Mandatory winter tires: important clarifications
There is a great deal of confusion regarding enforcement of the mandatory use of tires designed for winter driving. To help you make sense of the changes, here is a summary of the draft Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving, to which Section 440.1 of the Highway Safety Code refers.
From December 1 to March 15, ALL tires mounted on a TAXI or PASSENGER VEHICLE must be specifically designed for winter driving.
Offenders will be required to pay a fine ranging from $200 to $300. No demerit points will be deducted for such an offence, however.
Studded tires are not covered by the Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving, and they are still permitted from October 15 to May 1.
| General principle | ||||
| Vehicles covered | Use | Notes | ||
| Passenger vehicle | General | Mandatory from December 1 to March 15. | ||
| Taxi | General | Mandatory from December 1 to March 15. | ||
| Exceptions | ||||
Vehicles covered | Use | Notes | ||
| Passenger vehicle and taxi | Emergency tire. | Section 2 (1) of the Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving. | ||
| Motorcycle | Used as an emergency vehicle as defined in Article 4 of the Highway Safety Code. | Section 2 (2) of the Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving. | ||
| Passenger vehicle and taxi | Within 7 days of the end of the contract of lease of a passenger vehicle or taxi with a term of 1 year or more | Section 2 (3.1) of the Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving. | ||
| Passenger vehicle | On which is affixed a removable licence plate (“dealer plate” or “X plate”). | Section 2 (4) of the Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving. Regulation Respecting Road Vehicle Registration. | ||
| Passenger vehicle | On which is affixed a temporary registration certificate, for the period of validity indicated on the certificate but not exceeding seven days from the date of issue of the certificate. | Section 2 (5) of the Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving. Regulation Respecting Road Vehicle Registration. | ||
| Motor home | Motor vehicle designed to serve as permanent self-contained living quarters. | Section 2 (6) of the Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving. | ||
| Passenger vehicle and taxi | The driver of which owns a certificate issued by the SAAQ. | See “Specific Cases” below. | ||
Specific cases – A person who owns or rents out a passenger vehicle is authorized to put that vehicle into operation without equipping it with tires specifically designed for winter driving, if he or she holds a certificate to that effect, in the following cases: | ||||
| Vehicles covered | Use | Notes | ||
| Passenger vehicle and taxi | Upon acquisition (purchase, lease) of a vehicle (new or used), to enable the new owner to equip the vehicle with tires specifically designed for winter driving. | Certificate valid for 7 days. New owner must request it from the SAAQ. | ||
| Passenger vehicle and taxi | Use of a vehicle for the purpose of leaving or entering Quebec (“snowbirds”). | Certificate valid for 7 days. Owner must request it from the SAAQ. | ||
| Passenger vehicle (vehicle rented and registered outside Quebec that, upon expiry of the rental period, is left somewhere in Quebec by the renter) | On the return trip to the departure point situated outside Quebec. | Certificate valid for 7 days. Renter must request it from the SAAQ. | ||
| From December 1st to March 15, the SAAQ may not issue more than four certificates for a given vehicle. | ||||
Tires approved under the Regulation
Since the goal of the Regulation is to improve road safety, it goes without saying that tires that do not meet these criteria should not be used for winter driving. When the temperature drops below 7°C, all-season tires start to lose their elasticity, which results in poorer traction, handling and braking capacity. Winter tires, on the other hand, retain their elasticity at temperatures far below 7°C. Lastly, it must not be forgotten that modern vehicles are equipped with safety features (ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, and so forth), which work properly only if the vehicle is equipped with tires providing the proper adherence.
Transport Québec (In french only): Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving