LAKELAND - It’s a busy time of the year for local tire shops as people line up to have winter tires installed on vehicles.
Rob Wladyka, the manager of Tirecraft Oasis Tires in Lac La Biche, saysthat while many customers are proactive in calling to book appointments before the snow flies, most people wait until the white stuff has already covered the ground before they get rolling.
“We do our best to accommodate our customer, and typically we are booking within two days of their call,” Wladyka told Lakeland This Week, adding that it isn’t uncommon for tire shops to book a week or two out from when a customer initially calls to make an appointment.
When it comes to snow tires, as Wladyka explains, there are various types ranging from directional to non-directional, studded and studdless. Prices for winter tires are based on size, and can cost anywhere from $120 to more than $300 per tire.
“The most common winter tire we see is a directional studdless winter tire. They have exceptional traction with snow and water wicking performance,” he explained.
Look for the peaks
The tire expert encourages motorists to use winter tires in the winter months. Tires with the “3-Peak” insignia, whether they are winter or all weather, are uniquely manufactured for winter use, he says.
“I highly recommend winter tires for our locals as we all do many highway kilometers and with the short daylight during the winter. The last place you want to be is in the ditch waiting for a tow truck to arrive,” he said.
Like other tire shops in the area, Oasis carries an inventory of many tire options, but can’t stock every tire for every vehicle, so they have a much larger inventory of product waiting to be shipped overnight from larger storehouses in Edmonton.
Katherine Cardinal of OK Tire in Lac La Biche is also seeing the winter rush.
“At this time of year, there are some people who are ahead of the game and get their tires done and then there is other people who freak out when the first snow falls,” she said, explaining that it’s good to see everyone recognizing the importance of dedicated winter or all-weather tires — whether they were early-birds or those coming in now that the snow has fallen.
Dedicated winter tires, she says, contain a rubber compound that is more effective in gripping icy and snow-covered roads.
Winter tires are mandatory for all personal vehicles in the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia.
Scott Cyr, MLA for the constituency of Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul, said as of now, Alberta does not have specific legislation that mandates the use of snow tires during the winter months.
“Our province has traditionally taken a more advisory approach, encouraging residents to use winter tires for improved safety on winter roads,” Cyr tells Lakeland This Week, adding that dedicated legislation does have benefits. “However, I can understand the interest in exploring the possibility of such legislation and its potential benefits such as enhanced road safety and reduced insurance costs from lower claims.”
While there are clear advantages to such legislation, there are also challenges that need to come into consideration, one of the most primary being related to enforcement. According to Cyr, enforcing mandatory snow tire legislation would necessitate additional resources for law enforcement, and could present logistical challenges.
Another factor is the added financial burden on drivers.
“For some residents, the cost of purchasing and installing snow tires can be prohibitive, especially for those with lower incomes,” Cyr continued.
The forecast for the next week indicates continued cooler temperatures and continuing flurries. Many tire and automotive businesses across the Lakeland are offering extended hours or winter tire specials.
