Author Topic: POLL-How YOU would get the word out about winter tires' active safety advantages (Read 3009 times)

Angry Chicken · « **on:** March 18, 2008, 11:56:02 am »

What one option do you think would be the most effective method in getting the word out about winter tires' effectiveness as an active safety measure for winter driving in Canada? "All of the above" is not an option so choose carefully!

It's clear as someone pointed out in this thread (http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,56712.0.html) that we all have our opinions but that the majority would be in favour of the use of winter tires if not outright legislation mandating their use. I compiled the 5 most common suggestions in this list.

/Eric

dorin · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2008, 11:59:13 am »

I favour legislation. Once the legislation is in place then the police can also charge away whenever people who don't have the proper tires get in any accident, however the legislation needs to be there first.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2008, 12:04:02 pm »

If its one choice, Legislatlating cold wather tires usage will get the heads talking a lot.

If someone can't handle two pairs of tires/wheels like myself, get Nokian WR or something like it. There is a choice now.

Squishy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2008, 12:04:24 pm »

I favour legislature. It's been mentioned before that it may be the only way for companies and other "fleet" owners to use winter tires. Otherwise, the vehicle owners aren't driving the fleet so what do they care?

Loudpedal · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:28:23 pm »

The thought of someone in a panic braking or evasive maneuver in summer (on winter tires) is possibly more frightening to me than the same in winter (on 'all season' tires).

Therfore I voted for the 3 season tire option.

quadzilla · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:52:29 pm »

Quote from: Loudpedal on March 18, 2008, 01:28:23 pm

The thought of someone in a panic braking or evasive maneuver in summer (on winter tires) is possibly more frightening to me than the same in winter (on 'all season' tires).

Therfore I voted for the 3 season tire option.

I think my winters are better than most peoples a/s season tires, even in the summer. When I had my P5 I've drove with my crappy Nordic winter tires to California and never had one issue with control and I even did some mountain switchbacks above legal speeds.

Doesn't matter what you make people put on their cars...there will always be people trying to save a buck and looking for the cheapest tire they can use.

tpl · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:53:05 pm »

Quote from: Loudpedal on March 18, 2008, 01:28:23 pm

The thought of someone in a panic braking or evasive maneuver in summer (on winter tires) is possibly more frightening to me than the same in winter (on 'all season' tires).

Therfore I voted for the 3 season tire option.

That would not concern me at all. If one drives in a reasonable fashion, paying attention, even a winter tire is still a modern tire with a lot os performance built in.

What would worry me more would be someone on the 1st snow day with winter tires that are worn so much that they are as bad as 3 season tires when the driver expects them to work as they did last winter.

I suspect that some tire mfrs would make a tire that met the severe service and was fitted by car mfrs and then compromise it to last the length of a 3 year lease with some tread left at the end even if it became a very bad tire in any season at the end of that 3 years

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2008, 02:24:11 pm »

I'd vote for legislation.

A Marketplace video on winter tires and rental cars.

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/get_a_grip/

On driving with winter tires in summer, I never notice an issue with braking or handling with my X-Ice (mind you, a winter tire noted for good dry weather performance).
C&D tested winter tires in summer and found they actually had better braking and handling than all seasons in the wet.

Quote

The most interesting result was that the snow tire performed better on wet asphalt than did the all-season tire. The snow tire stopped sooner — 150 feet versus 155 — and pulled more g — 0.71 versus 0.69. And its 56.60-second run through the wet autocross course was 0.11 second quicker.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/features_classic_cars/tech_stuff_a_tire_for_all_seasons_feature/(page)/1

Squishy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2008, 03:19:10 pm »

tpl, you bring up a good point. Is 2/32" the legal tread depth for all tires? If legislation is put in place, there should be a separate legal tread depth for winter tires. (Has Quebec done this?)

Zombie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2008, 03:27:08 pm »

I'm conflicted I think everyone should use winter tires but I don't feel they should be forced to use them.

weebl · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2008, 03:29:19 pm »

Unfortunately, as with most things, it seems you have to legislate people so that they don't do stupid things. Seatbelt usage had to be increased in this way back when the legislation was passed (though I think we are now at a point where a majority see the benefits of them, legislation or not). Quebec has that law on their books. And years ago when I went in person to Tire Trends to pick up my winter set, the guy there (I think he's gone now, but his name was Tom???) mentioned that European countries have legislation like that.

davidm · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2008, 01:37:46 am »

I think insurance incentives are the best way. Its not legislation, but we all know hitting most folks in the pocketbook (or vice versa, giving them a cash incentive) is a good way to change behaviour. I voted with the police here as I believe you need police stats to get the issue measured and on the radar of insurers.

safristi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2008, 11:18:02 am »

<sigh> policing this LEGISLATION half of U want.....ignores the weather in various parts of the Country/Provinces...............do we go after crappy SUMMER tyres too...(saw some baldies in the local Mall lot this week!!??)...the Quality of the TYRES mandated...cheap arse (i.e Only Good fer 1 maybe 2 season crapolla??? is OKAY)...do U have ABS,Traction Control (shock & Yaw control too WHY NOT)..have U taken a driving in snow & Ice course WHY NOT??

