In eastern Canada, smart people use snow tires, and in fact Quebec has a provincial ordinance requiring snow tires on all motor vehicles by 15 December. Whenever I hear tires spinning, or see a car fish-tailing around a corner, I wish Ontario would do the same.

Yes, we keep two sets of rims: one set with "all-season" tires that are really good only for the snowless period of the year (April to November in these parts), and the other set with snow tires. The car goes to the garage twice a year for routine maintenance, and we have the tires changed at the same time. This practice also ensures that the condition of the tires -- both tread and valves -- is thoroughly checked at least twice a year.

I have followed this routine since 1985, when I began to emerge from student penury, and haven't had a skidding incident -- let alone an accident -- in all that time, despite extensive winter travel.