Avoid the lineups, be prepared when the snow flies this year

Well, here are we are a week into the month of December already.

If you live east of Hope there’s a pretty good chance you’ve taken into consideration the need for snow tires this winter. If you’re like the good majority who live in Metro Vancouver, you’ll wait until the forecast calls for that first sprinkling of the white stuff and then, along with 90 per cent of the driving population, rush to your local tire store to wait in an hours- long lineup so you have a better chance of commuting unscathed the next day.

Alternatively, you could get prepared now while the rain is still falling.

One of the big excuses I hear from urban dwellers about not switching up their tires seasonally is lack of storage. If you’re one of those drivers living in a condo or other storagelacking space, keep in mind that many of your New Car Dealers offer no hassle, low cost seasonal tire storage solutions.

So, there you have it, no excuses for not being prepared, particularly because there have been great advancements in snow and winter tire technology over the past decade. Dealers carry options today that are nothing short of genius, easily handling ice, snow, slush and more.

Snow and winter tires are made from a rubber compound engineered to maintain high levels of performance when the temperature drops below five degrees Celsius. They remain flexible at lower temperatures allowing you to stop faster and more easily avoid obstacles. Updates to tread design also provide more effective handling in wet winter conditions.

Of course, you should also be well versed in how to handle your vehicle in winter conditions before setting out on any snowy or icy roads. Ensuring visibility, driving for the conditions, not the speed limit, and increasing the distance between yourself and the car in front of you are the first steps.