Vehicles equipped with winter tires were involved in fewer crashes compared to those without them, a recent study by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) found.
The province’s auto insurer analyzed collision claims from insurance years 2011 to 2012 and 2017 to 2018 and compared claims frequency before and after a winter tire purchase for 111,872 vehicles.
According to the research, there were 13,925 winter-month claims occurring before winter tires were installed but, after vehicles were equipped with winter tires, the figure dropped to 9,802 – a 6.3% decline.
“The study confirmed that the use of winter tires can prevent collisions by reducing braking distances and enhancing vehicle handling on snow covered, icy road surfaces,” said Satvir Jatana, MPI’s chief customer officer. “Loss prevention strategies of this nature ultimately benefit our customers through lower rates achieved by reduced collision counts.”
Winter tires are equipped with a special single-directional tread pattern that pushes away snow and ice and have deeper treads compared to their all-season counterparts, allowing for better performance in snowy road conditions, the report said.
“Consumers are encouraged to educate themselves about the safety benefits to winter tires as we enter into the winter months ─ a timeframe where collisions typically rise due to poor driving conditions and less than ideal road conditions,” Jatana added.
However, Brian Smiley, media relations coordinator at MPI, noted that the decision to purchase winter tires should be left up to the consumers based on their financial situation and driving habits, adding that for those who could not afford the price of winter tires upfront, the insurer has a solution in place.
“There is a loan program in place by MPI that will allow people to take out loans to purchase winter tires,” he told Portage Online. “There are roughly 700 retailers in the province that can assist people in determining what tire best suits their driving needs.”
Read more: Manitoba winter tire loan gains traction
MPI’s low-interest winter tire program provides customers loans of up to 48 months at prime plus 2% up to $2,000 per vehicle, according to the insurer’s website. Since its introduction seven years, more than 173,000 loans have been processed under the program. The program has 767 participating retailers spread across the province, 368 of which are based in Winnipeg.
