Tire shortage could put pressure on winter drivers
Check your tires. It's not too soon to get a jump on winter driving because tire dealers are afraid of running out of some tires.
"It's a difficult year, this year. The tire industry halted production for about two months," said Victor Badillo, manager of Fountain Tire on Marine Drive in Vancouver.
And it's all across the country.
Frances Ranger wasted no time in getting her winter tires put on at an Ontario Kal Tire store.
"My husband was on the ball and made the appointment nice and early," she said.
It is always a good idea, because at this time of the year, you never know when the snow will fall and you could be turned around on some B.C. mountain roads without winter tires. You could also risk getting a $121 fine for not having winter tires.
Winter tires with the mountain and snowflake symbol are the best for snow and cold. Although in B.C., the M + S are good in many areas off mountains.
According to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada, 72 per cent of Canadians chose winter tires in 2020. However, that number was lower in B.C. at 60 per cent.
No matter which tires you choose, get it done soon.
"I would really recommend shopping early. Especially if you're looking for a specific brand or sizing," said Ron Pierce of Kal Tire.
Kal Tire says it's well stocked but that could change with supply shortage issues.
"I carry a number of tires in stock. At least the most popular sizes," added Badillo.
He also expects some delays and shortages and recommends calling ahead to book your appointment and to make sure your tires are in stock. New orders could take time to deliver.
There could also be a 10 to 15 per cent increase on the price of tires coming from Asia because of pandemic shipping problems.
Now is also a good time to check your tire pressure and measure the amount of tread you have left. If your vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system, make sure to reset it after switching out your tires.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.