Will Canadian drivers change their winter tires? Nearly 80% of experienced drivers say 'must!'

According to a recent survey, nearly 80% of Canadian drivers choose to replace their winter tires when winter arrives.

Corey Stokes, owner of Green Car Tires tire store in Scarborough, said in an interview with CTV News Toronto that his business is gradually getting busy as more and more drivers start replacing their four season tires with winter tires. However, he expects true 'orderly chaos' to come with the first snowfall.

When drivers start to skid on the road and see snowflakes falling, everyone rushes to change tires, "Stokes said.

Canadian Tire and Rubber Association: Increased Winter Tire Users

A survey by the Canadian Tire and Rubber Association (TRAC) shows that 78% of Canadians use winter tires, an increase of 10 percentage points from eight years ago.

TRAC's Michal Majernik stated that an increasing number of drivers are realizing the benefits of winter tires, such as shorter braking distances on icy and snowy roads.

80% of winter tire users say that winter tires help them avoid potential dangerous situations, and everyone understands that winter tires are the best choice, "said Majelnik.

However, some drivers still believe that the cost of winter tires is too high and do not want to replace them back and forth between spring and autumn, and there is not enough storage space.

However, tire manufacturers and dealers have stated that this expense is worth it.

Tiffany Woodley from KAL Tire told CTV News Toronto, "You need to consider the road conditions and the reactions of other drivers on the road, and the cost of tires is much lower than the cost of vehicle repairs." She added, "Winter tires are crucial for the safety of your family

Four season tires: a cost-effective option

One cost-effective option is to purchase all season tires, which combine the performance of both four season and winter tires. All season tires can be kept on the vehicle throughout the year and meet the winter tire discount standards required by the Ontario Insurance Company.

Stokes stated that full season tires are gradually becoming a part of his business.

You don't need to change tires back and forth in spring and autumn, which saves the cost of purchasing additional wheels and tires, and also saves time traveling to and from tire stores, "Stokes said.

Consumer Report: Tires performed well throughout the season

Consumer Reports recently tested all season tires and found them to be a good choice.

In our tests, they performed exceptionally well. Although not as good as winter tires in snowy conditions, they were definitely better than all season tires, only slightly inferior to winter tires, "said Ryan Pszczolkowski of Consumer Reports.

Now is also a good time to check the tire tread depth and tire pressure, and prepare for the new season of winter driving.

Source: https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/nearly-80-per-cent-of-canadians-use-winter-tires-survey-1.7107849