Getting a grip on winter tires

THORNHILL, ON, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - The mercury has already begun to dip and it won't be long before our roads will be covered with a blanket of snow.

CAA South Central Ontario recommends drivers use winter tires in cold, snowy conditions to improve handling and cornering capabilities.

"The right time to change to winter tires is when the temperature reaches 7°C or below," said Silvana Aceto, Media & PR Specialist, CAA SCO. "In chilly weather, all-season tires turn hard and lose their elasticity. This causes reduced traction and results in longer stopping distances."

Benefits of winter tires:

• Winter tires help reduce braking distance on cold, wet, ice and snow-covered roads. Depending on the speed and the weather, the braking distance of winter tires can be up to 25 per cent shorter or two vehicles lengths compared to all-season tires.
  
  
• Winter tires contain silica which is a compound that keeps the tire flexible in cold temperatures and ensures excellent grip and braking on wet roads. Silica maintains its properties in low temperatures which help to maintain a firm grip on snow and ice packed roads.
  
  
• Winter tires should only be installed in sets of four. With only two winter tires, your vehicle's handling, stability, and braking are not fully optimized.

Buy four tires during the CAA Car Care Centre Winter Tire Sale and FREE storage will be included with the purchase. To find a CAA Car Care Centre near you visit www.caasco.com.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel, automotive care and roadside services. There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and 5 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance. Visit www.caasco.com.

For further information:

Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Jeff LeMoine, Internal/External PR Specialist, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone].