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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-10-25, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007. PAGE 19. (NC)—Summer tires, winter tires, all season tires. The choice is up to you. One thing’s for sure, though – Canada has four distinct seasons with four distinct types of driving weather. Here’s some information from the Rubber Association of Canada to help you decide what type of tire to buy: • Summer tires are designed primarily for dry and some wet driving; they are not for use in snow, ice or other winter or heavy rain conditions. They have a very smooth-looking tread design, with minimal or no sipes. Sipes are small slits in the tread that help improve traction. • All season tires provide a good balance of quiet, comfort and handling for most Canadian drivers. The tread design has more grooves and sipes than summer tires, providing better wet traction. They can be identified by “M+S” branding on the side of the tire and can therefore be used in moderate snow and slush conditions. • Winter tires offer a combination of specialized tread designs and compounds providing effective traction in Canada’s difficult winter conditions (i.e. snow, ice, sleet, rain and low road-surface temperatures). At temperatures below 7°C, standard compound tires begin to lose elasticity, resulting in reduced traction. Winter tire compounds retain elasticity to grip at much lower temperatures. Typical winter tread designs have larger grooves and tread blocks that have many more sipes than the typical all season tire. Tires marked with the RAC mountain snowflake symbol molded on the sidewall have been tested to provide a minimum 10 per cent better traction in severe snow conditions. Many winter tires provide 30 to 50 per cent better traction in winter conditions. • Caution – winter tires should be installed in sets of four. Failure to follow this recommendation could result in severe and dangerous handling conditions. Visit betiresmart.ca or vehicles.gc.ca for more tips on tire selection and maintenance. What kind of tires do you need? What to do when you’re stranded on the road A recent car safety survey conducted by Leger Marketing on behalf of Car Care Canada revealed that half of Canadians say they would likely stop and help a motorist in need. If you’re a betting person, those are good odds that someone will help you should car trouble strand you at the side of the road. Butyou’re better off to avoid that requirement in the first place. Your best option is to keep your car in good repair but yet still prepare for a breakdown. In that case, should something unforeseen happen to your vehicle, you’ll be well equipped to deal with the situation. Follow these tips: Before you leave home: • Make sure your spare tire is in proper condition, and carry the tools to change a flat tire. • Travel with a cellular phone. • Join a roadside assistanceprogram. • Carry enough cash for a taxi and spare change for pay phones. • Assemble an emergency kit. • Carry a “CALL POLICE” highway sign. • Plan your travel route. If you get lost, ask for directions at a gas station... avoid asking strangers in remote areas. On the side of the road: • Raise your car’s hood. • Hang your “CALL POLICE” sign on a window visible from the road. OOnn tthhee RRooaadd Don’t Give Up A Thing. High Traction Tread SNOW GROOVE M.G.M. TOWNSEND TIRE WE’LL KEEP YOU ROLLING 40356 LONDESBORO RD., LONDESBOROUGH BUSINESS: 519-523-4742 TOLL FREE: 1-877-619-7877 EMAIL: ttyr@tcc.on.ca and Detailing 519-523-9725 A drift To prevent getting stuck at the side of the road your best option is it make sure your car is in good repair. Winter driving, however, can put a different spin on things. Make sure you’re prepared to cope with the situation. (MS photo) WWWW iiii tttt hhhh AAAA NNNN eeee wwww WWWW iiii nnnn dddd ssss hhhh iiii eeee llll dddd !!!! SSSS eeee eeee YYYYoooo uuuu rrrr WWWWaaaa yyyy CCCC llll eeee aaaa rrrr ………… ■■ WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT ■■ DOOR WINDOWS ■■ BACK GLASS ■■ TRACTOR GLASS Approved O.E.M. Urethane MOBILE SERVICE AT NO EXTRA COST $300. DEDUCTIBLE? ~ CALL FOR YOUR BEST PRICE DUBLIN 519-345-2432 or 1-800-300-9144