Are Winter Tires A Cash Grab? 3 in 10 Canadians Think So
1 in 4 Canadian drivers believe winter tires aren’t that much better than all-season tires
Toronto, ON (November 21, 2016) – The ongoing debate around winter tires continues in Canada. According to a new Ipsos study commissioned by LowestRates.ca, a comparison site for car insurance rates, over 3 in 10 Canadians believe winter tires are a ‘cash grab.’
One in four Canadian drivers believe that winter tires aren’t that much better than all-season tires, with men (31%) more likely than women (21%) to have greater faith in their all-seasons.
While Canadians hold polarizing views on winter tires, the majority are still in favour of installing them:
- 3 in 4 of Canadian drivers agree that winter tires are a must have
- 2 in 3 say ‘it should be mandatory for all automobiles in Canada, regardless of province, to use winter tires from November through March’
- 7 in 10 agree that having winter tires can help lower car insurance rates
Opinions on winter tires get even more interesting depending on age, revealing that millennials hold the strongest views, both negative and positive, compared to Gen X and Baby Boomers.
Should winter tires be mandatory?
Quebec is currently the only province where it’s mandatory to have winter tires. While 2 in 3 drivers think winter tires should be mandatory in Canada, opinions vary greatly depending on the region.
7 in 10 Canadians agree that having winter tires can help lower car insurance rates, and they’re right.
Ultimately, winter tires make driving safer in the winter months and insurance companies generally offer up to a five per cent discount when drivers install winter tires.
“Many drivers may not think to inform their insurance company after they install their winter tires,” said Justin Thouin, CEO of LowestRates.ca. “Winter tires keep drivers safe, so most insurance companies should offer a discount. Make sure you’re reaping the rewards for your safe driving habits. While the discount won’t cover the cost of winter tires, it does help lower premiums to help save you money in the long run.”
About The Survey
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between November 4 and November 8, 2016, on behalf of LowestRates.ca. For this survey, a sample of 1,005 Canadians who own or lease an automobile from Ipsos' online panel was interviewed online. The poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults with a car been polled.
About LowestRates.ca
Based in Toronto, ON, and founded in 2012, LowestRates.ca provides a free, independent service that helps consumers save time and money by comparing personal financial products from Canada's leading financial institutions.
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For more information, please contact:
Linda North (for LowestRates.ca)
416-708-8012
linda@northpr.ca