How Canadians plan to use their cars this summer

Canadians are gearing up for summer travel but many are planning closer-to-home road trips.

According to a survey for the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC), 82 per cent of motorists planning a day or overnight trip and the vast majority are choosing to stay within Canada and avoiding travel to the U.S.

The survey found that 88 per cent of Canadians prefer road trips within Canada, with only 8 per cent planning to cross the border. Additionally, 51 per cent of drivers have cancelled their U.S. road trips for this year. Within Canada, more than two-thirds (69 per cent) plan to travel within their province, while 28 per cent will drive to other parts of the country.

The survey also highlighted the importance of tire maintenance, an often overlooked aspect of road trips. TRAC noted that proper tire maintenance is crucial for road safety, preventing blowouts, enhancing fuel efficiency, extending tire lifespan, improving vehicle handling and saving money by avoiding unnecessary repairs and replacements.

Despite 89 per cent of Canadian drivers acknowledging the benefits of proper tire inflation and maintenance, many lack the knowledge to perform these tasks correctly, the group noted. This disconnect is particularly evident among younger drivers, who may be taking a road trip for the first time this summer.

Carol Hochu, CEO of TRAC, emphasized the need for better education on tire maintenance.

“Our findings reveal that Canadian drivers need more education about how to do tire maintenance right. This is especially true among younger drivers, who may be taking a road trip for the first time this summer,” she said.

Hochu added that proper tire inflation and maintenance are not just safety measures but also economic ones, as improper tire inflation increases fuel consumption, shortens tire lifespan, and raises the risk of tire failure during long road trips.

The survey found that only 28 per cent of drivers check their tire inflation monthly as recommended by tire makers, with this figure dropping to 22 per cent among drivers aged 18 to 34. Additionally, 64 per cent are unaware that inflation pressures should only be measured when tires are cold, and 31 per cent incorrectly refer to the air pressure stamped on the tire’s sidewall when identifying the correct pressure. Thirteen per cent either rely on visual inspections or do not know how to determine if their tires are properly inflated.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians purchased 43 billion litres of gasoline in 2019. Proper tire inflation could have saved 258 million litres of gasoline, equating to about $490 million and avoiding the release of 593,000 metric tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

TRAC further pointed out that industry studies show that motorists can improve their gas mileage by 0.6 per cent on average, up to 3 per cent in some cases, by keeping their tires inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by about 0.2 per cent for each one PSI drop in the average pressure of all tires.

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