It’s that time of year! Have you got your snow tires on?

The first snow has fallen but thankfully hasn’t stayed around. It won’t be long though before it does. Every year we post about the use and benefits of snow tires. As the climate becomes less predictable in southern Ontario the benefits of snow tires become greater.

According to the Ministry of Transportation, your all-season tires are not suitable for use on the roads in the snow belt and northern Ontario. 

When to mount the snow tires?

The right time to change up your tires is when the temperatures are steadily below 7’C. A good rule of thumb is the 7 for 7. Once we have 7 days under 7 degrees get the tires on!

Winter tires are made of much softer rubber and contain silica which makes them ‘grippy’. They also have more texture and ‘snipes’ the slits in the tread. This is why they perform much better on ice and snow, but in warmer temperatures, you are wearing them off on the asphalt much faster than you should.

What are the benefits of snow tires? Why should I use them?

1. Winter tires help reduce the braking distance that your car requires on cold, ice and snow-covered, and wet roads. Depending on how fast you are moving they can shorten the stopping distance by nearly 25%. They help to avoid car accidents.
2. Winter Tires are longer lasting when maintained properly. By using them only for a few months a year you should be able to get 4-5 seasons out of them. They also extend the life of your all-season tires.
3. They provide you and other road users with extra safety. This is recognized by the discount of up to 5% that most insurers give to people who use winter tires.
4. They provide you with better traction on snow and ice meaning that in truly bad conditions you may be able to drive rather than be stuck.
5. Always use winter tires in sets of four to maximize the stability and handling of your vehicle.

What are the drawbacks of winter tires?

1. The initial cost outlay can be significant, but remember that they extend the life of your other tires.
2. They are fragile – don’t drive them in warm weather.
3. It costs money to swap tires twice a year.

The benefits to your personal safety, and your winter driving experience outweigh the drawbacks on the increasingly unpredictable winter roads in southern Ontario. The number of icy and slushy road days is increasing as our winter warm and winter tires will keep you safer.

If you have been injured seriously in a car accident please contact one of our experienced personal injury lawyers at Deutschmann Personal Injury and Disability Law today for your free consultation. We do home and hospital visits and are here to help you. Call today 1.519.742.7774

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