Avoid the rush by installing winter tires early
Now that temperatures have turned cooler and the days have gotten shorter, motorists are beginning to think about winter tires.
This begs the obvious question: When is the best time to install winter tires?
That is the proper name. They used to be commonly referred to as “snow tires.”
The best time is before the temperature drops below -7 C, or before the first snowfall. Many motorists install winter tires in October to avoid the rush on service departments after the first snowfall. I encourage people to go that route and make it an annual routine.
The next optimal time would be early to mid-November. It’s rare when Ontario doesn’t experience freezing temperatures and a possible snowfall in November, and motorists should be prepared.
Don’t be caught without winter tires when there is snow on the ground, when you might have to wait days (or longer) to arrange a service appointment. It’s best to avoid the mad rush that occurs each fall after the first snow flies. No matter how many media messages are out there, urging motorists to install winter tires, there is always a segment of the population that stubbornly resists having them installed.
This is foolhardy and dangerous. Winter tires should be mandatory on all passenger vehicles in Ontario, as is the law in Quebec and in parts of B.C. The benefits of installing winter tires have been well documented and are worth repeating.
Tests conducted by Transport Canada and the Rubber Association of Canada have demonstrated that all-season tires veered off the testing track at speeds of 40 to 50 km/h; this didn’t occur with cars with winter tires.
A study by the Quebec government concluded that proper winter tires on your vehicle improves braking by up to 25 per cent over all-season radials and improves collision avoidance by about 38 per cent.
New car manufacturers recommend properly fitted winter tires, to achieve the best safety and performance during Canadian winters.
Today’s winter tires are designed to function in winter conditions when road surfaces are cold and slippery and when air temperatures drop below -7 C.
The rubber compounds in winter tires are softer than regular (allseason) tires and better able to grip road surfaces.
Winter tires that are in good condition offer better stability during braking and a shorter stopping distance. They also improve the motorist’s ability to keep a vehicle on course while turning.
Transport Canada and tire experts recommend installing matching sets of four. Mixing and matching tires could be dangerous and result in a loss of control of the vehicle. Although most vehicles today are built with front-wheel drivetrains, all four identical tires should be replaced/installed at the same time.
A set of four winter or seasonal tires (changed annually) should last approximately 80,000-120,000 kilometres. But tire life ultimately depends on the type of driving you do, the conditions you drive in, whether tires are kept properly inflated and balanced, and whether the vehicle is kept in alignment.
The level of tire knowledge at a dealership today is second to none. Service and parts advisers, along with technicians, know about the latest tire technology and how tires perform in different environments.
Some insurance companies even offer discounts to drivers who install winter tires.
New car dealerships offer a full selection of winter tires for most makes and models, and many also offer tire storage, all at very competitive prices.
Make that appointment today to have winter tires installed on your vehicle. You will avoid the mad rush after the first snowfall and help to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones. What better reason is there than that? This column represents the views and values of the TADA. Write to president@tada.ca or go to tada.ca. Bob Redinger is president of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association and is a new-car dealer in the GTA.