Let It Snow – Winter Vehicle Preparation Made Easy

By Michael Cosentino

SUMMARY: Whether we like it or not, winter is just around the corner. Unless you plan to hibernate, you need to make sure your vehicle is ready for the inevitable snowy, icy, slippery driving conditions ahead.

Whether we like it or not, winter is just around the corner. Unless you plan to hibernate, you need to make sure your vehicle is ready for the inevitable snowy, icy, slippery driving conditions ahead.

The first step in any winter vehicle preparation is the tires. You wouldn’t go out in a snowstorm without your winter coat so why consider driving without the right tires? Regardless of how skilled a driver you may be, you can’t improve the traction of your tires with driving technique. Only winter tires are designed to perform better in colder temperatures, snow and ice and can save you from being part of the next winter driving collision.

Consumers in the market for winter tires this year should start by looking for a snowflake symbol on the sidewall of the tire, which indicates the tire has been tested and passes current winter safety standards. When shopping for winter tires, price alone shouldn’t govern the purchase decision; what’s behind the tire — a reputable manufacturer and a good warranty — is also very important.

A couple of new winter entries in the market for drivers this year are the Goodyear Ultra Grip 7 and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D. Ultra Grip 7’s are the newest generation of the celebrated Ultra Grip lineup, featuring a new waffle blade technology that provides maximum grip on slippery surfaces, as well as double "v" grooving that provides the best possible water draining and snow grip, even at high speed. Goodyear has also incorporated an advanced silica tread compound technology into the Ultra Grip 7 that enables the tire to remain more flexible at low temperatures - providing markedly better traction in wet and cold.

The new Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D’s earned their stripes in the harsh proving grounds of European winters. Available in Canada for the first time, the Dunlop 3D is a well balanced, high performance winter tire that excels at cornering and handling in icy, snowy, wet and dry winter driving conditions.