Maybe give a 5 to 10% discount on INSURANCE & Licence Plate Tabs

?...1 cent of Gasoline taxes if you have GREAT TYRES at all times.......I can imagine the B/S and Political fallout (in Quebec U have a Totalitarian STATE as is so No Problemo

)
to each his OWN i say and let the chips (California Hi Way Patrol!!!) fall where they may................

The Mighty Duck · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2008, 06:01:02 pm »

I think a public awareness campaign and insurance discounts are the way to go. Factor in an insurance discount that saves people enough to buy a new set of winters every three years or so, plus a little more, and you're set.

I would also like police to be able to issue tickets for "driving without due care" or the like for people driving in bad weather on all seasons. IMO driving on summer tires in a snowstorm IS driving without due care.

Finally, I would support a requirement branding non-winter tires as "three season" tires, and not "all seasons". All seasons might fly in the Southern US, but not in Canada.

si · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2008, 06:21:28 pm »

We only get three seasons here...

weebl · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2008, 11:46:03 am »

I always considered it one season when I lived in Vancouver. The wet season.

safristi · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2008, 11:59:48 am »

Precisely MY POINT Seasons vary..............as do cars /vans/SUV/Trucks abilities...is amazing to think that mere Winter Tyres make ALL the difference...........I put a new set of Nordic Wintertracs on my Ford Ranger winter "beater!!".....even with two 40Kg
weights in the back..it's twitchy as hell one icy roads. and got stuck twice at a friends farm.....factor of light rear end RWD etc........My Millenia with Michelin Pilot Exaltos got me thru a blizzard in N Pennsylvania. and ice covered roads thru Buffalo/Hamilton........reason??? who knows there are so many VARIABLES.(vehicle DRIVER!!! speed....Traction control and BEYOND cars with the newest Yaw controls and such....and with (this Winter excepted) SW ONtario my balliwick..has had mild Winters the past 12 years..........the pain of switching and storing and paying for 2 sets of TYRES is anathema for MANY Canadians...come up with a better "ALL SEASON" tyre in the "moderate" areas of Canada...but whatever we do the idiots will be zooming BYE at 50 over the SAFE LIMIT next time it snows/freezes........

Angry Chicken · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2008, 01:14:16 pm »

Quote from: safristi on March 20, 2008, 11:59:48 am

Precisely MY POINT Seasons vary..............as do cars /vans/SUV/Trucks abilities...is amazing to think that mere Winter Tyres make ALL the difference...........I put a new set of Nordic Wintertracs on my Ford Ranger winter "beater!!".....even with two 40Kg
weights in the back..it's twitchy as hell one icy roads. and got stuck twice at a friends farm.....factor of light rear end RWD etc........My Millenia with Michelin Pilot Exaltos got me thru a blizzard in N Pennsylvania. and ice covered roads thru Buffalo/Hamilton........reason??? who knows there are so many VARIABLES.(vehicle DRIVER!!! speed....Traction control and BEYOND cars with the newest Yaw controls and such....and with (this Winter excepted) SW ONtario my balliwick..has had mild Winters the past 12 years..........the pain of switching and storing and paying for 2 sets of TYRES is anathema for MANY Canadians...come up with a better "ALL SEASON" tyre in the "moderate" areas of Canada...but whatever we do the idiots will be zooming BYE at 50 over the SAFE LIMIT next time it snows/freezes........

I just realized that I was able to understand almost everything you said in this post! Is this something you can switch on and off? Do you have to be in the right mood?

safristi · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2008, 01:25:21 pm »

U folks HAVE MOODS..........

...i have the BLUES..........

ktm525 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 01, 2008, 01:51:29 pm »

Quote from: Traction on May 01, 2008, 01:18:55 pm

I have found a company that specializes in wheel and tire storage mainly off season wheel storage. the name of the compny is Tire Storage Solutions it's a Toronto based company that will store your off season wheels. They will even come to your house, apartment, condo, business or anywhere the car may be to switch your wheels from winters to summers or vice versa. Then they will take away the wheels and store them for you until you need them again. This is one of the best ideas I have ever heard of. Here is the link to the website. tirestoragesolutions.com
I used them myself and they are great.

Thanks

John

This company gave me the worst service ever. They refuse to come to my house. Simply awful. Stay away.

Poll

What one option do you think would be the most effective method in getting the word out about winter tires' effectiveness as an active safety measure for winter driving in Canada?

Author Topic: POLL-How YOU would get the word out about winter tires' active safety advantages (Read 3009 times)