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This week's messy roads and a wintery blast of weather have reminded Airdrie residents about car maintenance, specifically switching from summer to winter tires. However, with the rising cost of living, the question has become whether residents can afford to make the switch.
Graham Neis, owner of OK Tire Airdrie, said the tire market currently offers a wide range of pricing options. He has seen a slight uptick in demand for some lower-cost winter tires and more questions about all-weather tires.
"... Just because it is a little less expensive to have just one set of tires instead of two sets... [So] maybe a bit of influx of the lesser brands, but nothing too crazy that we've seen," Neis said.
Neis estimates that the winter tires they offer range from approximately $98 on the low-end to over $200 for the higher-end brands, but this cost does not include labour or rims.
DiscoverAirdrie asked residents on social media whether their household budgets meant they needed to skip winter tires. A few residents stated that they have opted for all-weather tires with snow ratings, citing the convenience of having a single set.
In contrast, a few more residents warned that although the cost of winter tires may be high up front, the cost of consequences, whether due to collisions or otherwise, maybe even higher. One resident noted that her financial situation meant she would not purchase winter tires despite commuting long distances.
Neis also said that while there may not be a huge uptick in residents asking for cheaper options or skimping on changing tires, he has noticed a very marked change in the price of tires, which have gone up.
"My father-in-law owned the business for 30 years, and he’d see little increases every couple of years, maybe two per cent. But the last couple of years, we’ve seen big jumps… eight to 12 to... 15 per cent increases all at once, not gradually.”
He explained that the residual impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic linger in pricing, especially as the pandemic put immense pressure on shipping and transport costs. This, coupled with inflationary costs and what he claimed is also the carbon tax influencing price increases, has all contributed to higher and higher prices.
Winter tires and safety
According to Transport Canada, winter conditions contribute to nearly 30 per cent of road collisions, so some advocate for a nation-wide mandate on winter tires. Some provinces already have mandatory winter tire laws, like Quebec. At the same time, British Columbia and Manitoba have also implemented policies to promote winter tire usage, which, according to some, has shown a reduction in collisions.
In a news release last week, CanadaWheels Inc., an online tire retailer, strongly supports a national policy on winter tires.
Saleh Taebi, CEO of CanadaWheels, stated, "The data is clear—winter tires save lives."
Internationally, Finland, Germany, and Sweden have all reported reductions in winter collisions after implementing mandatory tire policies. The release also explained the science behind tires and that they are engineered with special rubber compounds that stay flexible below seven degrees, improving grip on icy surfaces. According to Consumer Reports, winter tires stop 25 per cent quicker on ice than all-season tires, a difference that could prevent serious collisions.
So, when should one make the change to winter tires? Neis explained that motorists should have already switched.
"I always try to tell people to put them on a little early; it might be warm for a couple more days, but it's the overnight lows. If it's zero degrees overnight, the roads will stay nice and cool all day, and that's what will affect your tires - the wear on them," he said. "As long as the weather is getting cool, I'd say just put them on even if you do wear out that tiny little bit of tread; at least you're ahead of the game, and you're going to be a lot safer than a lot of other people on the road."
Airdrie's local forecasts are showing that there is a chance of more snow next week.
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