While temperatures double-dutch between cold enough to see your breath and comfortable enough to walk around with short sleeves, it's safe to say that wintery weather could strike us anytime. While it's easy to get lost in the physical logistics of the season, like organizing mittens, coats, and fuzzy Ugg-like boots, it's essential to keep your vehicle in mind.

Do you have winter tires? Have you booked an appointment to have them put on?

With the weather being almost as variable as some people's budgets, it's easy to understand why someone may attempt to stick it out with their all-season tires. However, there are potential long-term savings that come with changing them out for the season, not to mention the obvious safety concerns involved with navigating Canadian winters without the right tires.

Here are three crucial reasons you might want to put winter tires on your car this year.

Avoid accidents with better braking

When the temperature drops below 7°C, the rubber in standard all-season tires begins to harden, making them less able to grip the road as well; this, in turn, increases the required braking distance on cold, snowy (sometimes icy) streets. Some reports show that winter tires can reduce braking distance by up to 25%, depending on speed and general road conditions.

This is because winter tires contain more natural rubber and silica than summer tires. Silica keeps its properties even when it's cold, and most winter tires can handle temperatures as low as -30°C.