Prolong the life of your tires all year round with these tire safety & maintenance tips.
How to cruise through this winter season – tips from Ontario Tire Stewardship
“Tougher driving conditions mean more wear and tear on your tires, so it’s a good idea to check your winter tires before hitting the road – especially if they’ve already seen a few seasons,” says Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship. “While its always important to have a well-maintained set of tires on your vehicle the difference in performance can be even more dramatic in the winter. Making sure your winter tires are up to the snowy roads will help keep you safe all season long.”
Driving slowly and more carefully is the best way of staying safe in the winter, but a well-maintained set of proper winter tires is paramount to a smooth ride.
Tips for keeping your tires rolling this season:
- Put a lid on it. If valve caps are left off, the moisture in the valves can freeze. This can lead to escaped air and a flat tire.
- Stay watchful. Make checking your tire pressure a regular habit. While this is good practice all the time, it’s especially important in the winter when air pressure and temperatures are at their extremes. Good traction is especially important in the winter, and keeping in line with pressure guidelines helps tires maintain their grip.
- Be consistent. If you choose to use winter tires, use them on all four wheels. Inconsistent traction can be dangerous and can lead to sliding and skidding.
- Keep cool. Store your all-season tires in a cool, dry place. Pile them up to four high, but don’t stack them tread side down.
- Replace and recycle. Part of safe winter driving is knowing when your tires have outlived their lifespan. Replace winter tires every two-to-three seasons, and drop-off up to 4 used tires free at a registered Ontario Tire Stewardship collector. Collectors are stationed all over Ontario, and drop-off is easy.
Did you know? Ontario Tire Stewardship helps roll old tires into green products. Used tires can get new life as recycled rubber products such as car mats, soaker hoses, playground tiles, carpet underlay and floor mats.
You can also download a copy of our winter tips. Just click here.
Tire Maintenance
