POLL: Winters vs All-Season Tires

[mmret]

As a tax payer, why should I pay for your tires?? 

How about just Quebec taxpayers?

[SkiBunny]

If winter tires are to be made mandatory, then they should at least be completely tax-free.  No GST, no PST, HST, manufacturing tax, duty/import tax on imported tires.  And no taxes on installation either. 

[wing]

That's a good point -- I somewhat agree -- but I also disagree.

Driving a car is not mandatory or a right -- there is where that falls down.  Clothes are pretty much required to have so no tax, food as well.  But after that well it's a luxury.

Heck we could argue then there should be no tax on your home because geez you need a house!

[UmroAyyar]

There is some sort of precedence to SkiBunny's point.

Child Seats are PST exempt in Ontario.

If winter tires are mandated by the provincial government, why not extend it to winter tires.

[airbalancer]

There is some sort of precedence to SkiBunny's point.

Child Seats are PST exempt in Ontario.

If winter tires are mandated by the provincial government, why not extend it to winter tires.

There is PST on car insurance, that is mandatory
Have to win the lottery , then who cares about taxes

[Zoo]

Just wanted to join the thread because I am running winters again.

As for Quebec why not offer some sort of rebate or tax credit? It is a provincially mandated change. I'll bet the insurance companies will not be lowering their rates even though I'm sure their payouts will go down with everyone running winters...

[Iso Octane]

Does it seem like more and more people have winter tires now?  By my unscientific reckoning, it feels something like 30% of the parking lot have winter tires, compared to what felt like 5% just 5 years ago.  It's a good thing for sure.

And how long does it take everyone to change their tires?  It takes me one whole freaking hour from lugging stuff out of the basement to putting everything back again.  That's just ridiculous for something so damn simple.

[Squishy]

It takes me a half hour per car, although I usually do other checks while the wheels are off.

[wing]

10min tops , but I do it often and use power tools.

[tpl]

Takes me 1/2 hour on the Fit. Trolley jack speeds things up.    BMW took longer 'cos of the extra bolts and being heavier required 4 jack ups or two using the car jack as well as the trolley

GTI was done at tire shop.

[UmroAyyar]

It takes 0 seconds to switch over to winter mode for my car.

[safristi]

  so yer a NO BRAINER eh!!!.............

[dr_spock]

It takes me over an hour to change over both cars.   

[safristi]

..sao ya just SWITCH the Summers THEN...................

[Iso Octane]

Hahaha, damn, so I am slow.  Trolley jack and a torque wrench of course.

[silverpontiac]

I believe that winter tires are the only choice for the winter. All season tires should be called 3 season tires (fall, summer and spring).

Winter tires do not cost that much more than running all seasons all year. The all seasons get a break while the winters are on. I just bought my first set last winter (Toyo G-02 plus with black steel rims). They prevented 2 collisions last winter and 1 this week (a car pulled out of a gas station in front of me while I was doing 60km/h and I just missed giving him a t-bone (roads were dry but freezing cold). Never would've stopped in time with all seasons as we all know they become like hockey pucks in the cold.

My only regret is that nobody educated me about winter tires earlier. I will never go back to all season tires.

I am hoping one day that the Ontario government wakes up and makes winter tires mandatory for ALL vehicles if they are to operate during the cold temperatures.

[ovr50]

I believe that winter tires are the only choice for the winter. All season tires should be called 3 season tires (fall, summer and spring).

Winter tires do not cost that much more than running all seasons all year. The all seasons get a break while the winters are on. I just bought my first set last winter (Toyo G-02 plus with black steel rims). They prevented 2 collisions last winter and 1 this week (a car pulled out of a gas station in front of me while I was doing 60km/h and I just missed giving him a t-bone (roads were dry but freezing cold). Never would've stopped in time with all seasons as we all know they become like hockey pucks in the cold.

My only regret is that nobody educated me about winter tires earlier. I will never go back to all season tires.

I am hoping one day that the Ontario government wakes up and makes winter tires mandatory for ALL vehicles if they are to operate during the cold temperatures.

Good post #2, silverpontiac, you are totally correct. 

[safristi]

NOW ...especially........$800 to $1,500 extra expense is a SHIP LOAD of money to Many ..if NOT MOST.................time to let adults be adults and SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY....Gov Mandates are B/S.....QUEBEC is a HAVE NOT!!! Province despite a $ Billion every year.......so have pity on the poor!! bastards............. ..................wot next ESC....roll over bars......ya yad yada........................90% is driving within the CONDITIONS .PAYIN FACKIN' ATTENTION!!!!! ...5% LUCK   and 5% TECHNOBUBBLE TYRES and such.....

[silverpontiac]

I agree that paying attention plays a huge role in safe driving but I also belive that putting on winter tires also plays a role in safety. Winter tires are proven to stop your car sooner, provides more grip and that you won't get stuck in snow as often (we Toronto citizens know that Miller has cut back on snow removal and hopes that Mother Nature does the job).

$800-$1500 (depending on the car) is a lot of money. In my case, I have a $1000 deductible on my insurance. My winter tires have prevented 3 accidents so far. They've more than paid themselves off. Even if that didn't matter, we all know this, driving is a privellage, not a right. If they mandate it, there is nothing you can do.

When a car has winter tires on and a driver behind the wheel with a winter driving mentality in mind (driving properly for winter conditions) and who actually clears the windows and vehicle of snow/ice... it makes the roads that much safer.

[safristi]

Silver if U have had 3 near misses already this Winter it's NOT WINTER TYRES YA NEED......................