Snow tires won't change drivers' winter know-how

Jan 24, 2008

To the Editor:

Your editorial in the Almaguin Forester of Jan. 17, 2008 started some wheels turning within me on the subject of winter tires and safety for all Ontarians.

While I have only been driving in Ontario for approximately 52 years, with one moving violation and no accidents, some would call me very lucky. And I might agree to some extent, (but) I would like to call it common sense taught to me by my parents, God rest their souls.

Your assumption that winter tires on every vehicle will almost eliminate winter driving problems in Ontario is way off base, in my opinion.

Having worked in the tire industry for 30 years in Hamilton at Firestone Canada, I think I know a little bit about car tires. Summer tires for sure will not be a good choice for winter driving, however all season tires, when used in conjunction with common sense and driving know-how, will get you through most winters south of James Bay. Winter tires will only give the car driver excellent traction the first year in service. After that they are no better than an all-season tire.

Changing the components on a vehicle to better the control and traction still leaves the most important component unchanged: the operator. Snow tires will not slow people down, nor will they change their driving habits — and if anything may give the idiots more reason to be idiots.

After reading your editorial, I have come to the conclusion that you would make a good candidate for the Conservative Party, after the paragraph about careless driving charges for an accident without snow tires.

Remember the term “common sense?” It seems that you don’t have too much of that.

Keith Ellis
Sundridge