Winter tires in Quebec: mandatory from December 1 to March 15, are you ready?

In Quebec, winter tires are mandatory from December 1 to March 15. Here is the rule, the exceptions and the right time to book.

Since 2019, the Highway Safety Code has required winter tires from December 1 to March 15 inclusive on every passenger vehicle and taxi registered in Quebec. All four tires must carry the mountain and snowflake pictogram, the mark that certifies rubber designed for snow and cold. Driving without them during the period exposes you to a fine of $200 to $300 plus fees and, above all, to much longer braking distances on icy pavement.

The legal date is not the ideal date. All season or summer rubber hardens as soon as temperatures stay below 7 degrees Celsius, which often happens by late October in Quebec. Installers are swamped in the last two weeks of November: booking your changeover between October 15 and November 15 avoids the wait and lets you have brakes, alignment and pressure sensors checked at the same time. Studded tires, for their part, are allowed from October 15 to May 1.

Left: the mountain and snowflake symbol to look for on the sidewall.

Right: tread depth gauge, recommended minimum 6/32 in for winter.

Photo: Cyber Performance (illustration)

Are last year's winter tires still good? Measure the tread depth: below 6/32 of an inch, snow grip drops quickly even if the tire is still legal.

Pressure, sensors and storage: the three steps that go with the changeover

Cold lowers pressure by about 1 psi for every 5 to 6 degrees Celsius, so a tire inflated to 35 psi in a heated garage can read 30 psi on the first minus 10 morning. Check pressure cold once a month and aim for the value on the door jamb label, not the number on the tire sidewall. If your vehicle uses a direct TPMS system, your winter wheels need their own programmed sensors, otherwise the warning light will stay on all winter. Finally, have your summer tires stored dry, out of the sun and away from electric motors: they will last several more seasons.

• Book the changeover between October 15 and November 15.
• Check the mountain and snowflake symbol and the tread depth (6/32 in recommended minimum).
• Set pressure cold and confirm the TPMS sensors are recognized.

Not sure of your tire size? Use our vehicle selector (make, year, model) to see compatible winter tires, then add installation and storage in a single appointment.