Poll: Winter Tire Law

[erratic]

I voted yes, but I think they should take the time to educate people on how to properly drive when the weather conditions are bad first. If you drive a car with all-season tires and it is having trouble gripping in the snow / slush, then drive in the right (slow) lane and allow others who are confident in what their vehicle can do get through. Its especially frustrating in the morning when two cars are crawling along on a 2 lane road next to each other in the mornings because they do not have snow tires and cannot grip the road.

[Zuluwun]

50 to 16 but I voted no.

I don't think people should be forced to get winter tires that's just not right. My family's always had a suv and a compact, to me I find that the compacts do perform a lot better with snow tires on.

But driving the suv in conditions like yesterday on all seasons it felt just the same.

It all really just comes down to how careful you are, making it mandatory could induce a negative effect as well.

People will start thinking oh I have snow tires on now, I can drive more careless now.

That's a good point.

[Punkrockjohn]

I'm shocked so many people think it should be mandatory, i say no I'm completely fine with my all seasons

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

my 2 cents..

Solution 1 - Don't make it mandatory, but if you don't buy winter tires, you are not allowed to wear your seat belt from November to March

Solution 2 - Make it mandatory, but have insurance drop by at least $200 a yr to off set installation etc.. and also, if you are involved in an accident and you do not have them.. your insurance denies the claim.

Jeff FTW!












...even if he does drive a sedan and we all know how gay those really are.

[zakman]

i no its different down south but man it would make a difference up north for sure. im all for it.

[kittyangel]

I have an idea...what about ....

only let the cars with snow tires drive on the public road when there are snow on the ground? At least...it filters out the problems where people without snow tires will never drive during snowy days...

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Question to those who don't think they need winter tires in the winter...

Do you wear summer shoes in the winter? Sandals? Then why should your car?

[Jeff-TheBiz]

...even if he does drive a sedan and we all know how gay those really are.

[m_bisson]

I say no. This is the first year I've had winter tires and it's not that big of an improvement over all seasons. I have always been cautious in the snow and these tires haven't really made a difference to me. I got a 5% discount on my yearly insurance premiums which basically covers the cost of the tires, but there really isn't any need to make it a law. There are plenty of people that would buy the $50 tires, which are garbage, just to meet the requirements of the law....

Look at that new cellphone law. More accidents are happening now because people hide their phones down low rather than hold them up high. If we give everyone snow tires, do you honestly expect people to drive cautiously or is it more likely they will behave more aggressively due to higher confidence than normal..?

[pnoy_vokal]

yes

[Cosmo77]

I see no one said anything about me sudgesting that bi-annual safties were also a good idea (After the first 5 production years)

Back to tires...I just don't understand why people DON'T want the proper equipment on there cars? Its like customers that say their Miata's "are great in the snow!" I tend to wonder if they have driven anything else?

[alhope34]

Of course it should be law, we live in Canada. Every car has 4 wheels to brake and 4 wheels for stability. 4wd/awd doesn't mean anything in the winter.

[ThatGuy19]

Question to those who don't think they need winter tires in the winter...

Do you wear summer shoes in the winter? Sandals? Then why should your car?

I wear the same running shoes all year long...

[Iceman_F1]

I wear the same running shoes all year long...

So then you have all-seasons. I think the point you commented was would you wear your sandals (summer shoes) in the winter? Or would you wear your winter shoes (boots usually) in the summer?

[zzz3]

That analogy of sandals and boots in comparison to the weather isnt the best example. It is always cold in the winter and vice versa in the summer. But there isnt always snow or ice on the ground in Ontario especially in the GTA. That is the biggest advantage of winter tires (more on this below).

However you can also make the argument that even if there isnt snow or ice on the ground, there are still advantages to having winter tires (boots vs. sandals) in cold weather alone because of the softer compound. But it would be quite hard to convince people in the GTA because many cannot conceive how winter tires will help them when there is hardly any snow on the ground. And once you factor in cost it becomes a losing proposition (including the performance benefits of winter vs. all season in just cold weather). This seems absurd to us here on tm3 but you have to keep in mind we are "enthusiasts" (have a higher rate of winter tire usage because we understand the benefits and are willing to make investments in our cars i.e. mods) vs. average joe (driving a to b appliance).

Ontario is too big of a province with uneven population distribution to make winter tires mandatory. Just increase the incentive for winter tires be it from tax credit, rebates or an increased winter tire insurance discount (from what it is now).

[alhope34]

What most people don't realize is that now you'll have two complete sets of tires you'll be putting kms on. Sure, it's more expensive up front but it evens out when you only have to buy tires half as often. My dad has had the same set of all seasons for the summer and winters for the winter on his Yaris for 4 years now. Both sets still have easily another 3 seasons on them.

[Cosmo77]

Ontario is too big of a province with uneven population distribution to make winter tires mandatory. Just increase the incentive for winter tires be it from tax credit, rebates or an increased winter tire insurance discount (from what it is now).

Umm and how big is Quebec?

I also still do not see a reason for a tax credit?

[zzz3]

Umm and how big is Quebec?

I also still do not see a reason for a tax credit?

To further clarify (since quebec is just as big), what i should have added (didnt see a need to do so since i mentioned the following in post#33) is that snowfall for quebec (montreal, quebec city and the provincial average) is much higher than Ontario. There are exceptions in Ontario like London and Ottawa, but the disparity is too great in Ontario (for snowfall) to force other people to adopt snow tires (i.e. those in the GTA where snowfall is small relatively speaking).

As for the tax credit it is just one of many suggestions, others being incentives and rebates to encourage people to adopt snow tires, instead of wrongfully and unnecessarily forcing them to buy snow tires. Its better to be proactive and do something rather than nothing imo (while balancing freedom and safety), instead of just leaving it up to the owners...

[Pokey]

What most people don't realize is that now you'll have two complete sets of tires you'll be putting kms on. Sure, it's more expensive up front but it evens out when you only have to buy tires half as often. My dad has had the same set of all seasons for the summer and winters for the winter on his Yaris for 4 years now. Both sets still have easily another 3 seasons on them.

Don't tires start to crack etc after about 4 years. I wouldn't want to drive down the 401 on 7 year old tires

[alhope34]

Tires are usually good to 8-10 years, a shop can sell you a tire up to 6 years old. After it is 6 years they must remove it from their inventory.

[Pokey]

I've had Michelins show cracks inbetween the treads after 3 seasons. Can't imagine what they would look like after 7.

[Rob23]

this is the 7th season my snow tires have been through, and the tread/compound is still in really good shape. still i plan on replacing them for next season. they are Pirelli winters.

[alhope34]

I've had Michelins show cracks inbetween the treads after 3 seasons. Can't imagine what they would look like after 7.

How old were they when you bought them? Might wanna find the date stamp on the side. Also, just because it's name brand doesn't mean it's the best. Michelin, BFG, Good Year all tend to over price their tires. Sometimes by quite a bit.

[fini]

Tires are usually good to 8-10 years, a shop can sell you a tire up to 6 years old. After it is 6 years they must remove it from their inventory.

this reminds me of the canadian tire near my house. i think i posted this in another thread as well. there were tires with manufacture dates from like 1990 or something selling on the clearance rack for like 20% off retail.

[alhope34]

this reminds me of the canadian tire near my house. i think i posted this in another thread as well. there were tires with manufacture dates from like 1990 or something selling on the clearance rack for like 20% off retail.

That would be illegal for them to do, you should have told the manager to remove them and get rid of them. By Ontario law no one can sell tires more than 6 years old, new or used.