[Locke]

I generally agree with Pylon on this.

I have driven crazy crap-boxes in my younger, more adventurous and poorer days and they always had all-seasons, usually poor to mid-range, because I was a broke University kid.

But now? I have a 4WD with Winter tires on their own rims and I can tell you first hand, when I was a kid and white-knuckling it on crap tires and a crappy car with hundreds of pounds of sand in the back? I'd never do it again. Ever. I will find the money.

My kid has winter tires on his car. Why? I paid for them.

Its weird, on the one hand I can tell you crazy stories of me driving crappy cars in terrible conditions on damned near bald tires and I always made it safely and without a scratch, and I'd love to tell you that the experience made me a better driver and it probably did.

But at the same time I wouldnt ever want to do it again nor do I want my wife or kids to have to do that. I can look back on it with nostalgia all I want but in the end I remember hating every second of it.

My dad was a professional driver for over 40 years and he'll tell you that winter tires and 4x4 are luxury. And I more or less agree with that other than it isnt a 'luxury' its just prudent. He drives a RWD car with all-seasons.

But my opinion is that this is Canada, winter sucks and I'll never go without a 4x4/AWD vehicle and Winter tires.

I'm just not sure we should be legislating it as mandatory. If there were an insurance discount I think that would be the way to go.