Do You Need Snow Tires This Winter?
Posted December 27, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
To snow tire or not to snow tire?
If Shakespeare had lived in Canada, perhaps that would have been Hamlet’s ultimate dilemma.
As it is, G.T.A. drivers face that same decision every year – whether to suffer the slings and arrows and spend an outrageous fortune on the wheels or keep their all season tires in place. Police, who were at the scenes of all kinds of carnage Wednesday morning as a sudden freeze led to accidents on the 401 and Bayview Ave., insist they’re a necessity.
So do experts with the C.A.A. “The most important thing with a snow tire is the more aggressive tread,” explains the Association’s Hardat Persaud. “It eats through snow much better.”
Driver Thibaut Farrugia had only all season tires on his car when the cold snap hit.
“It was dangerous. I guess next time we should get snow tires.”
If you’ve never considered them, here are some tips about the winter wheels courtesy of Transport Canada:
Look for the sign
How can you tell if they’re the real thing? Snow tires come with a peaked mountain symbol that show they’re for use in winter driving. They’re designed to meet special traction requirements and are supposed to help you navigate better in snow conditions. If you see tires marked “M + S” (short for mud and snow) or wheels that don’t have the snowflake symbol, they’re not designed for use during slippery or icy conditions.
Why are snow tires useful?
Regular tires lose their elasticity after temperatures fall below about 7 °C, causing you to lose traction. Snow tires don’t.
Two won’t do
All four must be snow tires if they’re to be effective. Mixing tires of different treads and sizes can make your vehicle harder to steer – the one thing you don’t want on an already slick surface.
Watch the wear
Even if you do have snow tires, check them out closely before putting them on. The tread can wear after years of use, reducing your traction in bad weather conditions.
Air Care
All tires need to be properly inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications. Cold weather tends to cause them to lose inflation, so make sure you check the pressure more frequently in the winter. It also has the added bonus of helping you save fuel.
To find out which brands are certified as snow tires, click here.
For a tire safety checklist, click here.
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