Tires

The type of tires you have and the way they are made are critical for good traction, mileage and safety. Keep these points in mind when you buy or replace tires, and check your vehicle owner’s manual or the tire manufacturer’s guide for recommendations.
Tires must meet standards described in the Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Act.
* Replace tires when the tread is less than 1.5 millimeters deep or when tread wear indicators touch the road. Vehicles that weigh more than 4,500 kilograms must replace their front tires when tread is less than three millimeters deep.
* Replace tires that have bumps, bulges, knots, exposed cords or tread and sidewall cuts deep enough to expose cords.
* Any tire on a vehicle must not be smaller than the vehicle manufacturer’s specified minimum size. And it must not be so large that it touches the vehicle or affects its safe operation.
* Use similar tires on all four wheels. Some combinations are illegal, including: radial-ply tires on the front and bias-ply or belted bias-ply on the rear; a mix of 50 or 60 series tires on the front with any other mixture on the rear; and a combination of types or sizes on the same axle, unless the types and sizes are equivalent by industry standards. This does not apply to a single spare tire used in an emergency.
* The pressure of the spare tire should be the same as the pressure of the tire with the highest pressure.
* Any tire with the wording “not for highway use”, “farm use only”, “competition circuit only”, “NHS”, “TG”, “SL” or any other words that mean the tire is not for use on the road must not be used on a vehicle that travels on roads.
* Although snow tires or all-weather tires are not required by law, they give the best traction for vehicles in winter. Install snow tires at least on the drive wheels. Four snow or all-weather tires are best for vehicles in Snowbelt areas.
* If you live in Northern Ontario, you can legally use studded tires on your vehicle. Research shows that studded tires are more effective than other tires under icy conditions, particularly on wet ice. Overall, winter tires perform better than conventional all season tires under all wintertime conditions.
* Scrap tires are a serious environmental concern. Proper tire maintenance will extend the life of a tire and delay its disposal. Some tips for longer wear: maintain the right air pressure; inspect tires for wear; rotate tires regularly; and practice good driving habits.