Best Winter Tires in Burlington: Buy 3 Get 1 Free at Unique Chrysler
- Rick Paletta

- 15 minutes ago
- 8 min read

Ontario winters are unpredictable. One morning it’s just cold and wet on the QEW, and by evening it’s slushy snow with hidden black ice. Once temperatures drop below about 7°C, even high-quality all-season tires start to harden and lose grip. That’s when proper winter tires go from “nice to have” to “absolutely essential.”
At Unique Chrysler in Burlington, we help everyone from contractors in Ram 1500s to busy families in Pacificas choose the right winter tires — including genuine Mopar winter tire and wheel packages — and we make it easier on the wallet with our signature Buy 3 Tires, Get the 4th Free promotion on select brands and sizes.

Key Takeaways
Winter tires are built for cold: Their rubber stays flexible below 7°C and grips cold pavement, snow, slush, and ice far better than all-season tires.
There’s no single “best winter tire” for everyone: The right tire depends on what you drive, where you drive, and how you drive.
Look for the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol: This mark shows the tire meets recognised winter performance standards, not just basic “M+S” claims.
Replace all four tires, not just two: Mixing winter and non-winter tires can confuse traction and stability systems and reduce control.
Unique Chrysler is the home of Buy 3 Get 1 Free: On select winter tires, you pay for three and the fourth is included, helping you equip your vehicle properly for winter while keeping your budget in check.
Why Winter Tires Matter in Southern Ontario
Winter tire benefits you can actually feel
All-season tires are a compromise. They’re designed to work “okay” in a wide range of conditions, but they’re not optimised for deep cold. As temperatures drop, many all-season tires stiffen, which means less grip, longer stopping distances, and more sliding — even on bare but cold pavement.
Winter tires are different because they are designed for one thing: cold-weather control.
They use:
Cold-focused rubber compounds that stay soft and “sticky” even in freezing temperatures.
Deeper, more aggressive tread patterns that cut through snow and slush.
Thousands of tiny sipes (small cuts in the tread blocks) that bite into ice and packed snow.
The result is shorter stopping distances and more confident steering on the kinds of roads we see all winter in Burlington, Oakville, and the rest of Halton Region.
Safety for you, your passengers, and everyone around you
Even if you’re an experienced winter driver, you can’t control what the drivers around you will do. Winter tires give you more margin for error when:
The car ahead of you brakes suddenly.
A light changes faster than you expected.
You hit an icy patch in a corner.
That extra grip can be the difference between a close call and a collision — especially on bridges, ramps, and overpasses around Hamilton and the 403.
How to Choose the Best Winter Tires for Your Vehicle
There’s no universal “best winter tire.” The right choice depends on:
Your vehicle (car, SUV, minivan, truck, Jeep, etc.)
Your typical routes (city, highway, rural, cottage country)
Your driving style (cautious, spirited, heavy loads, towing, etc.)
1. Think about your daily drive
Start with where and how you drive most of the time:
Mostly city drivingIf you’re running errands, doing school drop-offs, and occasionally hopping on the highway, look for a comfort-oriented winter tire. These are quieter, ride smoothly on cleared roads, and still offer reliable grip when the weather turns bad.
Highway commutingIf you regularly drive the QEW, 403, or 407, you’ll want winter tires with excellent high-speed stability, strong wet braking, and effective slush evacuation. Stability and straight-line tracking become especially important at speed.
Rural roads and cottage tripsIf you travel on unplowed side roads or head north to ski or visit the cottage, tires with more aggressive tread and standout deep-snow traction are a smart choice.
Not sure which category you fall into? Our advisors in the Unique Chrysler service department can walk through your daily routine and recommend a tire that fits your life instead of just pushing a particular brand.
2. Check for the Mountain Snowflake symbol
On the tire sidewall, look for:
The Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) symbol
This indicates the tire has passed specific winter traction testing
A simple “M+S” marking without the mountain-and-snowflake is not enough to count as a true winter tire
If you’re unsure what your current tires have, just snap a photo and show us at your appointment. We’ll decode the symbols with you and compare them with the guidelines from Mopar’s official maintenance resources.
3. Match the tire to your vehicle type
Each type of vehicle asks something slightly different from its winter tires:
Trucks and work vans
Ram 1500s, cargo vans, and heavy-use work vehicles need winter tires with the right load rating.
If you’re towing a trailer or carrying tools and materials, focus on tires that stay stable and predictable under load.
Family SUVs and minivans
For vehicles like the Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and three-row SUVs, braking distance and stability are key.
A well-balanced winter tire can keep the ride comfortable for passengers while still giving you confident control in snow and slush.
Jeeps and adventure-focused vehicles
Even with 4×4 or advanced AWD, winter tires are essential. AWD helps you move, winter tires help you stop and steer.
Many Jeep drivers want a tire that works on both pavement and snowy cottage roads or light trails — we can help you find the right balance, and explain how it pairs with your Jeep’s factory-engineered Mopar accessories and performance parts.
Compact cars and budget commuters
A quality mid-range winter tire can be a big safety upgrade without a premium price tag.
The cheapest option isn’t always the best value; a slightly better tire may last longer and perform more consistently.
Winter Tires vs All-Season vs All-Weather
Here’s a quick side-by-side:
Winter tires
Designed specifically for cold, snow, and ice
Best once temperatures are consistently 7°C or lower
Offer the shortest stopping distances on cold pavement and winter roads
All-season tires
Built to handle a wide range of conditions
Great for late spring, summer, and early fall
In true Ontario winter weather, they generally take longer to stop and provide less traction than winter tires
All-weather tires
Carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol
Better in winter than basic all-season tires and useful for people who genuinely cannot switch tires seasonally
