Winter Tires

Tires are the most ignored and underrated component of your vehicle. They are the only interface between your Honda and the road to provide traction to accelerate, steer and stop. Image Honda knows your vehicle best and will ensure it's equipped with the optimum choice of tire for your driving needs.

Winter Tires Winter

Winter tires stay flexible in temperatures below 7°C to provide the necessary traction for cold-weather driving conditions. They reduce braking distance on cold, wet, ice and snow-covered roads in comparison to all-season tires. The traction provided by winter tires enhances the performance of anti-lock braking systems (ABS), vehicle stability assist (VSA), traction control and all-wheel drive in winter conditions. Industry data shows that in cold weather, a vehicle equipped with winter tires has approximately a 40% less chance of being involved in a collision versus one equipped with all-season tires.

All-season tires are designed to provide traction and durability in a wide variety of seasonal road conditions. However, they cannot provide the same levels of traction in winter conditions as a proper winter tire. They are best suited for use in temperatures above 7°C.

1. Install four winter tires. This will help with the overall maintenance and the control and stability of your vehicle in icy conditions. Transport Canada and the Rubber Association of Canada highly recommend that you install winter tires in sets of four.

2. Mixing tires with different tread patterns, as well as, mixing internal construction and size of the tire, degrades the stability of the vehicle and should be avoided.

3. As a tire wears down, snow traction is reduced. Tires that are worn to 5/32nd have reduced traction and should not be used on snow-covered roads or in severe snow conditions.

4. For driving in excessive amounts of snow, your vehicle may require chains or studs. Studs are best suited for soft ice. Check with the local authorities about the legality of using these products.

5. Do not use Cruise Control during wintertime.

6. Do not follow too closely behind other vehicles. Give yourself extra time to stop safely.

7. Proper air pressure extends the tread life of the tire. It also improves safety and reduces fuel consumption: all vital factors in saving energy and protecting the environment. Tire pressure decreases when the tires are cold, usually when a vehicle has been left out overnight.

8. A warning to drivers of AWD vehicles: AWD technology is not a safety feature and will not give your tires more cornering or braking grip. AWD is a performance feature that enhances acceleration. Many drivers with AWD become overconfident and fail to realize that there is less grip when conditions deteriorate. Remember this rule when out on snowy roads: when traction decreases, so should speed.