Colder temperatures, ice, and snow are all reasons why everyone should use winter tires at this time of year.

"We are seeing a slow increase in winter tire adoption, with more and more drivers understanding and excepting winter tires as a critical safety feature in the winter time," explained Communications Manager with the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada Carolyn Goard. ''Nation wide we are at about sixty-five percent of utilization of winter tires. Outside of Quebec, where the use of winter tires is the law, that number gets cut down to fifty percent. Meaning only half of Canadians are riding on winter tires.

Goard noted they collected some data this year and it showed that Manitoba had a thirty-five percent increase of winter tires being shipped to the Province. She added Manitoba is leading the way in that aspect. According to Goard a survey was conducted in Manitoba and Saskatchewan in 2014 indicated roughly fifty-seven percent of people not using winter tires thought their all-season tires were good enough, which just isn't the case.

She stated Quebec is the only Province or Territory that has made the use of winter tires legislation.

"We are seeing government initiatives, pop up in other places," said Goard. "That doesn't mean that winter tires are the law, but we are seeing innovative way that Governments are promoting winter tire usage. Manitoba is actually one of those Provinces, where a really interesting and innovative program has been implement. That's the low interest loan program, which is implemented by Manitoba Public Insurance."

We've talked about all the numbers behind why you should make the switch to winter tires, but there's also a number of safety benefits that may help you want to put winter tires on your vehicle.

"Honestly at the end of the day it's safety. It's improved braking, traction, and stability. Overall just a major improvement in terms of handling. Winter tires simply grip the road a lot better than the conventional all-season tire. Actually, when the temperature hits seven degrees Celsius or lower, that's when a winter tire begins to out perform an all-season tire. The rubber compounds in a winter tire are actually a lot softer so they maintain flexibility and grip the road a lot better in cooler temperatures."