auto IQ
Manitoba drivers should be wary:
“All-weathers provide some elasticity
above and below 7 C, and add grip
on light snow, slush, wet roads and
bare asphalt,” explains Dan Messner,
automotive manager for CAA
Manitoba. “But we know Manitoba
winters bring extreme cold and a whole
lot of snow and ice. That’s why winter
tires are by far the top performers for
navigating our roads.”
Auto IQ
Get a Grip
the low-down on winter tires and why
they’re a must in Manitoba
By liz kulyk
we may not like it ,
but the snow and
cold will be here for a while. The best
thing you can do (other than jumping
on a plane south) is to be prepared for
the challenges of cold-weather living.
And that includes your car. Having
the right tires installed on your vehicle
is crucial for safe driving. If your car
doesn’t have winter tires, you’re not
using one of the most readily available
safety features around. It’s like not
wearing a seatbelt—why risk it?
According to the Rubber Associa-
tion of Canada, more Manitobans are
recognizing the value of winter tires:
50 percent of those surveyed say they
used winter tires in 2016, compared
to just 39 percent in 2014. If you’re in
the other 50 percent, now is the time
to consider winter tires, before Old
Man Winter really hits.
What are winter tires?
Made from silica compounds that retain
elasticity down to –40 C, winter tires
grip the road with special tread patterns
that help navigate snow-packed and
ice-covered surfaces.
Why winter tires?
While regular or all-season tires work
well in milder climates, winter tires
help reduce braking distances on
cold, wet, ice- and snow-covered
roads by up to 25 percent. Cornering
and stability also improve greatly
with them.
What about all-weather tires?
All-weather tires can be good options
for city drivers who want some of the
benefits of a winter tire, but without
the seasonal changeover. However,
How do I decide?
Before you take the plunge, do
your homework and set a budget.
When shopping, look for the
peaked mountain snowflake symbol
(shown at left), which indicates the
tires meet strict industry winter-
performance standards. It’s also
important to consider your typical
driving conditions—some tires are
geared toward deep snow, while others
operate best on ice. Always check your
owner’s manual for manufacturer
recommendations and make sure to
get a set of four identical tires.
Any other benefits beyond safety?
Messner points out that rotating
between two sets of tires can extend
their lifespan, making the upfront
investment more economical down
the road. “If you only use one set, the
treads will wear faster and will need
to be replaced more frequently. Plus,
winter tires are not designed for year-
round use. Even though they’ll keep
you rolling in July, you’ll be sacrificing
performance and fuel economy, and
the tires will wear out more quickly.”
When should I install winter tires?
When the first snowflakes fly, phones
at local tire shops ring off the hook. But
it’s actually temperature, not snowfall,
that should spur a tire change. That’s
why CAA Manitoba encourages you
to install winter tires sooner rather
than later. A good time to switch from
all-seasons to winter tires is when the
temperature reaches 7 C or below on
a regular basis. In Manitoba, a good
rule of thumb is to put your tires on in
mid-October and have them removed
in late April.
cAA MANITOBA
wINTer 2017
31