Americans are expected to log 36.8 billion miles on the road this holiday visiting family and friends – a 46% increase (11.6 billion miles) compared to 2015.* These findings are based on the results of an online survey commissioned Bridgestone and conducted by Harris Poll in October 2015 and November 2016. (See U.S. Thanksgiving: 48.7 Million Traveling. Most on Wheels) The survey also found that Americans plan to spend a combined average of $48.9 billion on travel – airfare, hotel, meals, gas – during the holiday season, about $3 billion less than last year. **
Although Americans are expected to travel more miles on holiday road trips, only about 28% of Americans in Snowbelt states have installed or plan to install winter tires this year.***
Winter tires are specially built to give drivers better grip throughout winter’s changing conditions. The Blizzak tire line says Bridgestone is engineered to handle winter’s worst by offering performance in snow, slush, ice and on dry roads. In fact, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 winter tire for cars and minivans stops up to 33% faster on ice compared to an all-season tire.****
Installing winter tires on all wheel positions guarantees the most grip in snow, ice and slush. A common folly is thinking that four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are all-powerful in winter driving conditions. Four-wheel drive makes the most of traction to get a vehicle moving, but it doesn’t improve stopping or cornering. Those attributes depend on tire grip.
Sources
*U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census, which estimates there are 234.6 million adults ages 18+ residing in the United States: 234.6M x .65 drive to different family members HH during the holiday season; of these 241 average miles driven = 36,750,090,000 miles in 2016. 234.6M x .73 drive to different family member’s HH during the holiday season; of these 147 average miles driven = 25,174,926,000 miles in 2015.
**Calculation based on U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census, which estimates there are 234.6 million adults ages 18+ residing in the United States: 234.6M x .61 travel for holidays; of these $342 average spend on holiday travels = $48,942,252,000 in 2016. 234.6M x .65 travel for holidays; of these $343 average spend on holiday travels = $52,304,070,000 in 2015.
***Snowbelt states include: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
****Based on stopping distance in ice rink testing of Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 tires (235/55R17) versus Firestone FR710 tires (235/55R17). Actual results may vary based on proper tire maintenance, vehicle, driving style and road conditions.
Survey Methodology
These surveys were conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Bridgestone from October 14-16, 2015, among 2,072 U.S. adults ages 18 and older and November 1-3, 2016, among 2,064 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. These online surveys are not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Snowbelt states include: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
