Why Ontario Drivers need Winter Tires

Canada has some of the most challenging winter driving conditions in the world and Canadians, for the most part, take winter driving in stride.  Although many people are injured or killed in road crashes every winter, these numbers would undoubtedly be far greater if not for the services and devices that substantially contribute to safety under winter driving conditions.  One of these is the clearing, salting and sanding of roads, undertaken by municipalities and the Ministry of Transportation, which must adhere to certain standards.  Another important factor is the improved design and safety features of automobiles, and there is compelling evidence that winter tires have the greatest impact in reducing the risk of crashing in winter.

The TIRF report also found that unfortunately, the public does not fully appreciate the advantages of winter tires, which means that the risk of winter accidents is much greater, as a whole, than if all vehicles driven in winter were equipped with the appropriate tires.  An 2010 online poll conducted in Ontario for Canadian Tire revealed that only 47 per cent of respondents used winter tires. Some of the reasons cited for failing to install winter tires include: the higher cost, lower perceived fuel economy, lack of storage, a perception that regular tires suffice, and a belief that roads are well-maintained in winter and/or their region doesn’t get much snow.

Among the provinces, a 2011 study revealed that use of winter tires is highest in Quebec (98 per cent), with the maritime provinces following, at an average of 68 per cent use.  Quebec is the only province where it is mandatory to install winter tires.  In British Columbia, to be allowed to access designated roads, typically in the mountain areas, vehicles must be equipped with either winter tires or carry chains.  There are also a number of European countries with winters similar to Canada's where winter tires are mandatory, including Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Romania and Slovania.

Prior to passing the law in September 2008 to make winter tires mandatory, accident data gathered by the province of Quebec found that the 10 per cent of vehicle owners who didn’t use winter tires were involved in 38 per cent of the most severe and fatal accidents.  This alone is a compelling argument for winter tires. In the two winters after winter tires become mandatory (2009 and 2010), The Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) found a substantial reduction in the number of people seriously injured or killed (in comparison to the two winters before the law was passed); there were 36 per cent fewer seriously injured in Quebec City and 44 per cent fewer in Montreal.  The winter tire legislation resulted in a 5 per cent decrease in accident victims in the province.

Effective January 1^st, 2016, the Ontario government mandated that automobile insurance companies must offer discounts for any vehicles equipped with winter tires.  Although the discounts may be only about 5 per cent of your insurance rate, or about $80 for a typical vehicle, the tires will likely never entirely pay for themselves even in consideration of the fact that summer tires will last much longer if they are used for 5 fewer months of the year.  However, the real ‘saving’ or advantage is in the safety for drivers, their families and other road users, and the knowledge that you are much less likely to land in a ditch or crash with winter tires. 

In a recent civil trial, Smith v. Smith, a passenger who was injured in a single-car collision sued the driver and lessor of the rented car, claiming that the defendants were negligent in the outfitting and maintenance of the car.  Specifically, the plaintiff cited the lack of 'snow' tires on the rented vehicle as a causal factor in the accident.  Although the trial judge in this case was not inclined to make a ruling on whether snow tires could have prevented the accident in this particular case, his finding does not preclude the potential for considering whether an absence of snow tires is a contributing factor in future cases, particularly if snow tires eventually become mandated in Ontario.

For anyone who doesn’t install winter tires because they feel they don’t get enough snow in their area to warrant the additional expense, here are a few de-bunked myths published in the TIRF study that may change your mind.

Myth: Regular tires provide my car with enough traction in winter.

Reality: Winter tires provide superior traction over any other type of tire, in terms of braking performance and cornering ability in all winter road conditions.

Myth: Winter tires are really only useful in areas that get lots of snow.

Reality: Winter tires actually outperform all other tires during all winter road conditions, including on dry roads, once temperatures dip below +7 C degrees.

Myth: Vehicles with all-wheel drive (AWD), four-wheel drive, ABS or electronic stability control (ESC) don’t need winter tires.

Reality: In the absence of winter tires, all of the above safety features (ABC, ESC, AWD and four-wheel drive) are compromised.

Myth: Two winter tires, rather than a complete set of four, provide sufficient safety.

Reality: Mixing different types of tires on a vehicle can compromise control and stability of your vehicle, and can cause a car to fishtail.

Regardless of any other safety features on your vehicle, it’s your winter tires that will play the greatest role in keeping you and your family safe in winter driving conditions, according to Canada Safety Council.  And unlike the winter tires of the past, today’s winter tires are constructed of rubber compounds that can handle cold, dry, wet and/or slushy conditions, in addition to snow and ice.  To maintain vehicle performance, control and stability, identical tires should be installed on all four vehicles.  And, although your winter tires will give your car superior braking ability in the winter, it’s also important to maintain a safe distance from the cars in front and drive at an appropriate speed for any given road conditions, to substantially reduce the risk of a winter collision.