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Start getting ready for winter driving
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Ian Law- The Toronto Star-
Not being ready for winter can turn out to be very expensive or even disastrous.
Preparing your vehicle for the onslaught of nasty weather is one half of the safety equation. Changing our driving habits to suit the limited traction conditions is the other half.
When it comes to preparing your vehicle, the best thing you can do is use winter tires on all four wheels. Staying on the road, avoiding a collision or stopping in time is all about how much grip your tires give you.
More: The telltale signs it's time to switch to winter tires
Up until recently, motorists had the choice of using either dedicated winter tires or “All Season” tires.
Winter tires sport the “snow flake in a mountain” symbol, which designates the tire as having been designed for all winter conditions — ice, snow, slush, wet as well as dry roads. The technology is in the rubber compound in the tread as well as the tread design.
As most of you know, I am a strong advocate of winter tires over “All Season” tires but now the tire companies have thrown more complicated choices at the consumer.
Some tire companies have chosen to market what they call “All Weather” tires, which are not to be confused with “All Season” tires. These all-weather tires have a tread compound quite similar to that of the dedicated winter tire. The difference is that only part of the tread has this special winter compound.
Tires such as the Nokian All Weather use the softer winter compound on the inner half of the tread “for those who drive only occasionally in snow and slush, perhaps just a few days a year,” according to their website.
Hankook Tires also have their Optimo 4S, which is also an “All Weather” tire and, as is the case with the Nokian, the inner half of tread is dedicated to winter conditions while the outer half is for summer driving.
Compounding the confusion is the fact that both of these “All Weather” tire contain the winter symbol of the mountain and snow flake that is required on dedicated winter tires.
The down side of these “All Weather” tires is that only half of their tread is dedicated to winter driving, which still sounds like a compromise to me. They will be better in winter conditions than the old “All Season” tires, but still not as good as a dedicated winter tire.
In addition, these tires won’t offer up as much dry weather grip as a summer tire due to their aggressive tread design that can squirm under warm weather cornering or braking. Like an “All Season” tire, these too are a compromise compared to a set of dedicated winter tires and a set of summer tires.
Specialized winter tires such as the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT have the latest winter technology across the complete tread width, giving the driver a tire that is dedicate 100 per cent for winter driving. These specialized winter tires can shorten stopping distances by 50 per cent, as compared to “All Season” tires on ice. That equates to about twice as much grip in icy conditions, which can easily be the difference between getting home safely and sitting in a ditch.
For my money, when I encounter winter conditions, I’ll always choose four dedicated winter tires and then switch to four summer tires at the end of the winter season.
It is also important for motorists to remember that every vehicle should be equipped with four winter tires. It is unsafe to try to use only two winter tires.
Vehicles with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive should also use winter tires. All-wheel drive technology is great for forward traction or acceleration but does not help a vehicle stop or steer better. For this reason, all-wheel drive should not be looked upon as a safety feature, as some manufacturers claim. It is a performance feature. To help those vehicles to stop and steer effectively, they should also be equipped with winter tires.
Wiper blades should be replaced and you have to remember to top up the windshield washer antifreeze. Your windshield washer nozzles should be clear and aimed at the windshield. Vision and visibility are vital to safe driving. Keep a good quality pair of sunglasses within easy reach to reduce road glare on wet winter roads during sunny days.
Be sure all your lights are working properly to ensure your vehicle will be more visible. Snow and spray off the roads can easily conceal your vehicle from view.
Know how to clear fog or frost off the inside of your windows efficiently. Use your air conditioner in the winter as an effective dehumidifier. Clean the snow and slush off your shoes before getting in to reduce the level of moisture inside your vehicle.
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