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Poll: Most North Shore readers would put brakes on mandatory winter tires

With the snow flying, it's time to pick up the perennial Metro Vancouver debate about snow tires, and winter driving in general ❄️
Jane Seyd
Jane Seyd
Snow on the NS traffic 03
Regardless of how we feel about mandatory snow tires, every driver is likely convinced they handle snow better than other motorists.Mike Wakefield / North Shore News files

What better time than the first big snowfall of the season to consider the perennial Lower Mainland debate about snow tires?

Most authorities – ranging from ICBC to police to tire shops – will tell you it’s a good idea to put snow tires on your vehicle. In some places - including the Sea-to-Sky Highway and roads up to local ski hills – winter tires are also mandatory.

Winter tires are recommended because they're made to offer better traction and tread in cold, snowy and icy conditions. The usual reasons for not using snow tires are also pretty simple: they can cost a pretty penny, especially when mounted on an extra set of rims, while compared to other areas of the country, Metro Vancouver tends to see limited snowfall.

Weighing those considerations, it turns out most North Shore readers are prepared to take their chances, and are unconvinced that winter tires should be required for regular driving in Metro Vancouver.

The largest number of respondents – 47.4 per cent of local readers – said all-season tires should suffice for Vancouver's climate. Another 26 per cent said while they don't agree winter tires should be mandatory, ICBC should offer discounts to those who choose to use them. About 27 per cent of readers said winter tires should be mandatory.

North Shore News polled 3,290 North Shore News readers and asked the question: Should winter tires be mandatory in Metro Vancouver?

The poll ran from Nov. 9 to Nov. 29. Of the 3,290 votes, we can determine that 966 are from within the community. The full results are as follows:

Yes, all-season tires clearly aren't good enough when there's snow and ice on the roads. 26.92 % local, 29.12 % total    
No, all-season tires are fine for the amount of snow and ice we get. 47.41 % local, 43.80 % total    
They shouldn't be mandatory but ICBC should give discounts to people who have them. 25.67 % local, 27.08 % total    
  Local   Total

Results are based on an online study of adult North Shore News readers that are located in North Shore. The margin of error - which measures sample variability - is +/- 1.69%, 19 times out of 20.

North Shore News uses a variety of techniques to capture data, detect and prevent fraudulent votes, detect and prevent robots, and filter out non-local and duplicate votes.

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