The provincial government is hoping that the approval of a new high-tech studded tire will enhance winter driving across the province.
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation Kinga Surma and Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli, were at Kal Tire in North Bay Friday afternoon to announce that Ontario is changing a regulation that prevented some new models of studded tires from coming to market.
“Now consumers have the choice and they can purchase the tires and helps them commute on the road,” Surma stated.
The announcement allows Ontario dealers to sell new and more high tech studded winter tires.
Anil Oberoi is the Nokian Tires regional sales rep. He says the new studded tires are a step above the current studded tires which are allowed to be sold in the province.
“They have 50 to 100 percent more studs than your normal studded tires, studs are lighter and don’t damage the roads so the technology there is first class,” said Oberoi when describing the Nokian HAK 9 (short for Hakkapeliitta 9 that are manufactured in Finland) studded tires.
Kim Lee Hamelin, the manager of Kal Tire in North Bay, is glad the province used his dealership to roll out the good studded tire news.
“It is incredible, it is good for people and their families to keep them safer on the road,” said Hamelin.
“We are the last province to allow the Nokian HAK-9 introduced so it is a big day for us and we are very excited.”
The province made the announcement after consultation with various stakeholders. Fedeli says this studded tire change was unanimous.
“Certainly the ministry has done its research, these are approved in other places in the world and it was red tape that was stopping it from coming to Ontario,” said Fedeli.
“This brings consumer choice and brings choice to the people of Ontario.”
Auto123.com rated winter and studded tires available in Canada. In their recent blog, they noted the Nokian HAK-9 as the best studded tire on the market.
See that HERE
