Winter tire procrastinators face month-long wait lists

Snow blanketed Edmontonon Friday,sending a flurry of drivers scrambling for winter tires.

Some garages are now solidly booked until the end of the month.

Appointments for winter tire installation at a downtown Fountain Tire are up by 150 per cent from last October, according to manager Michael Sands.

"You just work and work and work," he said. "This weather has caught Edmonton off guard.

"I don't know why. It's Alberta."

With more than 100 vehicles rollingthrough the garage every day,Sands' mechanics are working overtime.

Stephanie Leach tried to book an appointment after some "Alberta drift action" on her Friday commute.

"I thought'OK, this is kind of insane, I should get my tires changed,'" she said.

She'sfacinga week-long waitlistto switch out her tires.

"I'll make it work," Leach said. "I've driven on summer tires in the middle of winter before and it's not the best but you just make do until you can get in there."

Police are urging people like Leach to drive carefully. Friday's snowfall ended with more than 140 collisions in a four-hour period, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Drivers are reminded to clear all snow and ice from vehicles and allow extra travel time this evening and weekend," the Edmonton Police Serviceadvised in a statement.