Quebec snow tire deadline passes

In snowy Quebec, a mandatory snow tire installation requirement officially passed yesterday. Drivers who fail to utilize snow tires during the winter face hundreds of dollars in fines. Quebec’s mandatory snow tire statue demands that all vehicle owners have snow tires put on their cars between December 15 and March 15 every year. The law, which many safety experts believe is a valuable one, was instituted in an effort to make driving safer for everyone in Quebec, which often sees harsh winters and inclement weather.

The snow tire law went into effect last year, and police officers generally handed out warnings instead of tickets. This year police said they will forego any warnings and issue the fines immediately. If you’re caught in Quebec without snow tires, you can expect to be hit with fines of up to $300, making it a smart decision to just go ahead and buy the tires! Quebec was the first province in Canada to make snow tires mandatory. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said he has no plans to follow Quebec’s lead, despite the pressure he is feeling from various road safety groups.

Snow tires improve traction in wet and icy conditions by employing special tread patterns and stiffer rubber compounds that retain their shape in cold temperatures.

Need wholesale tires in Canada? Contact Future Tire at 516-752-9200.

Filed under: Snow Tires, Tire News, canada tires, quebec snow tires, Snow Tires, wholesale snow tires

Winter Tire Tips

Snow tires can make a serious difference for you, your vehicle, and other drivers on the road this winter.

Winter is fast-approaching and many areas of the country have already seen the first snowfalls of the season. The cold weather often comes hand-in-hand with treacherous driving conditions, and paying attention to your tires could make the difference between a safe or dangerous winter for you, your vehicle, and everyone else on the road. Here are some basic winter tire tips to keep in mind as the temperatures begin to drop.

• Keep your tires properly inflated. Don’t skimp when it comes to maintaining proper tire pressure in the winter. The cold weather and temperature fluctuations will cause your tires to lose air faster than normal, and an underinflated tire on a slick road is never a good scenario. Make sure to check your air pressure every time you  fill up your tank at the very least!
• Switch to snow tires. Perhaps the best way to stay safe on the road this winter is to have snow tires installed on your vehicle. These special tires feature treads that are engineered to provide the most amount of grip and traction in the snow. All-season tires just won’t cut it in parts of the country that see lots of the white stuff every year. While snow tires are designed to retain their elasticity in cold temperatures, regular tires harden up and lose their ability  to hold onto the road surface. If you do decide to use snow tires, don’t mix and match -  go with 4 tires to get the most performance out of your investment.
• Make sure your tires are in good condition. If you’ve decided to forego winter tires this year, or if you’re re-installing last year’s winter tires, make sure to check the treads to ensure they are in good condition. You can use the penny test to make sure that the tire treads are deep enough. Aside from the penny test, just look for any gouges or damage to the rubber. You don’t want to be driving on tires that are going to explode on impact with the first pothole of the season!

Winter driving demands equipment that can handle the job! Don’t skimp on important safety measures like snow tires this year – if your tires help you avoid just a single accident or fender bender, they’ve easily paid for themselves. You’ll also get increased peace of mind the whole winter long.

For access to a complete inventory of wholesale snow tires, contact Future Tire at 516-752-9200.

Filed under: Snow Tires, Snow Tires, winter driving

How cold weather affects your tires

When cold weather comes around, it’s important to pay careful attention to your tires, especially your tire pressure, to avoid unsafe conditions before they develop. Aside from bumpy roads, ice, and fresh potholes, cold weather also threatens the integrity of your tires by causing the air inside to contract – 1 PSI for each 10 degree drop in temperature. It may not sound like much, but if your tire air pressure was low to begin with, the cold can exacerbate the problem.

When the weather gets really frigid and temperatures dip below zero, make sure to check the rim of your tires where the rubber meets metal. At these temperatures, the tire stiffens and the seal at this juncture begins to loosen.  Some people report completely flat tires with no evidence of structural damage to the tire and wonder what happened. It’s likely that cold weather allowed air to escape through this loosened seal.

Aluminum alloy wheels are the most likely victims of cold weather tire pressure drops, and unfortunately, they are the kind used on most vehicles today. It’s a bit harder to get a proper seal when constructing an aluminum alloy wheel to begin with, and it’s even harder once road salt and other debris begins to eat away at the metal. Once this happens, air is more likely to leak out of tiny gaps created on the chipped surface of the wheel. Of course, hitting winter potholes doesn’t make matters any better!

To combat tire damage and deflation during cold weather, make sure to keep a constant eye on your tire pressure. When temperatures drop below zero, check the seals on the tires to make sure they aren’t allowing any air to leak out. If you do discover a leak, it might be a good idea to purchase snow tires, which not only help with traction on icy roads in the winter, but are better at dealing with the rocky road conditions you’re likely to encounter.

Filed under: Snow Tires, Tire Care, Snow Tires, tire pressure, Tire Tips, winter tires

Snow tire demand climbs as winter storms engulf US

As bitter cold and snow slow traffic across the U.S., many wholesale tire distributors are reporting increased demand for snow tires. People who find themselves stuck in their driveways, on the road, or even in the middle of intersections are paying a visit to their local tire shop as soon as they manage to dig themselves out.

Jeffrey Pettingill, an employee at Big O Tires in Idaho Falls, claims that the shop is now installing 1,500-2,000 new snow tires per day, and that several re-orders throughout the day aren’t uncommon.

Snow tires feature special tread patterns that are engineered to give the vehicle more traction and grip on snow-covered or icy roads. These special tires are also manufactured using softer rubber that allows them to remain flexible in freezing temperatures. Although the tires may carry price tags of up to $100 or more, experts say that if they prevent just one accident, they’ve already paid for themselves many times over!

Source: KIDK Idaho Falls

Filed under: Snow Tires, Tire News, Tire Sales, Snow Tires