4 Tire Tips for Safe Winter Driving

Workers who drive as part of their duties face special challenges in the winter, including heavy snow, black ice and reduced visibility.

One way to protect workers on the roads this season is to ensure that their vehicles are equipped with the proper tires for winter driving conditions. Here are four tire tips from Transport Canada:

1. Use snow tires. Tires marked with the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake meet specific snow traction performance requirements and have been designed specifically for use in severe snow conditions. Snow tires help drivers control their vehicles safely in slippery conditions.

Tires marked ‘M + S”or ‘mud and snow’ tires, also known as ‘all-season’ tires’ continue to provide safe all-weather performance, but may not always be suitable for severe snow conditions.

Wide, high performance tires, other than those that are specifically designed as snow tires, aren’t suitable for use on snow-covered roads.

2. Don’t mix tire types. If workers may be driving in severe winter conditions, install four winter tires that meet the ‘snow tire’ designation on their vehicles. Mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal construction and size degrades the stability of the vehicle and should be avoided.

3. Replace worn tires. As a tire wears, its snow traction is reduced. Tires that are worn close to the tread-wear indicators shouldn’t be used on snow-covered roads or in severe snow conditions. So make sure to replace tires as they get worn.

4. Maintain proper air pressure. Proper air pressure extends tread life, improves safety and reduces fuel consumption. Tire pressure decreases as temperatures drop, so be sure workers check the pressures in their vehicles’ tires at least once a month when the tires are cold, preferably after the vehicle has been out all night.