While most Canadians value safety over cost, more than a third don’t own a set of winter tires, according to a recent Michelin survey. The disconnect most often comes from the mistaken belief that all-season tires are sufficient for winter driving — and it baffles Michelin driving expert Carl Nadeau.
“While all-season tires are meant to keep you safe in occasional, transitional weather conditions, you need winter tires to safely ride through our Canadian winters,” he says. “All season tires are less flexible and less effective when the temperature drops consistently below freezing, and especially when precipitation is added to the mix.”
The Michelin survey shows that the number of risk-takers significantly increases as you move westward across the country.
In Quebec, winter tires are required by law from December 15 to March 15. A 2011 Quebec government study showed a five per cent drop in winter driving injuries after winter tires became mandatory.
In B.C., more than half of respondents said they don’t own winter tires because it doesn’t snow enough or get cold enough where they live. And the belief that all-season tires are sufficient for winter is shared by 56 per cent of respondents from Western Canada, 50 per cent from Ontario and 20 per cent from Atlantic Canada. That’s despite the fact that 61 per cent of all respondents agreed that, when it comes to winter road safety for themselves and others, there’s no ceiling price on tires.
This is good news for dealers, because it means there are lots of opportunities to help inform consumers about the need for winter tires and to introduce them to the tire experts on your team.
