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Posted (edited)

I've been driving for longer that pretty well everyone on this board and have always used winter tires and in my opinion they make a huge difference in both moving and stopping. We've all been stuck behind someone who is trying to get thru a snowstorm with summer tires and it's really maddening. You can also lose control of a vehicle on snow covered roads when using summer tires and slam into some other car.

Quebec has a rule that all cars must have winter tires but I don't know the dates.

Winter tires are very expensive and many folks can't afford them and personally I don't know if they should be mandatory or not. My neighbors were both in their 90's and money was short and they couldn't afford winter tires but 1/2 the time he had trouble getting out of his snow covered driveway.

I'm just curious what others think, should they be mandatory or not and if you think yes, what about the folks that need their car but don't have an extra bag of $$ laying around to buy them.

Edited by lew
  • Like 3
Posted
30 minutes ago, lew said:

I've been driving for longer that pretty well everyone on this board and have always used winter tires and in my opinion they make a huge difference in both moving and stopping. We've all been stuck behind someone who is trying to get thru a snowstorm with summer tires and it's really maddening. You can also lose control of a vehicle on snow covered roads when using summer tires and slam into some other car.

Quebec has a rule that all cars must have winter tires but I don't know the dates.

Winter tires are very expensive and many folks can't afford them and personally I don't know if they should be mandatory or not. My neighbors were both in their 90's and money was short and they couldn't afford winter tires but 1/2 the time he had trouble getting out of his snow covered driveway.

I'm just curious what others think, should they be mandatory or not and if you think yes, what about the folks that need their car but don't have an extra bag of $$ laying around to buy them.

They definitely make a difference but tire prices are insane! But the thought of losing a loved one is also unthinkable. Maybe some kind of government rebate and reduced insurance premium would help, whether or not it is made mandatory.

  • Like 1
Posted

I'm with you on the tires

In my opinion, they should be mandatory I run studded tires in the winter on the coast and saved my backside a few times.

 

  • Like 3
Posted

It’s hard to argue with that 

but if it’s for safety studs should be allowed again 

And as you say  there are many people who can not afford a second pair of tires 

ahhhh I don’t know.  I can’t vote either way

i I have use winter tires for the wife and me for about 18 years 

  • Like 1
Posted
39 minutes ago, limeyangler said:

 Maybe some kind of government rebate and reduced insurance premium would help, whether or not it is made mandatory.

I get a rebate for having winter tires, I think it's something like 10%

  • Like 2
Posted

I believe I started using winter tires after reading a thread on this board about them. Ten plus years ago for sure. I will never drive in the winter without them, they are a game changer. However I think making them mandatory is a little too much and not because of the cost.  Debbe drove to work everyday at the bank and never had snow tires on her car. City streets all the way and the roads are always plowed. Her  cars  where used to get around in town only. My car with winter tires  was used for the other driving tasks. 

Posted

I always switch over to winter tires on all my vehicles, and I do agree they should be mandatory in Ontario. When it comes to driving safety, it's often not you, but the other guy.

Actually the added cost really isn't that significant. If you keep your vehicles for a while, to the point that you have to buy new tires regardless once or twice during its lifetime...winter tires will double the life of your all-season tires. Typically in 200k of driving you will go through 2 sets of tires. If one set is all-seasons and one set is winters from the start, the only real added cost is a set of cheap steel rims and the cost of putting them on and off. The reduced premium from my insurance helps with that...so really doesn't cost me anything at all.

 

Posted

100% believer in good winter tires not only on my vehicle but also on my my daughter's vehicles as well and I believe in them enough that I pay to ensure that my daughter's have them on every winter. It's just common sense imo.

PS....my insurer does rebate for having them on.  ;)

  • Like 1
Posted

I'd run rubber studs if I could.  And I really think it depends on where you live if they should be mandatory or not.  The entire province doesn't get the same weather. 

  • Like 3
Posted

Worth noting there’s a ton of used winter tires out there too, on rims and with plenty of life left in them. Picked up a set for my truck last year for 200 bucks and a set for the wife’s for 300. If they save you from even the most insignificant of fender benders they’ve paid for themselves 10 times over. 

  • Like 1
Posted

Years ago they used to clean the roads better.  Now they have downloaded the cost to you in winter tires.  
for people that don’t drive much all weather tires are good.  
some of the lighter vehicles should have winter tires on for sure.  
it’s the cost of tires and rims that’s ridiculous.  

  • Like 1
Posted

I already get a rebate from the insurance company for using winter tires, have been for quite a number of years.  And yes, winter tires should be mandatory, save on accidents, injuries and the cost of insurance going up.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

I have a small car and keep the snows on all year. They don't wear much as I only drive less than 10 K a year mostly around town. The snows give me better braking traction in wet conditions as it has drum brakes on the back that don't brake well even after having them serviced. I also have a van with a set of snows that are put on each winter for long distance driving and towing.

Edited by 16 Footer
Posted
16 hours ago, Spiel said:

100% believer in good winter tires not only on my vehicle but also on my my daughter's vehicles as well and I believe in them enough that I pay to ensure that my daughter's have them on every winter. It's just common sense imo.

