Just got back from the tire bay having put on a new set of tires. Checked through the BE threads first, looked up a few points on the internet and decided to get Nokian WR all season tires. These also carry the tire logo as approved for winter use.
The local dealer for these is Kaltire, luckily one in Creston.
Paid $730 all in and have to say the level of service was excellent, far, far better than I have ever experienced in Ireland or UK.
Was first shown the tire and had the workings of it explained, even Mrs Inse understood!. Left he car for fitting and they rang back a couple of hours later. On picking up the car I was told that my brakes were all OK, wipers good, and that all the joints and seals under the car were also good. I hadn't been expecting all that!
I also have a 100,000klm guarantee, free flat repair,free wheel rotation every 10,000 klm and free tracking check.
I know some of you out there have not had the best of times with tire bays but I just wanted to show that the "winter tire experience" is not always a bummer

Glad it went well. Thanks for sharing, Inse.

Do they pick up from Ottawa??

Maybe? Are Kaltire not nationwide?

Hold on I'll check.

Yep, 8 miles from me. I need winter tires so I'll give them a ring.

Hope you get the same service as I received. Well impressed.
(Sorry to read of your house sale fall through, hope things improve soon)

Did they offer you a free "Re Torque" of all wheel nuts in "x" kilometers time?

I don't understand why they do this. In the UK they tighten your wheel nuts once then off you go for maybe years before they are looked at again.

So anybody know why Tire centers do this?

It's a "let's take the customers for a ride cos they don't know what we're talkin' about". Almost as sure as I got socks on.
Got laid by local lasses yet N.?

Oh a bit like lets change your oil every 5000 kilometers!!!!!!!!

Er all the local downtown lasses were arrested the other night so better stay clear of there for a few nights and snuggle down with her indoors and a mug of cocoa.

Something to do with the way the alloy wheels react to the load placed on them I think. With steel rims they dont bother. COuld be to do with the effect of the cold too maybe? Once you leave the warm bay for the cold outside the alloy wheels will contract more in the cold than the steel studs and nuts, so you loose the tension on the threads and the nuts can come loose over time?

Just speculating, I dont really know

Well it's interesting as both my wifes car and my sons car were offered the same "re torquing" and this was from 2 different dealers and one car has alloys, one has steels so who knows maybe it's to do with temperatures etc..