WINTER TIRES - Most Frequently Asked Questions?

Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding the Toyo line-up of winter tires. If they do not answer most of your concerns please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to help.

QUESTIONS
	1.	Which Toyo Tires Have "Microbit" Technology?
	2.	Which snow tire best suites my application?
	3.	Can I run all season tires all year?
	4.	Is it OK to run snow tires all year?
	5.	Why should I bother to run snow tires when we rarely get snow just cold weather?
	6.	Should I buy 2 or 4 snow tires?

ANSWERS

1. Which Toyo Tires Have Microbit Technology? All of the Toyo Observe tires have "Microbit" technology. They have been designed to handle differently in the various snow conditions or for different vehicle applications however all have "Microbit" technology which increases handling and braking in ice and compacted snow conditions. The award winning "Microbit" technology is embedded throughout the entire depth of the tread so you are ensured added traction for the life of the tire.

2. Which snow tire best suites my application? Each Toyo winter tire is designed for a specific application. Although the products perform well in all winter weather conditions slight variations give you added grip or comfort depending on your driving requirements. Here is a summary of their applications.

Snow Tire Comparison Chart
	OBSERVE GO-2 plus	GARIT HT	SNOWPROX S-952	OPEN COUNTRY G-02 plus
Microbit Technology	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Frapontite	Yes	No	No	Yes
Application	Deep snow & ice conditions	Snow & ice conditions	Snow & Wet conditions	Deep snow & ice conditions
Summary:	Designed with an aggressive unidirectional tread pattern for superior performance in extreme snow and ice conditions, the Toyo OBSERVE G-02 plus winter tire technology was specifically built to handle Canada's most brutal winters.	Designed for the performance car driver who requires the added traction of a snow tire yet maintaining an "H" speed rating. Excellent in ice & compacted snow.	Designed for high performance winter application in both Europe and North America the SNOWPROX S952 blends a serious and innovative new tread design with state of the art technology.	For the Light Truck, Van or SUV driver looking for good traction in the snow. Also great for those trips to the ski hills etc. where unplowed roads may be encountered. Excellent in ice & compacted snow.

3. Can I run all season tires all year? This is a common question however the answer should be No in all cases. All season tires handle great in summer and wet rainy conditions however are not designed to cope with winter conditions. Snow tires are designed to run in colder temperatures which have a tendency to harden the rubber compound. Tires need to be pliable to work properly when braking, cornering etc. When a tire hardens in the cold it looses some of its ability to functions properly. A snow tire in turn is designed to work in lower temperatures to ensure maximum traction at all times. Safety should always be the main concern when considering snow tires over all season tires even if in your area you only see the occasional yearly accumulations.

4. Is it OK to run snow tires all year round? The answer to this question is Yes however not recommended. Snow tires are designed to run in colder temperatures. A softer compound is needed to compensate for the lower winter temperatures, which harden the rubber compound of a tire. During the summer when temperatures become very hot a snow tire will become even softer. This softer tire will not handle as well as a summer or all season tires and could wear faster. Your driving comfort and the threat of rapid wear are more than enough reasons why you should change your tires seasonally. Based on a study conducted by the Quebec Ministry of transport : Conclusion: Furthermore, during the braking, a crucial operation toward road safety, the Winter tires offer superior performance compared to the All Season tires. Consequently, any driver concerned with road safety as well as the safety of others during the cold season, will have good Winter tires installed on his vehicle.

5. It is more expensive to run snow tires, why should I bother? Changing from winter tires to summer or all season tires is a bit of a hassle, however the only cost incurred is the cost of remounting your tires. Winter tires used during the months when they are designed will last for many years extending the life of your summer tires. It can actually save you money when considering the costs of replacing a high performance tire sooner. A way to reduce the changeover cost is to have a second set of steel rims with snow tires already mounted.

6. Should I buy 2 or 4 snow tires? It has been proven time and time again that 4 snow tires are always safer than just 2. If you do decide to go with just 2 tires, regardless if you have a front wheel vehicle or rear wheel vehicle it is recommenced that you place the higher traction snow tire on the rear of the vehicle. This may seam backwards for a front wheel drive vehicle however MOST accidents occur when a driver looses control of the rear end of the vehicle usually when an emergency braking situation occurs around a corner. This can also happen during an evasive maneuver. If the winter tires are on the front of the vehicle the front tires stop quicker, the rear of the vehicle however will have a tendency to continue resulting in loss of control. Even worse is when traveling around a corner if you mounted the winter tires on the front they will grip properly however if the rear tires loose grip they could send you spinning into oncoming traffic. Get four tires or mount the winter tires in the rear of the vehicle.