Only 21% of Canadians are aware that all-weather tires are more effective in winter conditions than all-seasons - "mountain/snowflake" symbol on tires indicates suitability for winter driving

TORONTO, Sept. 16, 2011 /CNW/ - Despite the fact that three out of four Canadians have either had their car pushed or helped push another driver's vehicle in winter, Canadian drivers still are not taking necessary measures to ensure safe winter driving, according to a recent survey commissioned by Canadian Tire. In areas where winter rated tires are not mandated by law, 57% of drivers will head into the season without winter tires.

Although tires have a simple-to-follow winter driving rating system, 78% of Canadians are unaware it exists. To find out quickly if tires are suitable for winter driving, consumers can look for the Rubber Association of Canada "mountain/snowflake" symbol which appears on all tires that meet or exceed industry established snow traction performance requirements and have been designed specifically for use in cold weather and severe snow conditions.

All-weather tires, a relatively new tire category, bear the "mountain/snowflake" symbol. Yet only 21% of Canadians are aware that all-weather tires are more effective in winter conditions than all-season tires. The Hankook Optimo 4S all-weather tire, one of most recognized all-weather tires in the country, is marked with the "mountain/snowflake" symbol. Starting this month, the Hankook Optimo 4S will be available for purchase only at Canadian Tire starting at $84.99. For a limited time, customers who purchase 4 of these tires will get a Canadian Tire $50 bonus card.

For Canadians who live and commute in urban areas, all-weather tires bearing the "mountain/snowflake" symbol deliver true year-round safety and performance. All-weather tires, which are a hybrid of winter tires and all-season tires, can be kept on vehicles year round, saving drivers the added steps of changing tires and storing their second sets during off seasons.

"As the leading tire retailer in Canada, we help drivers through the winter season by offering over 3,500 different tires including brands like Michelin, Goodyear, Hankook, Continental and Pirelli," said Carol Deacon, Associate Vice President of Automotive for Canadian Tire. "With one of the broadest tire selections in the country, we can make sure that Canadian drivers find the right tire for their vehicle, needs and budget."

"We are proud to partner with Canadian Tire to bring this revolutionary tire to the Canadian market," said Joseph Park, marketing communications manager at Hankook Tire Canada.  "Hankook Tire is dedicated to providing the highest quality product with the latest innovations, and Optimo 4S is a testament to our dedication."

The Optimo 4S is engineered to provide optimum performance in all four seasons. The tire has an asymmetric tread pattern design and hybrid compound technology to provide outstanding handling, braking and traction on dry, wet and snow-covered road conditions while providing extended mileage. Only tires with the "mountain/snowflake" symbol, like the Optimo 4S, qualify as a suitable winter tire in provinces where winter tires are mandated by law.

About Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC.a) (TSX:CTC) is one of Canada's most-shopped general retailers and the country's largest sporting goods retailer, with more than 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets from coast-to-coast. Our primary retail business categories - Automotive, Living, Fixing, Playing and Apparel - are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division, which offers such products and services as credit cards, retail deposits, in-store financing, product warranties, and insurance. Nearly 68,000 people are employed across the Canadian Tire enterprise, which was founded in 1922 and remains one of Canada's most recognized and trusted brands.

About Hankook Tire Canada Corp.
Headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Hankook Tire Canada Corporation is a technology-focused, customer-oriented company that markets and distributes a complete line of high performance and ultra-high performance passenger tires, light truck and SUV tires, winter tires and medium truck and bus tires in Canada.  With quality-proven products, Hankook Tire Canada is rapidly growing to become an industry leader in Canada. As the National Partner and the Official Tire of Hockey Canada, Hankook Tire Canada actively supports grassroots sports and contributes back to local communities.  Visit www.hankooktire.ca for more details.

About the survey
From September 2nd to September 4th, 2011, an online survey was conducted among a sample of 1,007 Canadian adults who drive a car and who are Angus Reid Forum panel members. The margin of error on the full base — which measures sampling variability — is +/- 3.01%. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.