A Case for Winter Tires
It’s inevitable. Ontarians are talking that one day it will be mandatory to purchase winter tires as it has happened in Quebec. Do you have winter tires on your vehicles? Effective January 1st, 2016 all insurance companies in Ontario are required to offer a winter tire discount. Let’s take a look at why winter tires are a good investment in you and your vehicle.
Winter tires outperform all-season tires on cold surfaces and in winter conditions.
Transport Canada determined in a study that All-Season tires are less effective when temperatures drop below -10c
Winter tires perform well in all types of winter conditions – snow, ice sleet, and slush, wet and cold dry roads.
The tread rubber in winter tires stays flexible at low temperatures for better vehicle control. The tread rubber of an All Season stiffens which reduces the effectiveness of traction.
Winter tires have deeper tread depths and unique tread patterns that reduce snow buildup and provide better traction in the snow by channeling the snow and slush and expel water.
To expand on that winter tires also have “biting edges” that allow the tire to connect with any extreme winter surface and “sipes”; sipes are small slits in the tire tread that ensure the snow is dispersed, assist with acceleration from stop position and reduce braking distances on slippery roads.
Why is this an investment in you and your vehicle? Because winter tires provide more traction and stability, thus decreasing the chances of an accident. This reduces the risk of you being hurt and damage to your vehicle.A study conducted by the province of Quebec within the two years winter tire use became mandatory showed a 5% reduction in road-accident injuries and a 3% decline in vehicle accidents resulting in death or serious injury.Tips:
Install four winter tires, not just two.
Avoid mixing the brand of your winter tires
To identify winter tires, authentic winter tires have the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake
Install them once temperatures go below 7*Celsius.
Be sure to contact your broker if you have winter tires on your vehicles so that you can incur more savings on your auto insurance premiums.