Winter tires
Your tires are the only thing that contact the road. Therefore, when the temperature drops below the freezing point, winter tires (especially ice tires) offer you the advantage of being able to drive with soft compound tires, which is not the case with all-season tires. Winter tires play an important role during braking and acceleration because they provide better grip on icy and snowy roads. In addition, they eliminate more easily the snow and the sludge that build up in their tread. They are quite an ally.
Be careful of braking distances!I recently performed braking tests with a few cars equipped with winter tires. I noticed that on a dry surface, braking distances are considerably longer. For instance, a midsize sedan with winter tires will take up to 12 meters more to stop than a sedan with all-season tires. In the case of an SUV, it's 15 meters more. So, on dry pavement, keep your distances at all times, even with your winter tires. However, on a snowy road, the braking distances with all-season tires are three times longer than with winter tires. The softer compound of the latter will allow you to remain in better control of your car.
Braking techniqueWhen an obstacle appears or when you start to skid, your first reflex is to depress the brake pedal. Actually, this move might lead your vehicle out of
control and out of the road -- unless it is equipped with an ABS system, in which case you must depress the pedal completely but not abruptly and let the system do its thing. You will then be able to control your vehicle with the steering wheel. If you don't have ABS brakes (as is the case with most small cars), apply the brakes but when you feel the wheels locking, gently reduce the pressure on the pedal to let the wheels regain their movement and then maintain a steady pressure on the brakes. The pumping technique has been rendered obsolete thanks to the quality and performance of modern braking systems, with or without ABS. When the first snowflakes of winter begin to fall, find an empty street and practice your technique.
Driving trainingWinter driving scares you? Keep in mind that several driving trainings exist.
Some auto companies, such as BMW and MINI, offer them as well. So do a few tire manufacturers. A number of car dealerships organize these kinds of training in the Montreal area. Auto123.com decided to team up with Mecaglisse, in Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, in order to offer you a winter driving lesson on January 28. The fee is $290 (including taxes) for a full day of basic training with four qualified instructors. A hot meal will also be served.
FOR RESERVATION: dlafrance@auto123.com 
