Slightly more than half of Canadians use snow tires

Only 57% of Canadian drivers put snow tires on their cars; of the 43% who don’t, half (54%) are not willing to spend the money to do so, according to an RBC Insurance/Ipsos Reid consumer survey.The survey was conducted between Mar. 27 and Apr. 10, 2008. The poll was based on a randomly selected sample of 2,251 adult Canadians who were interviewed by telephone.Drivers in the Prairies appear to be most averse to installing winter tires, an RBC release says. Fifty-nine per cent of drivers in Alberta and 69% in Manitoba and Saskatchewan do not use snow tires on their vehicles.Of those drivers who don’t use winter tires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, more than half (57%) say they are not willing to purchase them. In Alberta, the number increases to 62%.In Ontario, 57% of drivers do not use snow tires on their vehicles. In British Columbia, the number decreases to about 52%, the release continues.In Quebec, where use of snow tires during the winter months becomes law on Dec. 15, 2008, 96% of drivers use snow tires; and in Atlantic Canada where snowfall accumulation is often high, 72% report using snow tires.