Should Winter Tires be Necessary?

[anyonebutedmonton]

The biggest factor for me getting winters wasn't my lack of skill driving in the winter, in fact I have never been in an accident after 8 years of winter driving. It is the fact that I don't control other drivers behavior. Being able to react and have traction to avoid other potentially unskilled drivers is a serious concern. I have fears of someone sliding through an intersection towards me and not being able to react well enough to avoid an accident.

[Table 5]

I think they should make summer tires in winter mandatory. And outlaw AWD and traction control.

The more scared people are while driving, the more they will pay attention to the road conditions and not drive like an overconfident jackass.

[Hemi-Cuda]

what the province should do is institute an insurance rebate for those that buy winter tires, or increase the premiums for those that don't. it's absurd that i can pay the same insurance rates in the winter on my Nokian equipped car as someone in a similar vehicle with bargain all-season tires. i wonder which one is statistically higher to cause accidents

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

OR.........people could just learn to adjust their driving in bad weather and show some patience.

Exactly. There is absolutely no excuse for being anywhere within 25 feet of my bumper when travelling down a hill in this weather. Morons. Winter tires just might be worth it so I can slam on my breaks next time.

Originally Posted by Burninator

How would driving training help you get moving when you are stuck on an icy hill in bumper to bumper traffic like all the people this week on the overpass near my place?

Plan your route if possible. Even though it would be quicker I don't cross the Elbow River to get home, because my car can't handle that terrain. And if you can't avoid some steep hill, then buy winter tires. But making winter tires legally mandatory is ridiculous. What's next, mandatory fancy carbon fibre brakes because they stop faster?

[Jimmy Stang]

I don't see a lot of this "winter tire overconfidence" that people are saying here. There are overly aggressive drivers on any kind of tire, and they are all as dangerous as each other.

And winter tires aren't a crutch for the incompetent or a placebo for the timid. They simply work better on ice and cold. I can play the "never been in an accident" game the same as anyone else (on all seasons or winters) but we're a winter city in a winter country, despite the odd chinook. If there's a way that I can get an edge on the conditions, I'll take it.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I'm sure winter tires are great for some people but superior driving skills trump all.

Actually 'superior driving skills' and having a tire that offers you better traction would trump all...

While I think winter tires (or at the very least an all season with the Canadian Severe Weather/Snow approval) should be used by everyone, I don't want to see the goverment implementing it. Also, it would rarely be enforced. It would have to be a checkstop to catch, or be a ticket after an accident.

I'd rather see a reduction in insurance upon proof of having winter tires.

- - - Whoops - - - Hemi beat me to it.

[Table 5]

What happens if it's February and the city has been in the middle of a Chinook with no snow on the ground for a month? Winter tires get eaten down pretty damn quickly on dry pavement.

Winter tires are great, but seriously, how many really bad snow days does Calgary get a year? 5? Seems like overkill to institute a law.

[You Need a Thneed]

In 15 years of driving, I've never had a problem with the all season tires on my vehicles. Winter tires are nice, but SHOULD NOT be mandatory. I'd be fine with new cars having to have better quality all season tires installed from the factory.

[Dion]

I have Michelin LTX M/S tires on my Ford Escape. No problems with traction or on ice. I also adjust my driving to the road conditions.

[amorak]

People...Winter tires are FREE over the life of your car! Buy them when you buy a new car!

Instead of replacing your no-seasons once, say at 50-75K KM, you spread that ware over two sets of tires, so the winters cost you nothing more! You're just effectively purchasing your second set of tire sup front, but this way you get the additional grip of winters!

It's a no brainer.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Table 5

What happens if it's February and the city has been in the middle of a Chinook with no snow on the ground for a month? Winter tires get eating down pretty damn quickly on dry pavement.

Winter tires are great, but seriously, how many really bad snow days does Calgary get a year? 5? Seems like overkill to institute a law.

I think the average in Calgary would be about 5 days a year where winter tires would really make a difference. Of course, people who regularly drive out in the country may have a lot more.

Last winter was a horrible winter with a lot of snow, and I think that the total number of days where winter tires would have been really beneficial was roughly 5 or 6.

Main roads are all plowed and melted from traffic within a day usually. Residential streets, you can easily slow down a bit and drive safely.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by amorak

People...Winter tires are FREE over the life of your car! Buy them when you buy a new car!

