Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Winter's on the way. Is your vehicle ready?
The season is changing and so are the road conditions. It's time to prepare your vehicle for winter driving by making sure you have the right tires for icy road conditions.
Here are some helpful reminders about some of the worst that winter throws at you.
Consider the advantages of using winter tires:
- They can provide more control in winter conditions than regular all-season tires.
- A set of four matching tires helps to ensure consistent handling when accelerating and stopping. Purchasing a set of rims for your winter tires makes installation faster and easier.
- Look for tires marked with a snowflake and mountain image that indicates they meet winter traction performance standards.
Make sure to check the tire pressure:
- Properly inflated tires enhance handling, traction and durability.
- Tires lose an average of one pound of pressure for each 5-degree Celsius drop in temperature. Being under-inflated by as little as three pounds (a 15-degree drop in temperature) is enough to affect their performance.
- Use a pressure gauge to check tires twice a month. Consult your vehicle manual or the information attached to the vehicle doorframe for the correct tire pressure.
Ensuring you have the correct tires, inflated to the correct pressure will play a key role in helping keep you safe on the road this winter.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV.
