All information and advice provided by the experts at Hankook Tire Canada Corp.



Q (CP24 Auto Shop viewer email):
How useful is the tire pressure monitoring system and how reliable is it?

A:
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) is an electronic system designed to monitor air pressure inside pneumatic tire(s) of vehicle.  Each TPMS has a different design and construction, so accuracy and reliability may differ from one model to another.

Generally, properly designed and manufactured TPMS offer a good indication of tire pressure.  As a tire manufacturer, we recommend a once-a-month tire pressure check, in addition to TPMS, to ensure that all four tires are properly pressured.

To judge the accuracy and reliability of your TPMS, we recommend that you contact the manufacturer. If your vehicle was originally equipped with TPMS, the vehicle manufacturer or dealership can provide you with more information.

 

Q (CP24 Auto Shop viewer email):
What do you think of the all weather hankook optima 4S four seasons tires that are rated with a snow flake? Would they be a good choice for winter?

A:
The Hankook Optimo 4S is an alternative to a winter tire, but it is not a winter tire.

The Hankook Optimo 4S won’t deliver the same winter performance. However, it will deliver far better performance on ice, snow and slush than you will get with a summer, or an all-season tire. This is due to the tire’s tread design (wide grooves and sipes) and rubber compound that can stay malleable even at -20 degrees Celsius.

During spring, summer and fall, the Hankook Optimo 4S delivers good performance on both dry and wet pavement, and fuel consumption is comparable. It also offers the advantage of convenience as no seasonal storage or changeover is required.  

If you drive mostly in an urban area and want only one set of tires, this is an option for you. But, if you require maximum traction and safety in winter season, we recommend a dedicated winter tire.

No matter what you decide, be sure that you use four identical tires on your vehicle and check your air pressure regularly.

 

Q (CP24 Auto Shop viewer email):
Hankook has come out with a new all weather tire for people that cant afford snows and summer tires. They are good all year long. Question is if you got into an accident in the winter would the insurance companies recognize these tires as snow tires. Because insurance does mark down and ask you if you use snow tires. If you got into an accident without snows the insurance company would know. Thanks.

A:
Some insurance companies recognize tires with the “mountain snow flake” symbol as a winter tire. The Hankook Optimo 4S all-weather tire does carry the “mountain snow flake” symbol, which is the RAC (Rubber Association of Canada) symbol for severe snow service.  

We recommend that you to check with your insurance company to learn how they identify winter tires before making any purchase decision.