On the Road

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Q: I have recently heard that snow tires are now mandatory in Quebec. I am planning to visit Montreal in the next few weeks. Do I need to buy snow tires to drive legally in Quebec?

A: The province of Quebec became the first Canadian jurisdiction to make snow tires mandatory for winter driving. The legislation was passed in December 2007 and came into effect on Nov. 15, 2008, stating that all passenger vehicles registered in the province of Quebec must be equipped with a full set of snow tires from Nov. 15 to April 15 each year, with the key phrase in this case being, 'vehicles registered in the province of Quebec'. While it would be advisable for any non-Quebec residents planning to visit 'la belle province' to also consider equipping their vehicles with snow tires, the law does not require it. Lately there has been much discussion regarding the year-round effectiveness of all-season tires. I am certainly not an expert when it comes to the tire industry except to say there are significant differences between snow and all-season tires and after many years of investigating traffic accidents, I believe there is a strong case to encourage the use of snow tires here in Ontario and particularly within the Greater Toronto Area.

The manufacturers tell us that snow tires are typically constructed from a softer and more flexible compound of rubber which allows the tire to remain elasticized at much lower temperatures depending of course on the brand being purchased. By comparison, an all-season tire tends to lose elasticity sooner as the temperature drops significantly below the freezing point which will affect the tire's 'grip' on the roadway. Snow tires do afford greater traction by channelling snow, sludge and water away from that critical contact point between the tire and the roadway thereby increasing the level of safety for motorists during those times when road conditions are less than favourable. With winter tires, drivers should enjoy greater control of their vehicle both when braking and when steering around hazardous situations and let's face it, after a typical Toronto snowstorm it often takes up to 24 hours to completely clear the roadway of hazardous slush and snow.

To date, I have not seen any indication from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation that would suggest a similar law is being considered here in Ontario. However, given what we drove through last winter and an indication from the weather experts that we may be in for the same this year, motorists should make safety a priority and consider purchasing a set of good quality snow tires. Oh, and one word of caution for anyone considering purchasing tires south of the border: remember that tire specifications may be different and studded snow tires are illegal in Ontario; for both residents and visitors.