When is the best time to put winter tires on my car?
Unless you live in a warmer part of Canada that doesn’t get snow like Vancouver and Victoria, you’ll have to contend with winter and the weather that comes with it. And, while winter is the perfect time to hit the slopes and build a snowman, the snow and ice can make driving a challenge, especially during a snowstorm.
That begs the question: when is the best time to get your car winter ready and put winter tires on your car? The short answer is before everything is covered in snow or the temperature drops below 7 C. However, depending on where you live, snow may arrive sooner in your part of the country than other regions. For example, Winnipeg, Manitoba is more likely to see its first snowfall than say a more southern city like Windsor, Ontario.
Like clockwork, many drivers go into an auto mechanic to get winter tires installed in October or early November, which is is a good idea in most cases. You’ll be able to beat the mad rush to the auto mechanic after the first snowfall has arrived. The last thing you want is to wait days or even weeks to have winter tires installed after a big snowstorm. (You might be stuck taking public transit for quite a while.)
Similar to filing your taxes and decorating for the holidays, it is in your best interests to make installing winter tires a yearly tradition. If you do it at the same time each year, you’re less likely to forget (if you’re on good terms with your auto mechanic, he may give you a friendly call to remind you).
Depending on where you live, driving without winter tires during certain periods of the year may be against the law (for instance in Quebec and B.C.). If you’re driving on the road, it’s important to make sure you abide by the laws; otherwise you could face steep fines.
Even if winter tires aren’t mandatory in your province, they’re still worth getting. And don’t let the name fool you, because all-season tires are for all seasons except winter. That’s when you’ll want “snow” tires on your vehicle.
Despite all the reminders in the media to install winter tires, there are still some drivers who refuse to do it. Whether it’s for budgetary reasons or a lack of time, but driving without winter tires not only puts your passengers and you in danger, it puts the other people around you driving on the road in danger as well.
Still not convinced about the importance of winter tires? Tests by Transport Canada and the Rubber Association of Canada found that all season tires swerved off the track when only driving speeds between 40 and 50 km/h. Imagine driving at a faster speed on an actual road. The last thing you’d want to do is drive straight into a lamppost, or worse. With winter tires, notorious perform much better on these sorts of tests.
And, to give you even more of an incentive to install winter tires, many car insurance companies offer discounts off your insurance premiums, your best bet is to speak to your insurance broker and see what kind of discount your winter tires can get you.