Instead of replacing your no-seasons once, say at 50-75K KM, you spread that ware over two sets of tires, so the winters cost you nothing more! You're just effectively purchasing your second set of tire sup front, but this way you get the additional grip of winters!

It's a no brainer.

I'd rather invest that upfront money than let it sit in my garage earning nothing 5 months of the year.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Table 5

What happens if it's February and the city has been in the middle of a Chinook with no snow on the ground for a month? Winter tires get eaten down pretty damn quickly on dry pavement.

Winter tires are great, but seriously, how many really bad snow days does Calgary get a year? 5? Seems like overkill to institute a law.

Well, considering we've already have more than 5 days since last week, I would have to argue the average is a little higher than 5 a year.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I think good all seasons with the right vehicle would be fine.

I have a rear wheel vechicle with no weight in the back so its a must for me. After changing them on Wednesday I noticed a huge difference.

If you are FWD then you should be fine if you know how to drive.

FWD and AWD don't help you stop.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Table 5

What happens if it's February and the city has been in the middle of a Chinook with no snow on the ground for a month? Winter tires get eaten down pretty damn quickly on dry pavement.

Winter tires are great, but seriously, how many really bad snow days does Calgary get a year? 5? Seems like overkill to institute a law.

Not really. Winters will last an average driver 4+ seasons in Calgary. Totally reasonable compared to All Seasons. Anything below 5 degrees and winter tires will destroy summer tires in stopping distance. It's not just snow and ice.

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I think the average in Calgary would be about 5 days a year where winter tires would really make a difference.

It's November 22nd and we've already had more than 5 days they are of great benefit. Plus, as mentioned, even if the roads are dry and it's -10, winter tires will stop significantly shorter than all seasons. Not as huge of a difference as on the roads the way they are currently, but still a safer option.

[psicodude]

Nobody is debating whether or not winter tires are better, as they clearly are.

The question is, should it be a law? And the answer is no. Many people in this province already have to choose between heat and food. It's not fair to force this on people.

It should be up to insurance companies to provide rebates and/or extra charges.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

It's November 22nd and we've already had more than 5 days they are of great benefit. Plus, as mentioned, even if the roads are dry and it's -10, winter tires will stop significantly shorter than all seasons. Not as huge of a difference as on the roads the way they are currently, but still a safer option.

No, we've had one day. Other then last Tuesday, driving on all seasons has been good enough, at least in the driving I do around town. Like I said, other people who have different driving patterns may have more.

That winter tires stop quicker on a cold dry road may be true, but the number isn't significant. All seasons can stop just fine on dry pavement, no matter how cold the pavement is. In all my years of winter driving, I cannot think of one situation where the pavement was dry and I had to cut it close in not being able to stop on time. I'm even having a hard time even thinking up a scenario where theoretically they could make a significant difference.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I don't see a lot of this "winter tire overconfidence" that people are saying here. There are overly aggressive drivers on any kind of tire, and they are all as dangerous as each other.

And winter tires aren't a crutch for the incompetent or a placebo for the timid. They simply work better on ice and cold. I can play the "never been in an accident" game the same as anyone else (on all seasons or winters) but we're a winter city in a winter country, despite the odd chinook. If there's a way that I can get an edge on the conditions, I'll take it.

I, personally, cannot tell the difference between an all-weather and winter tire (on other cars...I don't have them on my own car), but I am sure it causes over-confidence in some drivers, just as AWD and 4x4 do...

Seriously, those of us who grew up in Calgary remember driving in winters with no AWD/4x4 or winter tires and most of us managed to escape without great harm. If drivers would relax a bit, not drive on each others bumpers and not weave in and out of traffic we would be fine.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by psicodude

The question is, should it be a law? And the answer is no.

I can agree with that. I think there should be an insurance discount for having them, and if you cause an accident in winter conditions without proper winter tires you should be assessed an additional fine. I think it may be Germany that already does this.

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

No, we've had one day. Other then last Tuesday, driving on all seasons has been good enough.

Congratulations on being one of the people that murdered traffic all week because you had to drive 40km/h below the limit to maintain traction on your inadequate tires.

[mrkajz44]

For all those who think all season are just as good, how about this: After having an accident in the snow/ice, your insurance requires you to buy winter tires until the incident comes off your record.