| Winter Tires – Do I Need Them? |
Q. Why do I need winter tires?
A. Regular all-season (M+S) tires start to lose there grip as the temperature falls below 0 degrees C. This results in less gripping power and longer stopping distances (up to 33 percent), possibly resulting in an accident. Winter tire compounds retain flexibility down to -35 degrees C and below.
Q. How much is 33 percent less distance?
A. About 2 to 3 car lengths.
Q. Can you just buy two winter tires?
A. You certainly can, but you may affect your vehicles’ handling to the point of being unsafe. Transport Canada recommends installing winter tires in sets of four. Some retailers won’t even sell you two winter tires.
Q. Aren’t winter tires a big investment?
A. Look at it this way, with two sets of tires, you will be extending the life of both sets of tires, so the initial investment makes you safer and save you in the long run.
Q. I have traction control, do I need winter tires?
A. Yes. Even though traction control maximizes the traction of your tires in winter by preventing wheel spin, this system does not create additional tire traction. Traction always depends on the four contact patches created by the tires. The better traction your tires provide, the more the traction control system will help you drive more safely.
By the way, the same goes for anti-lock brakes. This system prevents wheel lock-up, but it’s the tires on your vehicle that help deliver the short stops that ABS brakes provide. Winter tires will maximize the benefit of ABS.
| What are the benefits of proper tire inflation? |
Safety
Your vehicle's tires are engineered to perform safely, day in and day out. But to do their job right, tires need regular maintenance. Under or over-inflated tires will cause handling problems. Your tires may not accelerate, brake or steer properly. Other safety devices such as Antilock Braking Systems (ABS), Traction Control Systems (TCS) and stability control systems may not function correctly with tires that are not properly inflated.
Fuel Consumption
Properly inflated tires will help your vehicle run more efficiently. With properly maintained tires, the average Canadian driver could save the equivalent of two weeks worth of gas every year.
Environment
Every litre of fuel consumed by a vehicle results in 2.4 kg of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, being released into the environment. Proper tire inflation helps increase fuel efficiency thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Every year in Canada, 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are unnecessarily released into the environment because of poor tire maintenance practices.
Disposing of old tires also has an impact on the environment. Canadians discard 28 million used tires every year, many of which end up in landfills or recycling centres. Every effort made to reduce the number of used tires would mean a reduction in the amount of gasoline and other types of energy required to transport, dispose of or recycle them. By better maintaining our tires, we could prevent emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants from entering the atmosphere.
Cost Savings
Properly maintained tires help a vehicle run efficiently and prolong the life of your vehicle's tires. With proper tire maintenance, the average Canadian driver could save the equivalent of two weeks worth of free gas every year. As well, because tires will last longer, you could save the cost of one or two sets of tires over the life of a vehicle.
Source: Be Tire Smart Website |
