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speaker's corner Season's Greetings IT'S TIME FOR THAT YEARLY CONVERSATION. Canadian winter, over all-season tires. Whether we want to admit it or not, Old I personally can vouch for the effectiveMan Winter is on the cusp of taking hold of ness of winter tires. My two previous cars, our province for the next several months. each lightweight and low to the ground, had But we hardy Manitobans know the cold challenges in negotiating snow. In both and snow are inevitable – especially after cases, I had winter tires put on and was able last year's wild conditions. That's why it is to get enough grip to keep going. Winter so important that we prepare ourselves and tires have proved their worth to me. our vehicles for the condiMade of special rubber tions ahead. compounds that don't harden Last winter was one when the mercury drops, many of us would like to forwinter tires improve stopping get because of the amount of time on ice and snow but also snow and downright frigid maintain superior traction in temperatures. For all of us at cold, dry, wet or slushy drivCAA Manitoba, it was an ing conditions. They should unforgettable winter for be installed on your car before other reasons as well. We saw the temperature begins to a record-breaking number of drop below freezing. service calls on multiple, consecutive days, I highly recommend you investigate when Manitobans were greeted with a winter tires for your car, especially if you are huge dump of snow and mostly -30 C tem- purchasing a new one, when the cost of the peratures. tires can often be added into January 23, 2013, your monthly payments. Though many proved to be CAA ManitoOn another note, with drivers still have Yuletide festivities upon ba's busiest day since 1997, with 1,455 completed serus, I'd like to encourage doubts, the vice calls in one 24-hour you to consider volunteerexperts agree: period. On top of that ing with CAA at Operation winter tires offer Red Nose. The designated record-breaking day, we completed 17,983 service the best and safest driver program operates on calls that month – 65 per performance in a weekends throughout the cent more than the numholiday season. It's someCanadian winter, thing I've done with CAA ber of calls received the same time last year, making staff in years past and over all-season it our most active January always enjoyed the experitires. on record. ence. If you'd like to get So while we're happy to serve you, our involved this year, please see page 57 of valued members, during such daily chal- this magazine. lenges, we hope the weather will be more –Mike Mager cooperative for you this winter. President and CEO, CAA Manitoba One way to cope with the season is to equip your vehicle with winter tires, a topic I always get asked about a lot at this time of If you have any comments about anything year. While the debate over winter tires in Going Places, we'd love to hear from you. arises each year in Manitoba, CAA believes Write us at: Speaker's Corner, P.O. Box there does not need to be a law to make 1400, 870 Empress Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C sure we are prepared for our often brutal 2Z3; email: contact@caamanitoba.com. Letters winter conditions. Despite the fact that may be edited for clarity and brevity. many of us still question the need for winter tires, the experts agree: winter tires facebook.com/caamanitoba offer the best and safest performance in a twitter.com/caamanitoba 6 GOING PL ACES p06-07_Speaker'sCorner.indd 6 >> WINTER 2013 13-10-16 9:16 AM