Cold temperatures are returning in most parts of the country, and some have already received their first dump of snow, which has prompted Bridgestone to once again urge Canadians to prepare for the winter driving season by following a few simple recommendations.
"The storms we saw in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and northern British Columbia earlier this month served as a harsh reminder that now is the time to prepare our vehicles for incoming winter weather," said Justin Hayes, product manager, U.S. & Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "Winter driving safety starts with installing the right set of winter tires for your vehicle and the driving conditions you will experience this season."
If your tires aren’t new, a visual inspection is first necessary to make sure tread wear is even across the tire, with no cracks, bulges, cuts or snags. There must be enough tread remaining to provide proper grip throughout the winter season. Here’s how to determine winter tire wear.
Once your winter tires are installed, you should regularly check the pressure, particularly after significant changes in temperature. With every drop of 5 degrees Celsius, tires will lose 1 psi. Maintaining proper air pressure can not only help increase tires' wear life, but also improve fuel efficiency.
Hayes also suggests performing a basic winter vehicle maintenance check at your local shop.
“We tell drivers to remember the four Bs of winter driving―battery, brakes, blades, and Blizzak winter tires,” he says. “Make sure you've replaced your wiper blades recently, or even switch them to winter blades, and have your brakes and battery checked by a professional.”
For more information, we invite you to check out our past review of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80.