Even the drive down Central Avenue has proven challenging for drivers. (Susan McNeill/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Waiting til the last minute

Tire shops ask snow shocked drivers to spare some patience

Nov 7, 2022 | 11:05 AM

Following this past weekend’s snowy blast, tire shops in Prince Albert are encountering an influx of calls from desperate drivers, who have found themselves treading on borrowed time.

Colin Fraser at OK Tire advised paNOW their current wait time for installing winter tires is between a week and a half and two weeks.

“It’s getting pretty crazy out there. Just coming to work this morning there were three people stuck on the street outside the shop so we pushed them in and got some tires for them. They were pretty happy about that,” he said.

Fraser said he understands with the pace of peoples’ lives nowadays, it’s easy to forget to book an appointment, but added there’s also only so many bay doors in the city.

“Have some patience with the tires shops this time of year. We really ask for that. It’s really busy,” he said.

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Calling around to other tire shops in the city, Kal Tire was about a one week wait and Mann Northway indicated they were taking bookings three or four days out. Parts manager Mark Boyer said the shop has been busy since the first snowfall over a week ago.

“Tire season is definitely upon us and winter tires are the way to go,” he said.

Friday’s poll question on paNOW was ‘Have you made the switch to winter tires?’ Thirty-five per cent of respondents indicated yes, 12 per cent said not yet but soon, and 53 per cent felt their all season tires were good enough.

“If you have all seasons, they’re OK but the stopping distance will improve greatly if you have winter tires,” Boyer said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell