Site posted on October 12, 2010 07:11
If you want to have your car ready for the winter, you should not wait for the first snowstorms to arrive. There are so many things that you have to do to have your car ready for the winter that if you wait for the last minute, you risk a lot. Therefore, start preparing for the winter at least a month before the snow starts falling.
You ma have summer tires installed on your car from the hot season, but they are not suitable for use during the winter. The reason that those tires will not provide you with proper traction and the chances to loose control over your vehicle are really high. During the cold season you should buy a set of winter tires and get them installed. There are 2 main types of winter tires available today - studded and non-studded. The studded tires are suitable for countries where the winter is longest of all seasons, but they seriously damage the roads. That is why you are not allowed to use studded tires and before you buy a set, you should check whether they are legal or not in the area where you live.
Who can use studded tires?
Northern residents living north of and including Parry Sound and Nipissing Districts can now use studded tires on their vehicles.
When can I use my studded tires?
Northern Ontario residents can use studded tires with lightweight studs, anywhere in Ontario, from October 1 to April 30 inclusive. Using illegal studs, driving outside the legal time period, and Southern Ontario residents using studs on their vehicles can result in fines of up to $1,000.
Winter tires are made of compounds that can withstand a temperature of up to -35 degrees Celsius while keeping their elasticity and grip amid the freezing temperature. When buying winter tires, you have to make sure that you are getting the right tire size as specified by the manufacturer in your manual. You also need to check out the sidewall of the tires to see if it has a symbol of a snowflake on the mountains. This indicates that the tire has met the severe winter traction standard regulation. Know the tread depth of your tires. If you are often driving through snow and slush, you might want to get a tire with tread depth of at least 6 inches or more.
One of the most important things that you should remember is that you need to buy all 4 tires instead of just 2. The main reason for that is the fact that with 2 winter tires, you will not improve the performance of your car at all, but instead you increase the risks of an accident.
When you already have your winter tires installed, check your tire pressure from time to time. Driving in extreme weather condition can be very challenging even to the experienced driver. Taking extra safety precautions such as getting the right winter tires can go a long way to save up on money and ensure safety on the road.