[Upbeat music plays.]
[The Lexus logo appears.]
[A caption reads: “Inside Look”]
Title, All Season vs Winter Tires
[Snow falls on trees. A Lexus vehicle drives along a dry road on a sunny day.]
[A caption reads: “Prototype vehicle shown with options. Production models may vary.”]
[A caption reads: “Year-round performance and traction.]
Narrator: When you can see your breath outside — that’s a good sign it’s time to switch your tires.
[Snowflakes appear on a map of Canada. Animation shows temperature change from 0° to -11°.]
[The tread on an all-season tire is highlighted.]
[A caption reads: “Winter tires are “cold weather tires”]
Depending on where you live in Canada, you might keep your all-season tires, which are versatile and perform well throughout the year — in temperatures above seven degrees Celsius.
But many Canadians across the country experience temperatures below seven degrees Celsius, making winter tires the best and safest choice for cold weather driving.
[A Lexus vehicle is parked next to a snow-covered forest.]
[A caption reads: “Below 7°C = time for winter tires”]
Below seven degrees, all-season tires start to lose some of their elasticity. That’s when you know it’s time to put on your winter tires.
[The tread on a winter tire is highlighted.]
[A caption reads: “The mandatory use of winter tires and optional use of studs and chains depends on your province. For more information, visit the website of the ministry of transportation in your province.]
In some provinces, like Quebec, the government now requires drivers to have winter tires installed during the cold-weather months. So check the applicable laws in your province.
[A Lexus vehicle drives along a snow-covered road, and along a bare road.]
[A caption (in red) reads: “Snow Tires”]
[A caption reads: “Cold Weather Tires”]
For those wanting the safest winter driving experience, the tire industry recommends winter tires in cold weather — even when there is no snow on the roads.
Instead of calling them snow tires — which is inaccurate — you might instead think of them as “cold weather tires.”
[A Lexus vehicle drives around pylons on a snow-covered road.]
[A caption reads: “The best and safest option”]
Winter tires perform so well because they are formulated with a special rubber compound to help them keep their elasticity at cold temperatures. These tires are also fitted with extra wide tread blocks and grooves to help maintain contact with the road surfaces which can improve traction, reduce stopping distances and improve handling.
[A close-up shot highlights the tread on a winter tire. A Lexus vehicle drives around pylons on a snow-covered road.]
[A caption reads: “Wide tread blocks”]
[A caption reads: “Improved traction and handling]
[A caption reads: “Prevents hydroplaning.”]
Winter tires can also help prevent hydroplaning, which occurs when your tires float on a layer of water, causing your vehicle to skid.
[Animation highlights the mountain snowflake symbol on a winter tire.]
If you see the mountain or snowflake symbol on your winter tires, then you know they’ve met specific snow traction requirements.
[A technician installs tires on a vehicle that is raised on a hoist.]
[A caption reads: “Always install winter tires on all four wheels”]
And remember, Transport Canada recommends that you always install winter tires on all four wheels. Installing winter tires on only the front wheels, or the rear ones, could disrupt your vehicle’s handling.
[The tread on a winter tire is highlighted.]
Over time, and with normal usage, the tread depth on your winter tires will decrease as the rubber compound wears off — which decreases your tires’ performance.
[A caption reads: “4/32 inch”]
[Animation shows two quarters stacked on top of each other.]
When the tread depth reaches 4/32 of an inch, or the size of two quarters stacked on top of each other, visit your Lexus dealership to have your winter tires replaced.
[A technician installs winter tires on a Lexus vehicle. A closeup of a tire highlights the tread.]
Remember you can always ask the tire experts at your Lexus dealership to help you choose the right tire for your vehicle.
[A caption reads: “Inside Look”]
[A caption reads: “All Season vs Winter Tires”]
Thanks for taking an Inside Look at your Lexus!
[The Lexus logo appears.]
[A caption reads: “Lexus Precision Service
Expert technicians. Personalized service.”]
[Upbeat music fades to silence.]