In Manitoba, November’s late fall weather can deteriorate quickly, leaving roads in poor driving condition.

In anticipation of rainy and often freezing weather, Peter Teichroeb, with Sun Valley Tire in Winkler, says many drivers have begun to switch to winter tires.

“We've been rolling into the winter season already. We've been doing winter summer changeovers and been booking appointments for that as well. Our inventory count was around 1700 winter tires that we have in stock. I know we would like to have a little bit more, but because of [space restrictions] we just can't stock every name, brand and size product that is out there.”

Teichroeb says, right now their stock okay.

“I don't know what it will be like in a month or two months down the road.”

Teichroeb says research conducted by tire manufacturers indicates this is a good time to put winter rubber on your vehicle.

“Right now, even if the temperature gets up to plus 15 degrees and stuff like that, it's not a melting temperature, if you want to say that. I'm not a weather meteorologist, but somehow the sun rays affect [rubber] differently during the summer versus now, even when it is warmer. But plus seven temperatures is when they generally say that an all-season tire loses its grip value.”

When the rubber hits the road – even in November – Teichroeb says winter tires provide real advantages over all-seasons.

“Traction wise, when you're at a stop sign and you want to pull away from the stop sign. The rubber compound is soft enough that it grips a little bit better than an all-season tire.
Also, stopping distance. It's 30 per cent more stopping distance that you get [with a winter tire] versus an all-season tire. It does have a big advantage for winter driving, to be safe on the road.”

Currently, winter tires are mandatory by law only in the provinces of Quebec and British Colombia. According to Manitoba Public Insurance, winter tires increase traction and can cut stopping distance by 25 per cent or more.

The province’s Winter Tire Program provides low-interest financing to eligible Manitobans to purchase qualifying winter tires and associated costs.