CAA-Quebec is kicking off the second annual province-wide Winter Tire Appointment Week
In this exceptional year, it’s more important than ever to make your winter tire appointment early. That’s why CAA-Quebec is kicking off the second annual province-wide Winter Tire Appointment Week. Please don’t shoot the messenger!
Winter Tire Appointment Week will run from September 28 to October 4 this year. Don’t worry, this is not a way of announcing the end of summer. It’s just a friendly reminder to car owners that they should put on their winter tires at leaf fall, not snow fall.
Garages are under a lot of pressure during winter tire season, and last year it was even worse because the deadline for installing winter tires was moved up to December 1. It’s better to be prepared than to get stuck with limited options at the last minute.
When COVID-19 becomes part of the equation
The pandemic has also created potential worries about labour shortages at garages and tire shortages at retailers. Why? First of all, many snowbirds may be forced to remain in Quebec this year and will need winter tires. Plus, you only have to walk through a parking lot to see that many motorists have kept their winter tires on all summer, which means they may have to replace them in preparation for winter.
“The pandemic has made things more complicated, so it’s a good idea to get ready ahead of time. We know that tires that are worn or poorly adapted are dangerous. So to have the right tires on your car at the right time, you have to start early, especially this year.”
Pierre-Serge Labbé, CAA-Quebec Vice President, Automotive Services
To ensure that as many motorists as possible can get their winter tires on before winter, we need to help out the garages and start the tire changing season in October, or even September. Is there a danger of wearing out winter tires prematurely by putting them on so early in the season? Absolutely not. Maybe in July when it’s hot, but not in September. In any case, it’s important to make your appointment now, even if it’s for later in the season.
To encourage drivers to take action, CAA-Québec is organizing a Winter Tire Appointment Week contest! All you have to do is make an appointment and indicate the date on the entry form. Entrants will have a chance to win a tire change at a CAA-Quebec Approved Auto Repair Service location, a set of Pirelli winter tires, or a rust treatment at Metropolitan Rustproofing.
Check your tires today
Whether your tires are in the garage, the shed, or on your car, CAA-Quebec recommends you take the Canadian quarter test to see if your tires are ready for winter. If you can see the caribou’s nose when you insert the quarter in one of the grooves, it means that the tread depth is less than 5 mm (6/32 of an inch) and your tires need changing. This rule ensures that your tires will be safe until the end of the winter.
There are a number of criteria to consider when choosing winter tires. Tread design, type of rubber, size, conditions of use, and so on must all be taken into account. It’s best to ask for advice before buying a set of tires that seem too good to be true online. A trusted garage or member of the CAA-Quebec Approved Auto Repair Services network will be able to give you good advice, as will the experts at CAA-Quebec Automotive Advisory Services, who are true masters in the art of finding the most suitable tires.
About CAA-Quebec
CAA-Quebec is a not-for-profit organization that assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance, and residential benefits, products, and services. CAA was named Canada’s most trusted brand in the annual Brand Trust Index for 2020 by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.
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