Tire-change season is here, the first flurries are never far off, and the legal deadline is five weeks away. Here’s everything you need to know about winter tires in Quebec this year: the dates, what counts as a winter tire, the fines and the exemptions, all checked against official Quebec government and SAAQ pages.
Winter tires in Quebec: the key dates
Under Quebec’s rules, every motor vehicle registered in the province must be fitted with winter tires from Dec. 1 to March 15, according to the Quebec government’s winter tire requirements. This year, Dec. 1 falls on a Tuesday. Rental vehicles are included.
Two other dates worth knowing:
- Studded tires are allowed from Oct. 15 to May 1 on passenger vehicles, taxis and commercial vehicles with a total loaded mass of 3,000 kg or less, so they’re already permitted.
- After March 15, the province suggests waiting a few weeks before switching back to all-season or summer tires, since spring conditions can vary a lot.
The SAAQ also points out that winter tires aren’t mandatory before Dec. 1, but winter can show up early. Anyone who has lived through a November storm in Montreal knows that booking a garage appointment in late November is a gamble.
What counts as a winter tire
To be legal, a winter tire must bear the official winter tire pictogram or be studded. The same rule applies to reshaped or remodelled passenger-vehicle tires.
Tread depth matters, too:
- The legal minimum is 1.6 mm.
- For winter, the government recommends at least 4.8 mm.
- Quick test: put a quarter in a groove with the caribou’s nose pointing down. If you can see the caribou’s snout, the tire won’t grip well in deep snow. Check several grooves.
- The SAAQ adds that tires older than about five years may start losing grip, even with decent tread.
The SAAQ also recommends matching tires on all four wheels, the same model with similar wear, plus professional installation, correct pressure and a yearly wheel alignment.
The official winter pictogram shows a mountain with a snowflake, according to the SAAQ’s winter preparation guide. To check a tire’s age, find the DOT code on the sidewall: it ends in a four-digit number giving the week and year it was made, so 3613 means week 36 of 2013.
Fines and exemptions
Driving without compliant tires during the mandatory period can cost you a fine of $200 to $300.
The rule doesn’t apply to everyone. Exemptions include:
- Trailers and vehicles registered outside Quebec
- Heavy vehicles, utility vehicles and farm machinery
- Spare tires
- Vehicles in the seven days after purchase from a dealer (keep the bill of sale)
- The seven days before a lease of one year or more ends (keep the lease)
- Vehicles with a dealer (X) plate or a temporary transit registration, within set limits
- Motor homes used permanently as a residence
The SAAQ can also issue a seven-day exemption certificate in specific cases, for example if you’re a snowbird leaving or returning to Quebec, or taking a stored vehicle out of storage. You can request it through SAAQclic or at a service centre.
Why put them on before Dec. 1
The SAAQ strongly advises installing winter tires before the deadline: as soon as the temperature drops below 7°C, or when there’s ice or snow on the road, summer and all-season tires stiffen and lose grip. Winter tires stay flexible down to -40°C, and the province says good ones can reduce braking distance by 25%.
Once they’re on, the SAAQ suggests checking your tire pressure every month, spare included, against the manufacturer’s recommendation in your owner’s manual or on the sticker usually located on the side of the driver’s door.
Beyond the tires: the rest of your winter checklist
Tires are only part of it. The province’s vehicle prep guide suggests checking fluids, wipers, battery, brakes and lights before the season, and keeping an emergency kit on board: a shovel, scraper and brush, traction mats, a flashlight, jumper cables, a blanket, water and non-perishable food.
Once the snow arrives, clear it all off. Under the province’s winter driving rules, a vehicle not properly cleared of snow and ice can bring a $60 to $100 fine, rising to $100 to $200 if snow or ice blocks your view. Before a long drive, check Québec 511 for road conditions and closures.
Also on the calendar: darker drives home once clocks fall back on Sunday, Nov. 1 (our time-change explainer has the details), and, if you have a driveway, a snow removal contract. We looked at snow removal contract prices for this winter.
Bottom line
Book your tire change soon, check that tread with a quarter, and have everything on by Tuesday, Dec. 1. For how Montreal itself is gearing up, see our look at the city’s snow removal overhaul, and find more practical guides in our news section. Bonne route.
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- More Montreal news on MTL365
Photo: Exile on Ontario St / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sources: Québec.ca: Requirements for winter tires, SAAQ: Winter tires, Québec.ca: Winter driving, Québec.ca: Preparing your vehicle, Québec 511, SAAQ: Winter preparation, SAAQ: Tire pressure
