Heading out on the road this holiday se

You know, all-season tires is really an inaccurate name - in Canada anyway. They just don't preform well enough to be considered safe on the roads once the winter hits. The stopping distance of a car equipped with winter tires can be 30-40% shorter than with all-seasons - which could mean the difference between life and death for you or your family. 

Buying winter tires for your vehicle is a major investment - but in this country, a necessary one. 

So as you stand there, in front of a wall of rubber, reading seemingly random numbers and statistics on little tags - how do you know how to choose the right ones? 

First, it is important to know that winter tires can be split into three major groups: Performance, Studless Ice/Snow, and Studded Winter tires. Please be sure to check any provincial or territorial legislation - as well as city bylaws - before purchasing studded winter tires - they are often forbidden in large urban centers as they may damage the roads. 

1. Performance Tires
Performance tires are for city slickers - specifically cities that don't experience a large amount of snowfall. They work best for motorists who drive on wet or dry pavement about the same amount of KMs as they drive on ice or snow. While they are one-step above all-season tires (or three season as we like to say) they do sacrifice traction to provide better handling on dry roads.

Photos such as this, found using the hashtag #ottstorm on Twitter show the aftermath of two tornadoes touching down in Ottawa/Gatineau and surrounding areas Friday September 21, 2018. 

Driving in rainy weather can be extremely dangerous, not simply due to your own driving, but also the driving of others. These conditions can be notoriously bad due to lack of functioning brakes, and little to no visibility. There are several ways, however, that an individual can drive safer and more cautiously during bad weather: