It’s 5 a.m. and you roll out of bed, finger-comb your knotted hair, wake and ready Thing 1, Thing 2 and Thing 3 for hockey practice, shove day-old Eggos down their throats (figuratively speaking, of course) and bolt into the van while forgetting to feed yourself. You look around and – surprise – it’s snowing. Coupled with last night’s flash freeze, there are slippery roads ahead. You sigh and momentarily imagine yourself in a tropical oasis, mid-massage with a margarita in hand snow-free. But Thing 1’s shout of “mom, let’s go” quickly snaps you back into reality and, yep, it’s still snowing. The last thing on your mind is whether or not you have winter tires on your car.
If any of this sounds remotely familiar, there's no doubt you’ve lived in Canada for most of your life. While winter brings with it many fun times (for the kids, at least), you know that nothing is more important than ensuring your family’s safety, particularly when on the road. Winter driving conditions can be difficult at best and treacherous at worst, that’s why equipping your vehicle with winter tires is of paramount importance.
For the mom (or anyone) on the go, however, selecting the right set of winter tires can be trying. For starters, it helps to know what makes winter tires different from all-season or summer tires.
With winter tires, it comes down to the compounds. Basically, the materials used to produce winter tires help them to remain flexible in cold weather. Additionally, winter tires have more sipes to help your vehicle maintain traction on those snowy and icy roads. Here’s a fun fact to share with friends at your next get together: some winter tires may contain crushed walnut shells to help ensure a better grip!
Are you sold on winter tires, yet? If not, consider cheaper insurance rates (now I’ve got your attention!). Insurance companies offer reduced rates to drivers who have winter tires installed on their vehicles. And you can’t argue with this fact: Quebec has seen a 17% reduction in winter collisions and a 36% reduction in road accidents resulting in serious injury or death since making winter tires mandatory from December 15th to March 15th.
Now that you know a little bit more about winter tires, it’s time to stop by your local Tirecraft to pick out a set—but wait, they all seem to look the same, don’t they? Of course, you’ll find a number of economy options and premium choices but in general, premium options can offer up to 15% better traction control. Keep in mind that winter tire sizing should be the same as the original equipment on your particular vehicle
And if this is all too much to remember, you can always visit Tirecraft’s Tirecraft's Resource Centre to learn more or you can visit your local Tirecraft where there’s always someone at the ready to lend a helping hand.
Remember, winter tires save lives and they could possibly save yours. So the next time you’ve got a car load of kiddos, yourself and the dog on a snowy Canadian winter day, the only thing you should be worrying about is whether or not your schedule will allow for a morning coffee run.
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