So how come more people don't use winter tires? I just spent 5 days in Saskatchewan (Saskatoon to Hudson Bay) and I could count on one hand how many cars had winter tires. And not a single car in the rental parking lot at the Saskatoon airport had winters, including the Frontier we got. Fun to see 4x4s stuck in downtown Hudson Bay after a bit of snow
A lot of folks on the prairies still don't see the value in them - maybe they haven't tried a recent winter tire? My Dad refuses to put winter tires on his 08 Altima - "doesn't need them" he says. Well, he's never had an accident in winter, and doesn't seem to get stuck, so it's tough to convince him otherwise. (And I definitely agree with the argument that proper driving knowledge, experience, and attention are BY FAR the greatest vehicle safety aids - not the vehicle equipment itself).
Nonetheless, I did convince my Mom to put winter tires on her Versa, and she won't go back to all-seasons during the winter again. And there were 4 vehicles in a row with steelies (and I assume winter tires) at the intersection on the way to work today...maybe ideas are changing out here. KalTire was certainly crazy-busy during our recent snowfalls.
And I agree, it's hilarious to see the blinged-up 4X4s with dubs sliding all over the road or getting stuck in the snow. My curling teammate just ponied up for winter tires & rims for his new F150 - once he found out 4X4 wasn't going to help him stop at any icy intersection any better...