Some Ontario tire dealers are expecting to run out of certain sizes and makes of winter tires because Quebec, which made snow tires mandatory this year, is sucking up much of the Canadian supply.
Add to that memories of last year’s heavy snowfall and some motorists are going to have a hard time buying the tires they want if they wait for the first real winter wallop.
"The popular sizes will definitely be in short supply, and even at this point we’re finding a few situations where we really have to hunt down some tires," said Paul Hyatt, president of the Superior Tire chain of dealers and a consultant with the Ontario Tire Dealers Association.
Quebec demand is expected to take about 2 million tires out of the Canadian supply this year, he said.
But Ralph Warner of the Rubber Association of Canada said the industry anticipated the demand and has stocked more tires.
"If we have a traditional winter I would guess we’ll have enough. If we have a harsher winter (the shortfall) may have an impact. It’s like those air-conditioner days," said Edyta Zdancewicz of the Canadian Automobile Association.
A Canadian Tire spokesperson said the chain has stocked up and is prepared for the extra demand.
Ontario has no plans to make winter tires mandatory, according to a spokesperson for Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.
But safety experts and police say motorists should consider the investment anyway, because winter tires are so effective in gripping the road in cold weather and shortening braking distances on snow.
Snow tires are essential for driving outside the city. But congestion makes them a better choice in town, too, said Brian Patterson of the Ontario Safety League. "That there’s such a thing as an all-season tire is just a myth. It’s not a winter tire, and it’s not good for winter."
"(Cars) that are spinning out and causing a backlog on the ramp, they’re the ones that don’t have (winter tires)," OPP Const. Dave Woodford said. "The first thing I look at is whether they have snow tires on, and usually they don’t." (Tire Review/Akron)
