snowy conditions put nova scotia motorists in gear to change to winter tires
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ryan marriott puts lubricant on a tire as he gets ready to install it on a rim at macleod's auto service in this 2023 photo. garages around hrm are extremely busy as people scramble to get winter tires ahead of the wintery conditions.
ryan taplin
news of snowy conditions in parts of nova scotia was a wake-up call for motorists that winter is near.
treacherous driving conditions were reported in parts of northern nova scotia and in cape breton on thursday morning as drivers experienced their first encounter with wintery weather. highway 104 through mount thom in pictou county, the stretch from antigonish through barneys river, and port hawkesbury were among the areas to receive snowfall.
busy signals at several automotive centres across the halifax regional municipality were a sure indication that motorists had begun their annual pilgrimage in search of a changeover to winter tires.
mitch macinnis, a service adviser at bench automotive on waverly road in dartmouth, said the phone lines picked up this week with customers wanting to get their winter tires installed.
“when october is over, they start thinking about it and panic kind of sets in for people, in that sense,” said macinnis.
the roads in mount thom were covered in snow on thursday morning.
ann macdonald
“late last week, i was booking three to four days out (for tire changes) and just in the span of this week, i am now booking two weeks out. it has certainly ramped up.”
macinnis said that last month bench averaged roughly 16 tire changeovers a day. he expects that to climb past 20 a day in the next few weeks.
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his advice for people who haven’t started looking into changing their tires is simple: “don’t wait.”
“call around and book now because every shop gets really busy. anywhere you are trying to get in is going to be at least two weeks out.
“for next winter, start thinking about the changeover in october. plan ahead, don’t wait for the weather to hit.”
he said winter tires outperform all-seasons, which he considers more of a summer tire. he also noted that some manufacturers have come out with an all-weather tire that is rated for winter.
“but for our climate, you should definitely be running winters, 100 per cent.”
why are winter tires important?
winter tires are specially engineered for cold-weather performance. once the thermometer consistently reads 7 c or below, all-season tires begin to harden and lose effectiveness, whereas winter tires stay soft and grippy. this difference means better braking, cornering and acceleration on winter roads.
what are the main benefits of winter tires?
- winter tires offer better grip in cold conditions, allowing the tire to conform to the road.
- the deeper treads and special tread patterns allow for improved traction on snow and ice.
- winter tires significantly reduce braking distance on slick roads, compared to all-seasons.
- they also allow for enhanced stability to reduce the chances of hydroplaning or losing control in slush and wet snow.
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does nova scotia have a mandatory winter tire law?
no, only quebec and british columbia have mandatory winter tire laws.
can studded tires be used in nova scotia?
yes, studded tires can be used in the province between oct. 15 and april 30. studded tires are winter tires with small metal studs embedded in the tread. the studs act like tiny cleats that dig into ice, providing more traction on slick, icy roads.
what is the cost of winter tires in nova scotia?
a set of four new snow tires typically ranges from $400 to over $1,500, depending on the tire type, brand and vehicle size. the price does not include installation fees or rims.
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