You shouldn’t just be picking any winter tire, but one that will last throughout these tough Canadian winters. A good option is to go to your local tire store and seek what specials they have, but an alternative would be to go the classified route.

A popular classified choice is Kijiji, who can provide you with options from new, previously owned or gently used tires. Kijiji has more than 30,000 tire listings online, so they must be doing something right. As for winter tires, those ads have increased by 33 per cent from 2011 to 2012. 

So before you run out and buy a set of winter tires, Kijiji has put together some key tips including how to get safe and durable tires at a good price without compromising road safety:

Check for wear and tear. It is recommended to check the general wear and tear of tires. Check the entire circumference of your tire’s tread and note if there are any unusual wear patterns at extremities (tire lacking air), in the middle (tire too inflated) or on a side (which could indicate a problem of permutation or alignment). 

Check if tires are at the end of their life cycle. There are three ways to do this: 

1.       The traditional way – Using a quarter, it is possible to determine if your tires are still in shape for another season, which represents approximately 10,000 km. Insert the quarter in the tire grooves. If the tip of the caribou’s muzzle is not visible, then the tires are still good to go.

2.       Indication from the manufacturer – All tires have a wear indicator. The latter is a small rubber square elevation located inside of the main grooves. When the main grooves are worn to the point of being the same height as the indicator (1.6 mm or 2/32 of an inch), it is the time to change those tires.

3.       Using a Tire Groove Depth Gage – The tire groove depth gauge is a small tool to measure the groove’s thickness in 1/32 inches or in millimeters. It is also the most accurate way to determine whether or not it is the time to buy new tires. It is strongly recommended to change tires when the groove is less than 4millimetres high (5/32 inch), but the law allows them to be kept until the groove reaches 1.6 mm (2/32 inch).

Check the tires’ date of production. Even if the tire grooves remain deep enough for operational use in winter conditions, when your tires are older than 6 years, their life cycle is over. If you have any doubts on the status of a tire, please consult a specialist or your dealer for professional advice tailored to your needs.

For more information on tire listings currently on Kijiji, visit Kijiji.ca.