Nova Scotian John Paynter has seen most everything Atlantic Canadian roads have to offer.
“I worked for Subaru for 29 years,” he says. “I’ve been racing most of my life and in ’97 started driving a Subaru rally car — an old 1992 Legacy Turbo Sedan. We campaigned that across Canada, my brother and I, and three crew. In 2001, Subaru really wanted to get into the rally game. Started a three-car team. We campaigned those cars for quite a few years, eight events a year. There was lots of towing, lots of winter driving in a cube van with a race car behind it.”
While many folks fear driving in the ice and snow, Paynter embraces the challenge. “I’ve been a winter driver forever,” he says. “I grew up on the back roads of Yarmouth County, so rally came natural to me ... I’ve always loved winter driving.”
He’s had ample opportunity to learn the secret to safe winter driving, and it’s not particularly sexy or glamourous.
“The big thing is having the right tires,” he says. “All-season tires are not really for all seasons, at least not in Atlantic Canada. They start to get hard at 5C and the harder the tire, the less traction for stopping and steering … Some people say ‘I don’t really need a winter tire because I’m in the city,’ and those people get into trouble when conditions change.”
And many drivers don’t realize that even among winter tires, there are numerous condition-specific options, so it’s important to research and find the ones that best suit your needs.
“When I was working, I was putting in 70,000 kilometres a year on the roads,” Paynter recalls. “I couldn’t take a chance on what the roads were going to be like. My favourites were Blizzak (from Bridgestone) and Michelin Ice tires; I like how they wear. Ninety per cent of our winter driving is on pavement, so I want a tire that’s not too noisy but handles decent. Michelin X-Ice was a better braking tire, but Blizzak had better lateral control. There’s always a trade-off.”
And replace them regularly. “If you’re saying, ‘I think I can get one more season,’ you probably shouldn’t,” he adds.
Some people have their winter tires studded, believing it gives extra traction, but Paynter generally doesn’t recommend that. “I’m not a studded fan at all,” he says. “Studs are great in the right spot — more in the country where you get lots of dirt roads, a studded tire is better for that. But instead of running on rubber, you’re running on studs, so on pavement, braking distance doubles. They want to slide easier than a rubber tire.”
Proper vehicle maintenance is another unglamourous essential.
“In today’s economic climate, it’s tough to keep the maintenance up,” he says. “That scares me when people don’t keep their cars up. Two-year inspections give people a false feeling their car is OK. Lots of people don’t really understand their cars … Tires can pass inspection today, but that doesn’t mean they’ll last two years.”
The same applies to brakes and other car parts. “Most people don’t think about things like ball joints or control arms unless they’re making a sound,” Paynter explains. “Those black marks you see on the highway going into the woods are cars that weren’t maintained, and lost control when something failed.”
He recommends taking your car to the garage for inspection twice yearly, regardless of the date on your inspection sticker. “Checking your car every six months doesn’t cost you a lot, and then you don’t have to live with the fear of losing control and taking someone with you,” he says.
Finally, don’t forget the lesson a driving instructor likely tried to hammer into your brain many years ago: “Drive to the conditions. Living in Atlantic Canada, it’s forever changing. Dry roads, freezing rain, rain, snow, all in one afternoon. Be prepared, be patient, and give yourself time and space.”