Winter tires, that can cost half as much in the United States, are one more attraction for Canadian cross-border shoppers.
Bob Bignell is chair of the tire price disparity committee of the Tire Dealers Association of Canada. He says November and December are the most popular months for Canadians to cross the border for cheap tires, with the average price gap of 32 per cent.
In border towns like Windsor and Niagara Falls in Ontario, as well as in Vancouver, Canadians are crossing into the United States to get their tires changed while holiday shopping according to Bignell. It has been an annual tradition for many since the 1970’s.
In a recent CBC interview, Windsor resident Gary Pepper described shopping on the American side of the Detroit River for the first time. “I had priced tires in Windsor. They were around $1,000, which we probably would have bought, but it was a five-week wait to get them. Here they are in stock, $300 cheaper here. It’s worth coming,” said Pepper. He said he would also be declaring his new tires at the border.
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