some drivers may opt for a one-size-fits-all solution, such as an all-season tire, other drivers may discover that they need more targeted solutions for Vancouver's changing weather. At Gaynor’s Automotive, we understand the importance of quality tires that meet your needs, and we feature a full selection of top-brand tires to give you the traction and confidence that you’re looking for. Our tire shop offers all of the leading brands of tires so that you can find exactly what fits your vehicle at a price that you can afford.

Let's explore the different types of tires for Vancouver's changing weather conditions, and be sure to browse for tires at our tire shop in Vancouver. 

Explore the Different Types of Tires

All tires aren’t created the same. Every tire has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on its construction and design. For example, summer tires are great for maximum grip in wet and dry conditions, but their soft compounds make them prone to faster tire wear. Because of its grooved design that strives to minimize hydroplaning, these tires are exceptional during the summer; however, during the winter, when maximum traction is needed, you'll find that these tires may struggle to get a grip on the road. 

Similarly, each type of tire is suitable for differing needs, which is why many drivers opt for a particular type of tire throughout the year. Often, drivers will choose all-season tires and drive on these throughout the year and then switch to snow tires during winter for maximum grip. 

Here are the types of tires that our Vancouver tire shop carries that will help you through every season of the year: 

All-Season Tires

All-season tires are common and are great for year-round use. Designed to combat both wet and dry conditions, these tires can also perform adequately in snow. Though all-season tires aren’t as effective in the winter as snow tires, they can be used year-round without having to switch tires with the changing seasons. Additionally, all-season tires typically feature service lives of up to 80,000 miles. 

Here are some of the top tire brands that make exceptional all-season tires:

• Pirelli 
• Michelin 
• Continental 
• Bridgestone

All-Weather Tires

Like all-season tires, all-weather tires are also designed to be used year-round but are more capable than all-season tires. While all-season tires are great for year-round driving, all-weather tires are designed to overcome more severe weather. All-weather tires are also great in rain and snow conditions, making them a fantastic year-round solution for Vancouver drivers who don't want to change their tires when the seasons change. 

Here are the top all-weather tire manufacturers:

• Michelin
• Goodyear
• Bridgestone
• Nokian 
• Continental

What’s the Difference?

Some drivers will refer to all-season and all-weather tires interchangeably. However, it's important to note that these are two different types of tires. While both types of tires are designed for year-round use, they’re for two different kinds of weather. All-season tires are for milder conditions and are designed with comfort and longevity in mind. Because of this, all-season tires may struggle in deep snow and heavy rain conditions but will offer superior dry land performance, along with a quiet and comfortable ride.

All-weather tires, on the other hand, use deeper grooves and are designed for more intense weather. This makes them the superior choice for heavier rains and deeper snows. Additionally, all-weather tires can even perform on ice. However, due to their deeper grooves, all-weather tires sacrifice ride comfort and noise levels and may reduce handling capabilities on dry roads. 

Snow Tires

Snow tires, commonly referred to as winter tires, are designed to offer maximum traction in snow, ice, and slush. These types of tires are available with and without studs for added traction on ice and typically feature special rubber compounds that perform well in below-freezing temperatures. These types of tires should only be used in snow conditions and should not be driven on your vehicle year-round.

Top snow tire brands include:

• Michelin 
• Dunlop
• Continental
• Pirelli

Summer Tires

Summer tires are designed with grooves intended to improve traction on wet and dry roads. Because these tires are intended to maximize performance, they often wear faster and may not perform as well during heavy rain and snow. In reality, summer tires aren’t safe to operate in snow.

Top summer tire brands include:

• Bridgestone 
• Pilot
• Pirelli
• Dunlop
• Goodyear
• Hankook

Enjoy Trustworthy Tire Service in Vancouver

Regardless of the type of tire your vehicle needs, our Vancouver tire shop is here to help. We feature a full selection of the top tire brands for you to choose from, and we even offer affordable prices to make tire shopping easy and hassle-free. Our Vancouver tire shop strives for excellence, so we make sure that your vehicle is always in the right hands by ensuring that each of our mechanics is ASE-certified. Additionally, you’ll find money-saving service coupons that help you save while taking advantage of great service. 

Schedule an appointment at Gaynor’s Automotive and find out why drivers trust our Vancouver tire shop for all of their tire-related needs.