(Montreal) As of this Thursday, until next March 15 inclusively, all motorized road vehicles registered in Quebec, other than heavy vehicles, tool vehicles or agricultural machinery, must be equipped with winter tires. .
The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) points out that this obligation also applies to passenger vehicles offered for rental in Québec as well as to mopeds and motorcycles.
However, the regulations provide for some temporary exceptions. Winter tires are not mandatory, for example, during the first seven days following the purchase of a vehicle from a merchant as well as on a vehicle with a temporary registration certificate up to a maximum of seven days. after the date of issue of this certificate. The same applies to vehicles with a removable license plate, which bears the letter X.
Only tires fitted with studs or those displaying a symbol on the side showing a snowflake in a mountain profile are recognized as winter tires by the Highway Safety Code.
Motorists who drive without recognized winter tires are liable to a fine ranging from $200 to $300, in addition to costs.
The SAAQ reminds you that as soon as the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius or there is ice or snow on the road, the rubber on summer or all-season tires becomes hard and has little grip. In addition, the structure of the grooves of summer or all-season tires is not designed to retain snow like that of winter tires.
The rubber compound of winter tires is designed to meet certain flexibility criteria down to a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius below zero, which allows the car to have much better grip on the road.