While you may have started to winterize your home - or are still pushing the thought of ugly winter weather to the dark depths of your mind - donB次元官网网址檛 forget about whatB次元官网网址檚 sitting in your driveway.
New provincial regulations came into effect last year that require you to at least take a look at whatB次元官网网址檚 carrying you over the provinceB次元官网网址檚 highways.
On most B.C. highways, including the Trans-Canada on Vancouver Island, drivers are required to have appropriate winter tires between Oct. 1 and March 31. The regulations have been amended to allow motorists to use all-season tires, as long as they have a minimum tread depth of 3.5 milimetres.
B次元官网网址淭hey want more tread depth for nasty conditions,B次元官网网址� said Jeff Seabrook, owner of Westcoast Tires and Wheels Ltd., 4730 Sooke Rd., in Metchosin.
While he said 3.5 mm of tread is over the legal minimum tread requirement, it all comes down to the distance it takes to stop, which can exponentially increase as tread depth gets lower and lower.
He said thereB次元官网网址檚 still a lot of confusion amongst drivers surrounding winter tire regulations. He attributes some of this to new signage, which unlike older signs, is missing the key word B次元官网网址渙rB次元官网网址� between the symbols denoting which tires are permitted.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the law, now it comes down to what you need.B次元官网网址�
Seabrook suggested winter tires for anyone who needs to be somewhere regardless of road conditions. For those who can spend an extra night at a friendB次元官网网址檚 house or take a day off work if the weather is ugly, he said, most all-season tires will suffice.B次元官网网址淧robably 98 per cent of vehicles out there come stock with an all-season tire,B次元官网网址� he said, adding the exception to this would be sports cars.
But for those who have animals at home or have to receive regular medical treatments, thereB次元官网网址檚 no substitute for a good winter tire when the weather gets ugly. B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, emergency vehicles B次元官网网址� run winter tires in the winter,B次元官网网址� he said.
He compared the tread on winter tires to ice cream -- when itB次元官网网址檚 in the freezer itB次元官网网址檚 hard, but when itB次元官网网址檚 in the fridge it gets soft and melts. Summer tires, he said, are more like butter; theyB次元官网网址檙e hard in the fridge and soft at room temperature.
How these temperature changes affect the tread is why you should change your tires for the seasons. He said some all-season tires can start to lose traction at 7 C. The idea of changing tires according to season has been growing in popularity over the past eight or nine years, Seabrook said. B次元官网网址淧eople have become more aware of their tires.B次元官网网址�
He also warns that drivers need to be educated about the limits of their tires, especially when it comes to all-season tires.
B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 cold and nasty, slow down and leave yourself more room.B次元官网网址� Road conditions also play a huge role in braking distances, so even if your tread allows you more traction and better acceleration, your stopping distance could be almost double in snow. B次元官网网址淚t comes down to speed,B次元官网网址� he said.
West Shore RCMP are also often reminding drivers that speed limits are designed for optimal conditions, urging drivers to slow down in the rain and snow. So even if you have the proper tires on you can still find yourself be handed a ticket for speeding.
However, the fine for travelling without proper tires is $109, and detachment spokesperson Const. Alex Berube said that any vehicles involved in a motor vehicle incident usually undergo an inspection of tires at the scene.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
