As a driver, you might want to soak up the beautiful tapestry of fall colour on display in Guelph while you can, because it will soon be gone – replaced by blowing snow, freezing conditions and icy roads.
With the snowiest months in Canada occurring from November to April, Canadians are no strangers to driving in extreme winter conditions. Unfortunately, not everyone is in a vehicle properly prepared for the conditions. Winter weather continues to play a chief factor in the number of collisions that happen each year, with 30 percent of winter accidents cause by poor environmental conditions. Another important factor causing winter accidents is driving on the wrong tires for the season.
“It all comes down to safety,” said Josh Adams, one of the owners of Dettmer Tire and Auto Service. “A lot of people think that driving on winter tires is all about taking off and being able to move forward. The bigger thing is being able to stop in time.”
According to Adams, swapping out your summer or all-season tires for a dedicated winter tire can significantly reduce your braking time when driving in snowy or icy conditions.
“On average driving on a good winter tire can reduce braking by 33 percent,” said Adams, whose company has recently launched a mobile tire swap service available across the greater Guelph area. “One report shows a vehicle travelling at 50 kilometres an hour on winter tires took 18 metres to stop. The same vehicle took 27 metres to stop driving on all season tires, or about two extra car lengths. The right tire makes a big difference when it comes to your safety.”
Given the recent mild winters, many drivers are choosing to go with an all-weather tire rather than a dedicated winter tire. Adams says that all-weather tires can provide adequate safety depending on the amount of driving you do in the winter.
“An all-weather tire is great if you don’t do a lot of highway driving or if you’re not going out in inclement weather,” he said. “If you’re able to stay inside and wait until roads are plowed or conditions ease up, an all-weather tire provides perfectly adequate safety. If you need to drive regardless of conditions than a winter tire is your safest choice.”
To ensure you’re ready for winter, Adams suggests you should start planning your winter tire swap after mid-October. If you put a lot of miles on your tires, you may want to wait until the temperature is consistently below 7 degrees to prolong the life of your winter tires.
Learn more. Visit Dettmer Tire online. Or visit either of the two locations of Dettmer Tire, 325 Eramosa Road or 23 Cork Street East in Guelph at 519-763-8473.
This article was sponsored by Dettmer Tire & Auto Centre, a 2024 GuelphToday Reader Favourite.