;)

I've got a large garage with enough room to store 2 sets of tires and like you Chris, I look after my daughters tires as well as my own. I put her winters on a few weeks ago and mine last week. I don't trust the dealership guys to do it as I don't think any of them even know what a torque wrench is.

  • Like 2
Posted

A few comments on this thread.

Yes, snow tires do make a difference, in most Winter weather. Buy quality, not cheap ultra low price point tires.

Don't put them on too early or leave them on too long. You can destroy a set of winter tires in a month or two of warm/hot weather driving. Soft compound and tread patterns will not stand up. 

I know winter tires are not cheap, but, avoid buying used. You have no idea of the history of the tires. Unless you know what to look for they could have been repaired. BTW it is illegal to repair a flat tire with a plug from the outside.

When you change from summers/all season to winter, PLEASE make sure that wheels are re-torqued after 100km or so. Most tire stores and dealers will do this at NC and it only takes a few minutes. 

 

  • Like 1
Posted

I don't want to sound like a politician but I agree with what everyone has said.

Around the GTA it may not snow enough to warrant the extra tires. However, they're not just for added traction in snow.

They are recommended whenever the temperatures drop below 7 celsius to decrease stopping distances as well as increase traction in snow. So that would include the entire province in the winter.

We live east of Ottawa and get at least our share of snow.

My wife has dedicated snow tires on her Nissan Sentra. She still has to go to Ottawa for work.

My truck has all weather tires on all year since I'm retired and usually don't have to travel if the weather is too bad.

Both sets of tires have the three peaks markings so they are eligible for a 10 % discount on our insurance.

I have also bought winter tires for my daughter who lives in North Bay. She didn't think they were necessary 🙄 but now won't go without them.

As has been said there are alternatives to spending a lot to get them.

For everyone's safety it makes sense. Therefore our politicians won't make it a requirement.

  • Like 1
Posted

We have two vehicles, one get snows, the other doesn't. As such, one vehicle gets used when the roads are not cleared, the other sits in the driveway.

Since I work from home, I get the one that doesn't have snows and won't go out unless the road conditions allow. Living in the city, I usually don't have to wait long for the roads to be cleared.

I simply couldn't justify the huge cost, somewhere around $1500-$2k for rims and tires.

So far, so good.

HH
 

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Headhunter said:

 

I simply couldn't justify the huge cost, somewhere around $1500-$2k for rims and tires.

 


 

My folks were the same once they retired. They lived in the city and could pretty well walk anywhere they needed to go or else I'd drive them. The car stayed home most of the winter and they save a pile of $$$$

  • Like 3
Posted
23 hours ago, lew said:

My folks were the same once they retired. They lived in the city and could pretty well walk anywhere they needed to go or else I'd drive them. The car stayed home most of the winter and they save a pile of $$$$

Same with my brother, lives in Scarboro, goes out once a week for groceries when the weather and roads are clear.

  • Like 2
Posted

I am a firm believer in using winter tires and as far as I  am concerned if you can't afford them you shoulden't go out on anything but clean dry roads! I just had a guy loose control and almost slide into me. If I  hadn't had winter tires we would both have been calling our insurance companies.  Fortunately I was able to pull out of the way enough to avoid the collision. When I  lived out at Snug Harbour our driveway had quite a slope, people without snow tires often had problems negotiating that slope in the winter, we could drive up it with no issues under some pretty extreme conditions.  I'd vote for mandatory or at least much higher insurance costs if someone doesn't have them. My insurance company does give a discount for having them it doesn't come close to what they cost but I  think about  what they save me!

  • Like 2
Posted

Retired 16 years , had present vehicle 3 years and put 11,000 km on it, probably only 2000 of that in winter and last year the snowblower didn't get used so not in a snow belt, be damned if I am shelling out big bucks for snow tires here on the south shore of Lake Ontario . Never put snows on my first front wheel drive car either , a '76 Rabbit and I put that through all sorts of backroads and snow when I was younger hunting rabbits and coyotes. last snows I bought were bias ply and only on the back of a '79 GMC van

  • Like 1
Posted

I would never do without snows on my vehicles including my 4x4 truck. The way I look at it there is no extra cost other than used rims or black steel ones as my summers last twice as long seeing as they are only on for the 6-7 months of the warm season and my winters last just as long. I live in the country and my driveway has a decent slope and I rarely have any issues getting up with the car other than the odd time after a fresh heavy snowfall where I might have to take somewhat of a run at it. Most of the winter I just pack the driveway down with my truck.

  • Like 2
Posted

One thing I don't need in my life is more government. What next, the government telling me I need a approved winter jacket before leaving the house.

I have a 4x4 truck with highway tires and if need be I just flip the switch to 4x4 high and keep going.

Posted
3 hours ago, Walltrout said:

One thing I don't need in my life is more government. What next, the government telling me I need a approved winter jacket before leaving the house.

I have a 4x4 truck with highway tires and if need be I just flip the switch to 4x4 high and keep going.

When the safety of others is in question those that think this way need to be governed. I see MANY 4x4's in the ditch in the centre of the highway because they think that 4x4 is the magic answer. "Flipping the switch" does not make one invincible no matter how good a driver we think we are. BTW I drive a 4x4 truck so I consider myself similarly.

  • Like 1

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