Winter tires being stored on balcony
It’s almost time to get your winter tires installed as we approach the start of November.
“We’ve booked quite a few appointments already. We’re currently booking into middle November” says Matt Smith, owner and service manager at Wortley Auto Service.
“What I’ve noticed, and I think this is a factor more people are returning to work in person and there’s less virtual work than there has been for several years” says Smith.
“I believe more people are commuting with their cars again and using them and want them to be winter ready.”
“It’s slightly higher demand than we’ve seen in past years.”
Wortley Auto Service (Credit: Wortley Auto)
Smith goes on to say that November 1st is a good time to start planning when you will put your snow tires on.
“Some people wait until December 1st. It depends on if your insurance company wants you to have snow tires on the car and you have that discount, they may have a specific date it has to be.
My policy, I get a four per cent reduction in the premium because I have snow tires on all my vehicles.”
Snow tires are not the same as all season tires. According to Smith, there are small channels in snow tires that are like capillaries that pull the water off the road underneath the tire and channel it out the side, but most importantly, “they are manufactured to perform well in subzero temperatures.”
It’s also important not to keep your winter tires on once we come out of winter going into the spring and summer.
“The tires are not really designed to perform on warm road surfaces. You really shouldn’t leave them on in the summer. They should usually come off around April 1st.”
