New winter tires expected to cost more this season due to inflation, tariffs

Despite rising prices 80 per cent of Canadians use winter tires according to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada. CTV's Pat Foran reports.

If you need to purchase new tires this winter, expect to pay more.

Imports from Asia, Europe, and the United States may be subject to tariffs on raw materials and finished tires.

While many tires are also manufactured in Canada, companies that make them say they are also facing financial pressures.

At Degroot’s Tirecraft in Scarborough, Ont., owner Mike Degroot said he has noticed an increase in tire prices of about five per cent this year.

Also this year, tire company Goodyear had said they would be increasing the price of tires for U.S. and Canadian consumers due to rising costs tied to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

But, despite those rising costs, a new survey by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) found that more Canadians are using them more than ever before.

“We understand that Canadians everywhere are feeling some financial pressures and pinches due to the higher cost of living,” said Carol Hochu, CEO and president of TRAC.

“Having a dedicated winter tire is having a sure-footed confident drive and if you’re relying on your all-season tires, that can lead to a white-knuckle, uncertain drive,” Hochu told CTV News.

At Degroot’s Tirecraft, it’s the calm before the storm as winter weather slowly creeps closer.

“It’s a good idea to change your tires when the temperature drops to 7 C, and that weather is just around the corner. All the shops are getting busy now, so the sooner the better,” Degroot said.

Degroot told CTV News he has been in the tire business for more then 40 years and said softer rubber compounds, better traction and shorter braking distances on ice and snow make winter tires the safer choice.

“I think it’s a challenge to drive in winter weather now and people are more aware of that,” he explained. “They know the value of a good winter tire and when they try one, they notice the difference.”

The survey by TRAC found that 80 per cent of Canadian drivers now use winter tires, but that number drops slightly to 77 per cent in Ontario.

Even though 84 per cent of respondents said winter tires have saved them from an accident or loss of control, 32 per cent say they’re less likely to buy winter tires because of increased financial burdens.

Another tire growing in popularity is the all-weather tire. It’s a hybrid which combines the attributes of an all-season and winter tire into one, and you can leave them on your car all year long with no switching over in the spring required.

“In testing they absolutely work,” said Ryan Pszczolkowski, a tire expert with Consumer Reports who has tested all-weather tires in the past. “They are not as superior as a winter tire, but they are definitely better than all-seasons.”

Degroot cautioned that if you need to buy new or switch your current tires from all-season to winter, don’t wait until the snow flies or you can expect long lineups at tire shops.