Kal Tire has been busy this week as winter weather moves in. (CHAT News Photo/Colton McKee)

By Chris Brown

Appointments encouraged and drive safe

Winter weather means winter tires and safe driving reminders

Oct 15, 2020 | 4:01 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A special weather statement issued for Alberta calling for up to 10 cm of snow on Friday only added to a rush to get winter tires installed, a rush that began earlier in the week when colder temperatures moved in.

Mitchell Helland, acting manager at Kal Tire in Medicine Hat, described his store as “insane” on Thursday afternoon.

“The most important thing is keeping up and keeping people’s appointments on schedule and making it fast and painless with no mistakes,” he said.

At the best of times, the current weather conditions would have kept his staff hopping, but COVID-19 tosses another wrench into the works.

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He said there’s not a lot of seating in the waiting room to begin with, and physical distancing measures make it that much harder to keep customers comfortable.

He said making an appointment is more important than ever and has another piece of advice.

“We are encouraging pick-up and drop-off if it’s available because if you could stay warm inside your car or inside your house or anywhere else it’s better than waiting in your car for your appointment,” he said.

When it comes to tires, even the world’s best all-weather tire can’t compete against the budget-friendly winter tire, says Helland.

“Mainly because the winter tire is created for one purpose and one purpose only and that’s to dominate winter,” he said. “All-weather tires, or all-season tires they’re a harder rubber compound so you slide more on ice and snow.”

Winter tires or not, Redcliff RCMP are urging motorists to have a plan for on the road and before you get behind the wheel.

“Do you have your winter tires in there” Do you have a brush? Do you have the ability to scrape your windows? Do you have enough time to make sure that’s all done before suddenly winter has come and it’s a little bit too late?” he said.

Maxwell adds RCMP always encourage people to give themselves more time in the winter because you may be driving slower, and may need to give a lot more room between yourself and the vehicle in front of you and anticipate stops, yields that sort of thing. He said there also may still be kids on bikes out there and they may be slipping around as well.

“Basically it just comes down to slow yourself down, give yourself time and space to get where you need to be. And especially for long journeys decide whether or not it’s something that you absolutely need to do right now. If you don’t need to go I would recommend that you in general don’t go.”

Back at Kal Tire, Helland says appointments are currently being booked a day in advance and he encourages people to book online.