When the first snow-fall hits, it can be chaotic on roads and highways. Even if you’re confident behind-the-wheel, winter driving in Canada can be challenging. Your friends at Ted’s Tire in Guelph are always looking out for your best interests and have put together some helpful tips to prepare for winter driving.

Prepare For The Season

Call Ted's Tire to have your winter tires installed on your vehicle well before the first big storm hits. If you wait too long, shops will be busy and it will be difficult to get an appointment quickly.

A good rule of thumb to avoid disappointment is to switch your tires as soon as the temperature falls below 7 degrees Celsius. This is the temperature at which all-season tires begin to harden and lose their traction.

Give Yourself Time

Make it a habit to check the weather forecast at night for the following day. This will ensure you don’t wake up to any surprises that could leave you unprepared. Reserving an extra 10-15 minutes to defrost and brush off your car before your morning commute is crucial.

Drive slowly, as accidents are much less likely when you’re not rushing and can drive defensively.

Fill Up

We recommend keeping your gas tank filled up halfway at all times, but especially during the winter months.

It will save you from having to travel extra distance on potentially treacherous roads to find a gas station, but also in the case of an emergency—like this infamous story from 2010—you will remain warm should you become stuck, waiting for help.

Create A Roadside Safety Kit

Putting together a roadside safety kit for your vehicle is a crucial tip to prepare for winter driving. No one wants to think that they will ever be stranded in their car but preparation can pay off in unfortunate circumstances and you won’t regret being organized. The Government of Canada advises that its best to invest in a car safety kit that could sustain you for overnight.

Here are a few items that we recommend including in your safety kit:

• Jerrycan
• Flashlight and batteries
• Blankets
• Non-perishable snacks
• Tools
• Bottled water
• Jumper cables

For additional items, here is a more comprehensive list of emergency car safety items.

Don't Cruise

Our final piece of advice to help you prepare for winter driving is to avoid using cruise control on wet, icy, or snowy roads.

If you hit a wet or icy patch with cruise control on, your car will continue to accelerate and could lose control. In addition, salt, snow, and ice can actually interfere with cameras and sensors on vehicles with adaptive cruise control, so it’s best to avoid entirely during the winter months.

Drive safely and beat the rush by calling us today to purchase or install your winter tires.