Winter Tires: Safe Winter Driving

In winter driving conditions, winter tires are designed to offer superior control and traction compared to summer and all-season tires. The rubber compound they are made of is softer and allows the tires to remain optimally flexible in temperatures as low as -40°C. Their treads are characterized by grooves that are deeper and spaced farther apart.

Situations for which a 7-day winter tire exemption certificate can be used

• using a vehicle to leave or return to Québec (this is the case for “snowbirds”, for example)
• acquiring a vehicle that must be equipped with winter tires from an individual other than a vehicle dealer (the 7-day period begins on the date the vehicle is acquired)
• making a return trip to a point of origin situated outside Québec of a vehicle rented and registered outside Québec that, upon expiry of the rental period, was left by the renter at a place located in Québec
• moving a vehicle from a dealer's place of business to an auction sale and to allow its return
• moving a vehicle to a site where it will be sold by judicial authority, and returning from the sale site
• taking a vehicle that must be equipped with winter tires out of storage
• terminating a long-term lease (termination of contract before its expiry date)
• seizure and impoundment of a vehicle prior to December 1 (if the seizure ends on December 1 or after)
• prohibition from putting or putting back into operation a vehicle prior to December 1 (if the prohibition ends on December 1 or after)
   

Make sure your tires are in good condition

Winter tires that are in good condition are essential for a vehicle to be considered safe. On snowy roads, the tread’s grooves help the tires grip the road surface. As tires get worn, groove depth decreases and performance diminishes significantly.  

 

A tire’s tread wear should be even across the width of the tire. In addition, a tire’s tread depth must never be less than the authorized limit of 1.6 mm. There are documented cases of fatal accidents where tires in poor condition and having a tread depth below the authorized limit were deemed aggravating factors.

Store your tires properly

To slow the aging of your tires, avoid storing them in hot, damp places that are exposed to UV rays and poor weather conditions. Ideally, find a cool, dry place, such as under the basement stairs. Avoid storing them vertically on the ground. Instead, stack them horizontally, one on top of the other.

Choose your tires carefully

Follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations in order to choose tires of the right size and type. Have a professional install the tires on your vehicle’s wheels. Remember that many tires have unidirectional treads and must be installed the right way to adequately channel away snow and water.

In addition, your front and rear tires should be the same model and show the same level of wear. On each wheel on a same axle, you should have identical tires or tires recognized as being equivalent by the manufacturer.

Check tire pressure regularly

Inadequate tire pressure could cause unpredictable handling, increase fuel consumption and decrease the tire’s lifespan. Inflate your tires to the pressure recommended by your vehicle manufacturer and make sure that your vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is working properly, if applicable.

Have your wheel alignment checked

According to the recommendations of large automakers, you should have your wheels aligned once a year. A vehicle whose wheels are improperly aligned could become unstable on the road, and the situation could become worse in difficult driving conditions.

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