CANADIAN WINTER TYRE

According to the Canadian Tire and Rubber Association (TRAC), winter tires have been the fastest-growing tire category in Canada over the past five years.

TRAC attributed the growth in winter tyres to the combined efforts of tyre manufacturers, retailers and the government.

The Canadian government is offering incentives to manufacturers who lower prices for winter tires.

TRAC commissioned Leger, Canada’s largest online community, to conduct the 2017 Canadian Consumer Winter Tire Survey.

According to the survey, 66 percent of Canadian drivers use winter tires.

It is understood that Quebec provincial law must use winter tires.

Excluding the province, the proportion fell to 60 per cent.

The main reason for not using winter tires is “the belief that four-season tires can provide sufficient traction (51%)”;”Decrease in winter driving behaviour (22%)”;”Account for cost (21%)”.

Regionally, 60 percent of drivers use winter tires in British Columbia, 59 percent in Ontario, and 83 percent in the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

In addition, the figure was 57 percent in Alberta and 48 percent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Drivers will also continue to be encouraged to use winter tyres, TRAC said.

“Research by the Quebec government shows that since the winter tire law was enacted, the province has seen a significant decrease in car accident injury rates.”