Winter driving conditions are on their way. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Keaton Brown

spinning your wheels

Winter tires a staple of Saskatchewan winters

Oct 31, 2019 | 2:05 PM

With snow this week, residents of the Battlefords are lining up to get winter tires for their vehicles.

With the increased demand, tire shops around the communities have been lined up out the door.

battlefordsNOW contacted a few around the city and the average wait time to have winter tires installed is two to three days.

Cody Dixon from Kal Tire said they have been booking appointments for the last week.

“I would say we’ve been pretty busy. It is the time of year where people want their winter tires on. We are taking some walk-in appointments as well. We try to fit people in the next couple days, two days or so,” he said.

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Owen Kaye from Four K Auto Service said their appointments are filling up fast.

“It is really busy; we are booked up solid so it’s been very good. Next week is filling up fast with winter tires and winterizing and all that. We are shooting right now on the average of about three to four days ahead, so we’re pretty good. It could change, depends on the temperature a bit,” he said.

Winter tires are an important part of navigating Saskatchewan roads and highways during the winter. Kaye said winter tires are worth the investment.

“The advantage of a winter tire is unbelievable. [All season tires] get hard after a certain temperature. Even at -3 C that material is getting hard like a hockey puck. If they start to get that hard they lose traction and flexibility, whereas with a winter tire you can get into – 30 C or – 40 C and they still grab and have traction,” he said.

Heather Honoroski from Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centre said winter tire treads are another advantage over their alternatives.

“Winter tires grip better in lower temperatures. They have a different tread pattern that allows for the snow to clear out of your tires as you are driving down the road,” she said.

Anyone considering buying or having their winter tires installed should act as there will be a two or three day wait for an appointment.

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Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow