Ottawa Tires

Posts Tagged ‘Ice’

Winter driving can be treacherous, even on cloudless days with no snow in sight. Black ice can become blended in with the asphalt, creating a huge risk and danger to those who are driving. So before you take your car out on the road, here are a few tips you should always keep in mind when driving in winter conditions.

1 – Always prepare your car. Know what weather conditions you’ll be facing once you hit the road. Make sure your car is properly fitted with snow tires and tire chains if necessary. Make sure your fuel tank is full, your wipers are ready, your battery charged, and that you have no leaks.

2 – Take supplies with you. You never know what the road can bring you. It’s a good idea to have a winter emergency kit on hand just in case of anything happens. Make sure you always carry a phone with you, along with a charger, in case of emergency. Keep some non-perishable food with you along with water. You should even take an extra set of clothes and a blanket. Even if you don’t plan on driving out of the city, emergencies can happen everywhere.

3 – Clean the snow and ice off of your car. Clean off the whole windshield, your hood and the top of your car. Don’t forget to clear your headlights and rear lights. By doing all of this, it creates a safer environment for yourself as a driver, and for other drivers on the road.

4 – Drive slow and steady. Avoid sharp turns or quick stops. Give yourself double the room between cars, as you would during normal weather. If you do start to slide, don’t panic, hit the brakes or jerk your wheel. Turn the wheel steadily in the opposite direction that you’re sliding. Slowly press on the brakes. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, press on the brake pedal gently, let up, and press again until you come to a stop. For those with anti-lock brakes, simply press the brake pedal gently until your car stops.

5 – Don’t use cruise control. You need to be in control of your car at all times. If you are going over an overpass or a bridge, be aware that these areas are more incline to be icy.

6 – Use low-beam headlights when driving, because they make you more visible to other drivers from both the front and the rear.

7 – If you have rear-wheel drive, weigh down the rear with sandbags to give you more traction.

The capital of Canada is Ottawa and it is the countrys fourth largest city. It sit on the banks of the Rideau Gatineau and Ottawa rivers. Ottawa is one of the most beautiful G8 capitals in the world. It is also rich in culture and heritage with its many national institutions, waterways parklands and historic architecture. It is home to a large number of foreign embassies and is a recognized as a centre for both academics and professional training.
Ottawa has more restaurants per capita than almost any other city in the country.
There are a number of shopping areas which are perfect for outdoor strolling and feature a wide range of locally crafted, original and antique merchandise. The Bank Street Promenade, Rideaus Street The Glebe Byward Market are all areas where people can wander at ease.
Sparks Street Mall Canadas oldest pedestrian mall Stretching three blocks, it is home to a number of specialty shops including Nocean, OSheas Market Ireland and Canadas Four Corners at the corner of Sparks and Metcalfe streets, which sells a wide selection of original Inuit carvings and other Native Canadian artwork and accessories. During the summer months, the mall is buzzing with activity.
ByWard Market Square is located in the downtown area of Ottawa residential neighbourhoods and oldest commercial areas and the cradle of the citys Irish, French and Jewish populations. The original market building was constructed in 1848 and the current one was built in 1926.
There are numerous pubs, clubs, and bars that provide music, dancing and even comedy. Elgin Street The ByWard Market, and Hull are just three of the most popular areas for your evening entertainment. The Ottawa bars are open nightly until 2am
The Rideau Canal was built between 1827 and 1832 without the aid of power machinery, the Canal is one of Ottawa’s oldest landmarks. During the summer a wide range of vessels, including tour boats, glide along the waterway, while people in line skate, jog or stroll on the canals picturesque banks. During the winter, the canal is transformed into the Worlds Longest Skating Rink, and is a hub of activity during Ottawas Winter festival
Notre Dame Basilica was built between 1839 and 1885, this Gothic cathedral is the oldest surviving church in Ottawa. Its twin spires and gilded Madonna are easily identifiable from nearby Parliament Hill and the surrounding area. The interior of the church is brightly painted and decorated with carved features, exquisite stained glass windows and hundreds of statues of various religious figures.

What you need to know when driving your car during the winter months, it’s important for you to know all the features on your car very well, especially during winter. Because when you are presented with rain, ice, fog and slippery roads, your car will react much differently then at other times. So what will you need to know when you are driving in hazardous condition? I’ll give you 5 tips below to help you .

#1 How driving at a lower speed will decrease your chances of an accident

This is one of the simplest things we can do. Unfortunately we all have busy lives and are always in a hurry. There are so many things like getting our kids to school or going to work, grocery store, repairs on the car and much more. Usually we are always running behind schedule and the first thing we do is speed up. This is a huge mistake especially when it first starts to rain and the oil from the surface of the ground comes up and that makes for a very slippery road and increases the chance of you getting into an accident.

#2 How leaving your headlights on gives you more visibility

This is another simple thing you can do to ensure the safety of you and everybody else. Studies have shown that driving with your lights on will increase the chance of another driver seeing you earlier and helping to avoid an accident.

#3 How applying your brakes slowly will prevent your car from sliding

Make sure to never slam your brakes while driving in the ice, rain or snow. If you do slam your breaks, then your car will be sliding all over the road because your tires will lose traction. If you live in the mountains where it snows a lot then it is best to get snow tires VS the all season tires and use chains for even better traction.

#4 How to be careful regardless of the type of vehicle you drive.

The reason I say that is because some people that have bigger cars or that have four wheel drive vehicles think “I will be ok if I drive fast and change lanes recklessly” but you have to realize that your car is also heavier and if something happens, it will cause a bigger accident. The bigger the car the harder it will be for you to handle and for you to break in time, especially in a wet environment.

#5 checking your tires

Make sure that you have a mechanic check your tires and see if they are ok and they are not bald on the side or in the middle. Tires are very important for you especially when it is raining, because when the tires are bald and you drive on them they do not hold to the ground and you are more likely to sliding all over the road and lose control or your car.

Make sure during the winter time that you try and go with some of the basic information that I have given you. This will help you and others on the road.

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.