With all signs pointing towards winter’s impending arrival, some drivers may be wondering if they should be switching to winter tires on their vehicles.

But what do winter tires have that regular tires don’t have?

“Full winter tires have walnut-shell media mixed in with the rubber and everything for better traction and grip on the ice and better stopping distances and that,” explained Chad Garling, Owner and Operator of Hillview Services in Weyburn. “There’s so many new tires nowadays, the technology is getting better and better, with the siping in the tires, and just better stability in the cold.”

He said winter tires are designed specifically for the cold. All-season tires, he noted, are for every season except for winter.

“Summer tires are only good above zero,” he said.

“There’s all-weather, that are kind of a mix between the two,” he said. “They have decent cold performance and decent summer performance also, and decent wear in the summertime."

He explained the difference between all-season / summer tires and winter tires is the materials used to make them.

"There’s all manner of materials mixed in with the rubber,” he said.

Garling noted that all-season tires are great for the spring, summer and fall, but due to the extreme winters with volumes of snow in southeast Saskatchewan, winter tires are the best to use here in wintertime.

Studded tires, he said are banned in some provinces, but they're becoming unnecessary these days with the way winter tires are being made.

Garling noted that, at this time of year, it's worthwhile to have all-season tires switched out for winter tires.