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The Citizen, 2011-04-14, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011. WE’LL KEEP YOU ROLLING 40356 LONDESBORO RD., LONDESBOROUGH BUSINESS: 519-523-4742 TOLL FREE: 1-877-619-7877 EMAIL: ttyr@tcc.on.ca M.G.M. TOWNSEND TIRE Snow tires cause wearand tear in springNC –With the ice melting and the flowers blooming, it’s time to change your tires. Winter tires are crucial to safe driving on snowy and icy roads, but keeping them on dur- ing the warmer months of the year creates unnecessary wear and tear, making them less effective when winter rolls around again and also puts your safety at risk. But even after your three-season tires are aligned and in place, the question remains: What do you do with those winter tires? The first step is to check to see if those tires will be useful next win- ter. Are the treads deeper than six millimetres? Is the rubber crack- free? Depending on your driving habits and how often you drive, winter tires should last for a few winters, but if you’re still in doubt, ask a professional at your dealership or local tire retailer. If the tires are still safe for next year’s snowstorms, your next move is to ensure that they’re stored prop- erly. Clean off any salt residue, dry them off and then store them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. In other words, don’t turn them into backyard tire swings for the sum- mer. However, the arrival of spring often calls for spring cleaning, and for some, that may mean disposing of winter tires that have reached the end of their life. If that’s the case, getting rid of them is easy – just drop up to four tires off at any col- lector registered with the Ontario Tire Stewardship’s Used Tires Program, an industry-funding pro- gram that allows Ontario residents to dispose of used tires free of charge and recycles them into roof tiles, playground surfaces, mouse pads and more. “Start the spring season off right. There’s no need to keep used tires around when you can recycle them for free,” says Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship. “The Used Tires Program in Ontario makes what was old new again. By dropping old tires off at a registered collector, you’re not only avoiding unnecessary clut- ter, you’re helping the environment by ensuring your tires are recycled safely and made into new and useful products. While you’re dropping them off why not looking at picking up a new soaker hose, welcome mat or patio tiles? All can be made from recycled tire rubber and are avail- able at retailers across the province.” A list of registered collectors and more information about Ontario Tire Stewardship is available online at www.ontariots.ca A time and a place for winter tires Snow, winter or cold weather tires are great for Canada’s cold, long winter months, but they cause undue wear and tear and reduce gas economy if left on in the spring. (MS photo) Canada driving is severe CCC –Most owner manuals for today’s vehicles come with two maintenance schedules, one for nor- mal driving conditions and another for “severe” conditions. Which applies to you? Well, if you live in Canada, you should follow the severe conditions maintenance schedule, regardless of how you drive your vehicle. Some people think that the severe-condi- tion schedule applies only to “aggressive” drivers, but that’s not the case. Car Care Canada reminds people that the proper maintenance schedule depends on the environ- ment in which they drive their vehi- cles, not on their habits behind the wheel. Severe conditions include the fol- lowing: •Cold weather • Idling extensively or driving in stop-and-go traffic • Driving less than eight kilome- tres per trip; or in freezing tempera- tures, driving less than 16 kilometres per trip • Driving in temperatures over 32° C • Towing a trailer, driving with a roof rack, or driving in mountains • Driving on muddy, dusty, or de- iced roads Most owner manuals recommend that Canadian drivers follow the maintenance schedule for severe conditions (which was developed by automotive engineers). By maintaining your vehicle according to this schedule, you’ll help keep your driving trou- ble-free while preserving the longevity of your vehicle, not to mention enhancing its resale value.