Eight-in-ten Canadian drivers believe investing in winter tires is important despite rising living costs

November 14, 2022 08:00 ET I Source: Tire and Rubber Association

76 per cent of motorists say driving a vehicle equipped with winter tires has saved them from a road accident or injury

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, Nov. 14, 2022 (GLOSE NEWSWIRE) -- Eighty-two per cent of Canada's motorists believe investing in winter tires is important despite steep increases in the cost of living, according to a new Leger survey commissioned by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) www.tracanada.ca.

Winter tire usage has gradually increased over the past five years. A similar TRAC study in 2017 found that 60 per cent of drivers in the country were using winter tires.

Four per cent of drivers say this winter driving season will be their first using winter tires.

"This year's winter tire study shows clearly that Canadians place high value on the superior handling and stopping power offered by today's advanced winter tires," says Carol Hochu, president and CEO of TRAC. "The fact that three-quarters of drivers using winter tires cite protecting their family as their top reason for investing in winter tires tells the story. Winter tire laws, lower auto insurance premiums and trusted advice from friends and family were other widespread reasons for investing in winter tires.

"The not-so-good news is that 35 per cent of motorists outside Quebec still resist winter tires despite overwhelming evidence that dedicated winter tires are essential for safe cold-weather driving," adds Hochu. "Greater efforts are clearly needed to win the higher levei of winter tire adoption needed to make our wintertime roadways safer."

The most common reasons for not using winter tires are the belief that all-season tires are good enough (57 per cent), cost (26 per cent) and reduced driving in winter (25 per cent).

Disponível em: <https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/11/14/2554933/0/en/Eight-in-ten-Canadian-drivers-believe-investing-in-winter-tires-is-important-despite-rising-living-costs-Survey.html>. Acesso em: 24 nov. 2022.