OK, I admit in the past there have been times I’ve been “that person.” But I learned my lesson a couple of years ago during a snow storm while holding up traffic driving south on Cambie Street towards West 12th Ave. because my crappy tires were spinning continuously as I tried to make my way up that slope.
But, after facing the wrath of drivers in their properly equipped SUVs that day, I realized not only is it really inconsiderate to hold up an entire lane of traffic in the snow, it’s also dangerous. I still didn’t go out and buy new tires, but now when it snows I drive my husband’s car or get him to drive me to work so I do actually drive on the proper tires, they’re just not mine.
A recent survey by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada showed that approximately 40 per cent of Canadian motorists don’t use winter tires. The top reasons they gave were the belief that all-season tires provide sufficient traction (51 per cent), they drive less in winter (22 per cent) and the cost (21 per cent).
Regionally, the 2017 study found:
- 60 per cent of British Columbia drivers ride on winter tires
- Alberta's usage rate is 57 per cent
- In Manitoba and Saskatchewan usage stands at 48 per cent
- 59 per cent of Ontario drivers use winters
- In Atlantic Canada, where winter tire use is surpassed only by Quebec, the usage rate is 83 per cent — winter tires are mandatory in Quebec
In response to the survey’s results, association president Glenn Maidment said the fact four-in-ten motorists outside Quebec are not using winter tires puts everyone who drives in cold-weather conditions at risk. He added every motorist needs to understand winter tires radically outperform all-seasons in all cold-weather driving conditions.
He noted the superior traction and braking capabilities of winter tires are the result of advanced tire technology, particularly in tread design and rubber compounds. These advances have improved traction performance across all tire categories, but especially for winter tires. The "soft" tread compounds in today's winter tires retain their flexibility even in extreme cold. At temperatures at or below 7 Celsius, winter tires provide significantly better traction than all other types providing greater control on all cold-weather road surfaces and significantly shorter stopping distances.
Maidment said since the mandatory winter tire law was enacted in Quebec, the province has experienced a significant decrease in accident-related injuries.
"Imagine the massive reduction in vehicle damage and personal suffering during the winter driving season across Canada if all drivers protected themselves and their families with winter tires, he said in the report.
There was a time you could maybe fudge your way through a winter in Vancouver without the proper tires, but as the last several years have shown that’s no longer the case. So bite the bullet, buy the tires and if you can, get them installed before our first big snowfall. It will save you a lot of grief, embarrassment and possible injury.
Read the full 2017 Winter Tire Report at tracanada.ca.
@sthomas10
