07 Nov Tire importance in winter

Did you know that as soon as the temperature drops below 7° C, or when there is ice or snow on the road, the rubber compound of summer and all-season tires hardens and loses its grip?

Since we can generally expect such weather conditions before December 15, it is highly recommended that you equip your vehicle with winter tires before this mandatory deadline.

The rubber compound of winter tires is specially designed to meet certain flexibility criteria in temperatures as low as -40 °C, which means better grip on the road surface.

USED WINTER TIRES

For better traction, the tread depth of your tires must be at least 4.8 mm (6/32 in) when they are installed.

Even though legislation allows for the use of tires with a tread depth of only 1.6 mm (2/32 in), you may be compromising your safety if it is below 4.8 mm (6/32 in).

Check the date the tires were made!

Be sure to check the date the tires were made, especially when you are buying them.  The tread on older tires is harder and less effective on snow and ice.

To find the date a tire was made, on the tire wall, find the DOT identification number that ends with a 4-digit number. For example, 3613 means that the tire was made in the 36th week of 2013.

STUDDED TIRES AND CHAINS

Studded tires are authorized for:

• passenger vehicles
• taxis
• commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of no more than 3,000 kg

Chains are authorized on the tires of:

• emergency vehicles
• farm tractors
• road vehicles used for snow removal and winter maintenance

Jackie Beaudoin, Leclerc Insurance and Financial Services
Source :  SAAQ Website