Posts Tagged ‘Highway’
November 25th, 2009 | 
Author: 1. Canada is the only country in the world which borders three oceans
2. Vancouver is regarded as one of the most livable cities in the world and is rated the tenth cleanest.
3. Yonge Street in Toronto is the longest street in the world and the city’s CN Tower used to be the tallest building in the world
4. Canada has more cars per person than any other country in the world
5. The Chateau Frontenac located in the city of Quebec is the most photographed hotel in the world
6. Edmonton has the largest shopping mall in the world
7. There are 15 million cattle in Canada
8. The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883
9. Montreal is the second largest French speaking city after Paris
10. 8.4% of Canadians suffer from asthma
11. Calgary means ‘cove garden’
12. The longest highway in the world is the Trans Canada Highway
13. 41% of Toronto residents were born outside of Canada
14. Montreal’s sister cities include Manila, Bucharest, Paris, Shanghai, Hiroshima, Algiers and Lyon
15. The worlds smallest jail at 270 square feet is located in Rodney, Ontario
16. The LG2 in Quebec is the largest underground hydro-electric power plant in the world
17. The board game, Trivial Pursuit, was first published in Canada
18. On average Calgary has thunderstorms for more than 22 days a year
19. Edmonton is known as the City of Champions due to its success in both team and individual sports
20. Canada is over 40 times the size of the UK
21. The city of Quebec is one of the oldest European settlements in North America
22. The port of Montreal is the largest inland port in the world
23. Toronto born cartoonist Joseph Shuster created Superman along with American writer Jerry Siegel
24. Located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world
25. Despite having an average temperature of around freezing point during part of the winter, Vancouver still has palm trees
26. Quebec means ‘where the river narrows’
27. Ottawa has 850 parks
28. A Canadian, Louise Poirier invented the Wonderbra in 1964
29. The band, The Crash Test Dummies hail from Winnipeg
30. 25% of films produced by Hollywood are filmed in Toronto
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This is the third in a series of articles containing useful pointers for coping with frost, ice, and snow while you travel by vehicle. The correct tires can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a hefty towing or hospital bill.1. Summer tread tires are not meant for icy or snowy conditions.
When the temperature dips, so does the traction capability of summer tires. The material used in the manufacturing process loses elasticity and grip as it gets colder. This means that summer tires do not perform as well in freezing temperatures, even on dry roads.2. All-season tires work well in some areas.
If you only experience an occasional mild snowstorm, you might be happy with all-season tires. However, they don’t perform as well as good winter tires. Their composition and tread is a compromise that provides decent handling and traction in a variety of conditions. Busy drivers who don’t have the time to change their tires twice a year will often swear by all-seasons.3. Real winters demand real winter tires.
If you have ever been stuck in a snow bank, you appreciate how much time and inconvenience it requires to get a tow. A car that slides into a snow bank can just as easily careen into oncoming traffic, over an embankment, or into a pedestrian. For safety’s sake, a change to winter tires is a good investment.4. Choosing the correct tire requires some forethought.
There are various types of winter tires. Analyze your driving patterns (fast? slow? heavy on the brakes?), travel routes (uphill and downhill grades? tight curves? gravel vs. pavement?), and other factors that might affect tire performance and needs.
a) Performance Winter Tires
Performance winter tires are responsive on dry winter roads – but their traction is not as good on ice and snow as some other types of tires. The treads tend to be a bit soft; these tires should always be changed in the spring in order to preserve tread life.
b) Snow and Ice Studless Tires
These tires will give better traction than performance winters, but the handling will not be quite as responsive.
c) Winter Studded Tires
These are good-quality winter-tread tires embedded with 60-120 small metal studs per tire. The studs, composed of a very hard metal like tungsten carbide, protrude slightly above the tread surface. This provides superior traction on ice and snow. However, studs also dig into pavement – and they are banned in some areas. If you plan a long trip, be sure to check the regulations regarding studded tires along your route.5. A tire professional can help you to sift through the choices.
Nothing can replace competent advice from a good tire technician. However before you pick a tire shop, consider the following:
a) Does the tire business have a good reputation – or does a check with the local merchants’ association or Better Business Bureau reveal a number of consumer complaints?
b) Do you know of anyone who has used the shop and can provide first-hand recommendations?
c) Are the tire shop’s certifications, licenses, and permits prominently displayed where customers can see them?
d) Are the service people properly certified? And are they experienced?
e) Will the shop honor your vehicle warranty?
f) Do the shop technicians have experience with vehicles of your model and year?
Inventors and manufacturers are continually trying to design the ‘perfect tire’. An online search for ‘tire patent’ will bring up over 1 million pages in Google. Who knows – maybe the perfect tire will be on the shelves next year! In the meantime, do your research, and get the most suitable tire for your driving style and weather conditions.
©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author’s note below (with active links) are included.