Still typically outperforms with full winter tires in the harshest conditions
For most drivers, the ideal setup is winter tires in the colder months and all-season or all-weather tires for the rest of the year.
When to Install, Rotate, and Replace Winter Tires
When to install
A simple rule:
Switch to winter tires when daily high temperatures stay around 7°C or below.
In Burlington and the surrounding area, that usually means sometime in late October or early November. Don’t wait for the first big storm — by then, every shop is booked solid.
How long winter tires last
How many seasons you’ll get out of a set depends on:
Kilometres driven each winter
How gently you accelerate and brake
Whether you rotate your tires routinely
Proper wheel alignment and tire pressure
Many drivers can expect about three to five winters from a set, but performance starts to drop before the tire looks worn out. As tread depth decreases, stopping distances grow and traction on ice and slush is reduced.
When to replace them
It’s time to think about replacing your winter tires when:
Tread depth is down to around 4 mm or less
You feel more slipping or sliding than you used to in similar conditions
There are signs of uneven wear, cracking, or visible damage
During any visit to our service centre, we can check your tread depth, inspect for wear, and let you know if you can safely go another season or if replacement is the safer choice. When appropriate, we’ll also explain your options with genuine Mopar winter tire and wheel packages for your specific Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram.
Why Buy Your Winter Tires at Unique Chrysler?
Unique Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is Burlington’s community-focused Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealership, and a trusted source for winter tire advice and installation.
The original home of Buy 3 Tires, Get the 4th Free
We’re known as the original home of “Buy 3 Tires, Get the 4th Free” on select tire brands and sizes. When this promotion is active for winter tires:
You pay for three qualifying winter tires
The fourth matching tire is included
Tires are mounted and balanced by factory-trained technicians who know your vehicle and its Mopar engineering inside and out
It’s a simple, smart way for families, tradespeople, and commuters to make the move to proper winter tires without stretching their budget too far. (Promotions, eligible brands, and timing are subject to change — check with our service or parts team for current details.)
Local expertise and genuine advice
Because we serve customers across Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville, Milton, and the GTA West, we understand the mix of city, highway, and rural driving our customers face. Our advisors will:
Ask about your daily driving, not just your tire size
Explain the pros and cons of different tire options in plain language
Provide transparent, all-in pricing before you commit
You can see how we treat people by looking at our customer reviews.
Adding Winter Tires to a Vehicle Purchase or Service Visit
If you’re already visiting us for maintenance, repairs, or a new/pre-owned vehicle, it’s easy to sort out winter tires at the same time:
Get a quote tailored to your specific vehicle and driving habits
Compare costs for different tire options side by side
Ask about adding winter tires into a finance or lease plan on your next vehicle, O.A.C., so you can spread the cost out over time
Whenever we’re working on your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram, we follow the same engineering-driven approach you’ll find in official Mopar service and care resources, focusing on safety, durability, and long-term value.
Any payment examples we provide at the dealership are clearly broken down with term, rate (APR), and all-in pricing (plus HST and licensing), so you always know what you’re signing up for.
Winter Tire FAQs for Burlington & Halton Drivers
Do I really need winter tires if I mostly drive in the city?
Yes. Even if you rarely leave Burlington, winter brings freezing rain, wet snow, slush, and icy intersections. Winter tires are designed for exactly those conditions and can significantly reduce stopping distances compared with all-season tires.
I have AWD or 4×4. Do I still need winter tires?
You should still strongly consider them. AWD and 4×4 help your vehicle get moving, but winter tires help it stop and turn. Most crashes happen when a vehicle can’t stop in time or slides through a turn, and that’s where winter tires make the biggest difference.
Can I leave winter tires on all year?
You can, but it isn’t recommended:
Winter compounds wear faster in warm weather
Fuel economy and ride comfort can suffer
You’ll likely replace them sooner than necessary
Switching back to all-season or all-weather tires in the spring is usually the best way to protect your investment.
When should I book my winter tire appointment?
As soon as you consistently see 7–10°C daytime highs in the forecast, it’s time to book. Waiting for the first major snowfall often means longer waits and fewer time slots. You can reach us easily through our contact page or by calling the dealership directly.
How does Buy 3 Tires, Get the 4th Free work?
During active promotions on select winter tire brands and sizes:
You purchase three qualifying winter tires
You receive the fourth matching tire at no additional charge
Standard installation, valves, TPMS service, and balancing fees may still apply
Details can change seasonally, so it’s always best to confirm the current offer with our service or parts team.
Conclusion: Get Winter-Ready with Confidence
Winter in Southern Ontario will always be unpredictable. The right winter tires, properly chosen and installed, give you the confidence to handle everything from surprise flurries to icy early-morning commutes.
At Unique Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, the original home of Buy 3 Tires, Get the 4th Free, we’re here to:
Help you choose the best winter tires for your vehicle and lifestyle
Make sure they’re installed, balanced, and ready for real-world conditions
Show you how genuine Mopar winter tire and wheel options can help protect your investment and your peace of mind
Ready to get winter-ready?
Book your winter tire appointment with our service department.
Ask about current Buy 3 Tires, Get the 4th Free offers on winter tires for your vehicle.
If you’re also shopping for a vehicle, visit our Burlington location and explore our new and used inventory while we plan your winter tire setup.
Drive into winter with confidence — and let Unique Chrysler help keep you, your family, and your work on track this season.




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