Winter Tire Safety Tips

Living in Canada means dealing with cold, ice and snow, all of which can make for challenging driving conditions. The way your vehicle handles in these conditions can be greatly improved when the tires on all four of your vehicle's wheels are of the same type, size, speed rating and load index.

Winter Tires

Featuring a combination of specialized tread designs and compounds to provide effective traction in cold, snowy conditions, winter tires are the safest tires for Canadian winters. Marked with the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake, this symbol means your tires will meet the specific snow traction performance requirements — designed specifically for cold, snowy, icy and slippery driving. These tires are also designed for improved traction on cold, dry road surfaces.

Good Advice for Canadian Winter Drivers:

• Install four Winter Tires.
• Do not mix tires: different tread patterns, size, construction can compromise vehicle performance and safety.
• Check your tires: worn treads have less traction on all surfaces, especially on ice and snow.
• Monitor tire pressure: in colder weather, the pressure in your tires drops. This affects safety and fuel consumption, so check your tires often.

The performance of your vehicle's tires is directly related to the temperature outside. As the temperature drops, even the best summer tires will fail to respond road conditions. All-season tires, while designed for all types of weather, will not perform as well in ice and cold.

As a rule, whenever the average outdoor temperature falls below or climbs above -7 degrees Celsius (19.4 degrees F), your tires will be affected. As the temperature drops, non-winter tires loose elasticity and the grip they have on the road. That's why the best tires to have when the temperature drops are winter tires. Conversely, winter tires will deteriorate faster in hotter temperatures.

All-Season Tires and Winter Driving

You can spot an all-season tire by the M+S (Mud + Snow) marking on the sidewall. All-season tires do provide safe all-weather performance. But remember, in severe winter snow conditions, they are not the safest choice.

Tire Tip!

Reducing tire pressure to increase traction doesn't work. Driving on under-inflated tires is dangerous any time of year. Check out goodwrench.ca for more information on a seasonal maintenance check-up.

What GM Does for Tire Safety

General Motors has long been committed to keeping you and your passengers safer. In 1968, the GM Tire and Wheel Systems Laboratory was opened in Michigan, to oversee the design, development, validation and engineering release of all tires used on GM North American vehicles.

GM was also one of the first automakers to include original equipment tires in its new vehicle limited warranty. This means you can bring your tire concerns related to the tires on your GM vehicle directly to any GM dealer. In doing so, we can improve our product offering.

Another GM safety innovation is the TPC (Tire Performance Criteria) system, making it easier to purchase replacement tires for your GM vehicle. In General Motor's labs, tires in development for use on GM vehicles are subjected to a series of rigorous tests, under a variety of load and driving conditions. These tests measure critical performance characteristics, like force and moment properties that influence steering.

In this section, you will learn how you can take good care of your tires, keeping them in circulation longer.

Check out goodwrench.ca for more information on a seasonal maintenance check-up.

Getting ready for winter weather

Winter driving presents a special challenge to drivers. There's a lot to take into consideration before tackling those winter roads. Let's start by examining how you can prepare your vehicle before the snow begins to fall:

• Ensure your electrical system is running properly. Recharge or replace your battery if it's weak.
• Check your brakes and adjust to maintain equal braking.
• Have your tires checked for proper alignment, pressure and tread depth. In areas where temperatures dip colder than -7 degrees Celsius, you should consider purchasing winter tires. Winter tires maintain gripping on ice, snow and slush.
• Check your exhaust system for leaks. Leaks increase your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Make sure your vehicle has antifreeze rated for the coldest weather.
• It's a smart idea to replace your windshield wipers every year before winter begins or purchase winter rated windshield wipers.
• Your local GM Goodwrench Dealer can perform these inspections for you and recommend any necessary service work.

And when you hit those winter roads, there are a few important things to remember:

• Avoid driving when fatigued.
• Check weather conditions for your travel route before you depart. Contact your provincial "Road Reports" to get regular updates regarding road conditions.
• When planning your arrival time, make sure you take into account slower traffic, reduced visibility, roadblocks, abandoned vehicles and other hazards.
• Bring a cell phone if you have one, but don't leave it in the car — the battery will freeze.

Finally, you should prepare a winter driving kit to keep in your vehicle at all times. A well-stocked kit can help you handle any on-the-road emergency. Here are a few ideas:

• Bag of sand, salt or kitty litter
• Traction mats
• Snow shovel
• Snow brush
• Ice scraper
• Booster cables
• Warning devices like flares or emergency lights
• Fuel line de-icer (methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or methyl hydrate)
• Roll of paper towels
• Extra windshield wiper fluid
• Flashlight
• Blanket
• Extra clothing
• First aid kit
• Snack bars or other emergency food and water
• Matches and candles. Only use these in your vehicle with a window open to prevent a build-up of carbon monoxide.
• Road maps

Before winter begins, remember to ensure your vehicle is winter-ready. Visit a licensed service technician for a seasonal maintenance check-up. Now is the perfect time to have your battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, exhaust system, heater/defroster, tires, wipers and ignition system checked out.

Click here to read Transport of Canada's full report on winter driving and check out goodwrench.ca for more information on a seasonal maintenance check-up.

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