I love road trips, but in the winter—when streets range anywhere from wet, to snowy, to slushy, to icy on a given day—staying safe behind the wheel requires more vigilance. Where dry surfaces call for an average of 8 meters of braking distance, snowy surfaces necessitate 32 meters, and icy surfaces demand 64 meters. Knowing that the quality of tires makes all the difference, I made sure to install winter tires early this year. The fact is, all-wheel and 4-wheel drive don’t cut it in these conditions. And all-season tires don’t have the rubber compound that winter tires do to remain flexible in freezing temperatures. And without that? They lack grip, traction, and the ability to brake well.

The winter tires I installed are MICHELIN X-Ice SNOW tires. What I appreciate about them is that they’re not only made to last, but they brake exceptionally well on winter roads. This is thanks to a mix of amazing technologies, which work together to clasp a firm grip on the surface below them. For me, this brings a sense of relief. I can rest assured that, even on long road trips, I’m keeping my family and myself safe.

On that note, another thing I’ve done to ensure optimal safety is equip my car with a few key items in the case of an emergency. It’s always better to be over prepared than under prepared. Some things you may choose to equip your car with include a first-aid kit, windshield washer fluid, a flashlight, blankets, emergency flares, jumper cables, non-perishable food, water bottles, 4 winter-capable tires, a shovel, a tire gauge, a jack, a fully inflated spare, and salt.

It’s always been important to me that I support local. And this is something that I admire in Michelin as a brand, which is another reason I’ve chosen to use their tires, and support them, too. Michelin supports the Canadian economy by having 3 tire manufacturing facilities on Canada’s east coast, making them the largest private manufacturer employer in Nova Scotia with over 3,500 employees.

The past year has been challenging, for all of us. But escaping to a cottage every few weeks brings my family and I a sense of normalcy. Even if just for a few days, while being away from the city and surrounded by nature.

To learn more about the MICHELIN X-Ice SNOW tires, visit here.

With Love…

Marta

*In partnership with Michelin Canada. The views and opinions expressed are my own. All provincial COVID restrictions were respected at the time this was written.