Comments on: The 5 most common winter driving myths

By: Louis-Paul

Louis-Paul — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:02:23 +0000

How you drive, regardless of tires front or rear drive, AWD or even 4WD will not change the performance of the car much except with winter tires, AWD and 4WD sending you further into the ditch if you did not drive properly in the first place.

As a person who prefers winter driving (and am still waiting for it to arrive in TO after 33 years), I’ve done it all and can tell you driving style and skills is 99% of what will happen to you, the other 1% is the other drivers.

Never overestimate your driving ability – it will fail you every time.

By: caw.mentor

caw.mentor — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:37:47 +0000

“There are some skids that require the driver to actually apply the gas, such as a rear-end skid in a front-wheel or AWD vehicle”
And while your skidding with your two wheel drive vehicle, guess what I’ll be doing in my AWD vehicle “This particular technology only helps a vehicle to accelerate” (aka get moving when a two wheel vehicle won’t) I’ll be driving out of the skid and avoiding the accident you just had.
+1 for AWD safety feature.

By: Cmnsns

Cmnsns — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 15:54:17 +0000

Can you drive safely in the winter on all season tires, yes. Can you drive more safely in the winter on winter tires, obviously. There will always be poor drivers out there and there will always be cheap drivers out there so I will spend the money on better equipment and drive defensively to protect myself from them.

By: erik

erik — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:15:36 +0000

Anyone who has actually owned and used winter tires knows how much better they are. Why not stop all of the hysterics and try them once… then all of you naysayers will realize how idiotic your comments were.

I wish i could afford them on my current vehicle.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:08:27 +0000

Perfomance…? It is about safety you cheap moron. MOST drivers in GTA will hugely benefit from using winter tires. I use them on my wife’s car and stop using winters on my car.

By: squished18

squished18 — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:16:23 +0000

There is doubt to any knowledgeable person that winter tires offer a significant performance advantage in the winter, it is absolutely a MYTH that winter tires are NEEDED, especially in the city. There are plenty of us that continue to use all-seasons throughout the year without a problem. Sometimes we just take a little longer to get to where we are going. We just leave a bit more space in front of us and brake a little sooner.

True statement: You don’t need winter tires when driving in the city.

Disadvantages of winter tires:
* cost per kilometer of driving is higher
* needing a place to store them
* transporting the tires to the mechanic to put them on

Let me put it another way: Racing tires can offer significant performance improvements in the summer, but you sure don’t need them either.

By: Hans Schmitt

Hans Schmitt — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:58:30 +0000

For the first 35 years of my life I lived in western New York, commuting to Buffalo. The most important thing I learned about driving in a snow storm or on snow covered roads, is to do everything in slow motion. Of course there are other skills involved and common sense, but I’d this one first.

By: TheRealMeatloaf

TheRealMeatloaf — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:25:39 +0000

@The Duffer;

I googled for “winter tire stopping distances” and came across an Edmunds.com article that showed winter tires achieving 25-40% better acceleration and stopping distances on snow/ice surfaces. One of my favourite numbers was the 60MPH (97KM/h) full-stop test where the winter tires stopped 59 feet sooner than the all-season tires. For the record, that’s very nearly the full length of an 18-wheel tractor trailer at highway speed. Then there’s the Ministry of Transportation Ontario page that demonstrates results showing winter tires achieving a stopping distance of 25% shorter with winter tires versus all-season in a straight line at 50KM/h. From there I found a Consumer Reports test showing similar results and a General Motors “Owner’s Center” page explaining the better stopping distances when winter tires are used (General Motors do not manufacture tires and all their vehicles are shipped with either all-season or summer only tires).

There is no avoiding the fact that winter tires are simply better in the winter which is why they are so popular, why Quebec made them mandatory under law and why many Ontario insurance companies offer discounts to clients who use them.

I’d really love for Wheels.Ca to post a detailed article summing up many of the recent statistical tests performed by recognized bodies to finally dispel the misinformation being perpetuated in its comments section.

By: Steve J

Steve J — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:07:19 +0000

The real problem with winter driving? IT’S WINTER! Tires notwithstanding, many people drive in winter like it is summer and do not change their driving style because the season has changed. A driver needs to learn what can cause problems like black ice and adjust. Many years ago I saw a dozen cars in the snowbanks and ditch just past a bridge; I realized the bridge – in a curve – was covered in black ice. I had just enough braking time to slow down enough to roll across safely. Another time, driving with friends, we decided ‘at the last minute’ to get off at the exit less than a quarter mile ahead. I was doing 60mph (it was a long time ago) and hit the brakes to slow down and get off. The brakes locked, the speedometer said 0mph and we were still going 60mph! Needless to say, I did not exit, but I sure slowed down a lot! Having said… ‘summer driving’ has its problems also; specifically when it rains and water accumulates on road surfaces. Few people realize hydroplaning is as serious as sliding on ice, but drive with the same attitude. These events taught me that you have to expect the worst and drive accordingly. I WILL drive on the 401 at 40kph if conditions dictate doing so. I hope you stay behind me and keep safe by going slow. ‘Slow and steady’ often is the better choice.

By: Bill Posters

Bill Posters — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:05:00 +0000

Caa still reports over 75% of all vehciles removed from the ditch in bad weather are SUV’s with desert duelers I’m sure