More Atlantic Canadians are outfitting their vehicles with winter tires according to a survey from the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.
81-percent of drivers in this part of the country are now using winter tires as compared to 73-percent in 2014.
The association’s Barry Uytronkie attributes the uptick in use to word of mouth. He says the typical all-season tire loses a lot of its traction properties below 7 degrees:
“At that point the rubber bcomes very, very hard and stiff, it doesn’t maintain the same contact with the road,” says Uytronkie. “Tread patterns aren’t designed for use in snowy or icy conditions,”
As for when you should put on your winter tires, the general rule of thumb is when the temperature falls below 7.
“Think of the cool mornings, where the temperature is hovering around freezing,” says Uytronkie, “A good rule of thumb is when you can see your breath it’s time to put on your winter tires.”
Of those who don’t use winter tires, 19-percent believe all-season tires are good enough to get through the winter, 5-percent point to cost, and 40-percent say they don’t drive much during the winter and that’s why they don’t use winter tires.
