Winter Tires are Mandatory in Quebec as of Today

LOCAL NEWS - DECEMBER 1, 2020 - Winter tires are due in Quebec today

Owners of motorized road vehicles registered in Quebec must be equipped with winter tires as of today, December 1st. This mandatory winter tire installation date, notably allows better adaptation to changing and unpredictable weather conditions and provides greater safety for road users.

When temperatures drop below 7°C, all-season tires begin to lose elasticity, which results in reduced traction and inferior control and braking abilities. Winter tires, however, retain their elasticity at temperatures well below 7°C.
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This obligation applies to any motorized road vehicle registered in Quebec other than a heavy vehicle, a tool vehicle or an agricultural machine. It also applies to any rental vehicle regardless of its place of registration. The owners, like the lessors of these vehicles, must comply with the obligation for the period from December 1, 2020 to March 15, 2021. Anyone who contravenes the regulations would commit an offense and would be liable to a fine ranging from $ 200 to $ 300.

The Ministère des Transports also reminded drivers earlier this fall that when purchasing winter tires, consumers are advised to consult a specialist dealer to ensure they are choosing a quality product that meets their needs. Remember that a tire designed for winter driving is a tire on which the official pictogram,  a logo showing a snowflake and a mountain, is affixed or a tire fitted with studs and used in accordance with the Regulation respecting the use of anti-skidding on the tires of certain road vehicles.

Abbygail Wellman
CFBS Journalist