Winter tires, mandatory in Quebec!!!

[Token]

Set a date to install your winter tires... before December 15!

New dispositions applicable to winter tires
Since December 2007, the Highway Safety Code provides that:
“Between 15 December to 15 March, the owner of a taxi or passenger vehicle registered in Quebec may not put the vehicle into operation unless it is equipped with tires specifically designed for winter driving, in compliance with the standards prescribed by government regulation. The prohibition also applies to any person renting out passenger vehicles not equipped with that type of tires.

During what part of the year is the use of snows tires mandatory in Québec?
Under the Highway Safety Code, all taxis and passenger vehicles registered in Québec must be equipped with tires specifically designed for winter driving from December 15 to March 15. This also applies to passenger vehicles for rent in Québec. This measure will come into effect by decree in the fall of 2008.

What is the purpose of introducing this measure into the Highway Safety Code?
This new measure is designed to increase highway safety.
Information collected in 2005 shows that 38% of the accidents that occur during the winter involve at least one vehicle that is equipped with all-season tires. These vehicles are therefore strongly overrepresented in these accidents. In addition, the proportion of the occurrence of loss of control is even higher when the vehicles involved are equipped with all-season tires.
Tires that are designed specifically for winter driving conditions are a safe solution for driving in winter. They are designed to achieve maximum adherence on snow or ice covered surfaces.

What types of vehicles will have to be equipped with tires specifically designed for winter driving?
This measure is directed at taxis and passenger vehicles that are registered in Québec, as well as passenger vehicles that are rented in Québec.

What is the definition of winter tires?
The draft regulation, published on September 17, 2008 in the Gazette officielle du Québec, defines tires specifically designed for winter driving as those that meet one of the following criteria prior to December 15, 2014:

• Tires on which one of the following inscriptions appear: Alaska, Arctic, A/T, or AT, Blizzard, Ice, LT, Nordic, Snow (but not mud and snow), Stud, Ultratraction or Winter.

or

• Tires on which the icon representing a mountain with a superimposed snowflake appears.

Starting on December 15, 2014, the draft regulation specifies that only those tires on which the icon representing the mountain with the superimposed snowflake appears shall be considered to be winter tires.

It is important to note that the draft regulation has not yet been adopted and that it may be improved upon following comments that may be sent to the Minister over the course of the 45-day period following the publication of the draft regulation in the Gazette officielle du Québec.
In which cases does the mandatory requirement to equip vehicles with tires specifically designed for winter driving not apply?
Winter tires are not mandatory for:

1. the emergency tires on taxis on passenger vehicles;
2. passenger vehicles with temporary registration plates (X);
3. motor homes, or vehicles that have been permanently outfitted as dwellings;
4. vehicles for which the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) has issued certificates for a period of seven days, to a maximum of four certificates for the period in question.

Under what circumstances may the SAAQ issue a certificate authorizing the operation of a passenger vehicle or a taxi, if applicable, without winter tires?
The acquisition of a vehicle, in order to make it possible to equip the vehicle with winter tires;

1. The use of a vehicle for the purpose of leaving or entering Québec;
2. When moving a vehicle from the establishment of a vehicle dealer to a site for its sale at an auction or from such a site to the establishment of such a dealer;
3. The portion of a trip that constitutes the return to a departure point situated outside of Québec which, upon expiry of the rental period, is left in Québec by the renter.

Are vehicles from outside of Québec affected by this measure?
No, with the exception of certain rental vehicles. The legislative provision applies to vehicles (taxis and passenger vehicles) registered in Québec, as well as to passenger vehicles that are rented in Québec (regardless of where they are registered).

How many winter tires must be used?
All the tires on the vehicle must be tires specifically designed for winter driving.

Are there fines for offenders?
Yes, fines range from $200 to $300.

Are demerit points deducted for such offences?
No.

What about vehicle models for which winter tires are not available?
Vehicles for which winter tires are not available shall be excluded, by Departmental order, from the mandatory use of tires specifically designed for winter driving. Because the vehicles in question will change from year to year and because they may only become known quite late in the season, this Departmental order shall be published annually.

Have provisions been made for those who go south for the winter?
The owners of passenger vehicles who use their vehicles to leave or come back to Québec may obtain a certificate from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec authorizing the operation of such vehicles without tires specifically designed for winter driving for a period of seven days.
During the period from December 15 to March 15, the Société may not issue more than four certificates for a given vehicle.
The draft regulation for mandatory winter tires shall not apply to motor homes.

Who will enforce the law?
For passenger vehicles, enforcement of the law is the responsibility of police departments.

[Token]

The rush is already on for winter tires

New law makes them mandatory


The Gazette

Published: 8 hours ago

Motorists are already storming tire retailers who have braced for an avalanche of extra business because of Quebec's new law making winter tires mandatory this coming season.

Tire distributors are experiencing an earlier-than-usual rush from customers concerned about a possible shortage of supply as a result of the provincial Highway Safety Code amendment obliging all passenger vehicles registered in Quebec to be equipped with winter tires.

"The busy season started a lot sooner than in previous years," said René Gélinas, president and chief executive officer of Pneus Unimax Ltd.
He said anecdotal evidence points to many of the early customers being first-time buyers, in particular truck and sports-utility-vehicle owners who never felt a need for winter tires, as well as seniors who normally don't drive much during the winter.

Fines for not having winter tires from Dec. 15 to March 15 will range from $200 to $300.

Gélinas, whose Boucherville company is the province's largest tire distributor with a network of 86 independent dealers/shareholders operating under the Unipneu banner at 125 retail/wholesale/commercial sales outlets, has calculated the government move will result in up to 1.5 million more winter tires being sold this year. Transport Quebec has put the number as high as 2 million based on approximately 500,000 vehicles (10 per cent) not equipped in 2005.

"This is a wonderful year to be in the winter tire business in Quebec," rejoiced Greg Sims, president and chief executive of British Columbia-based O.K. Tire Stores Inc.
"Sales are skyrocketing," he said from his corporate office in Langley, B.C.
"There is tremendous, tremendous demand for winter product, and we can't get (tires) in and out fast enough" through his group of 55 independently owned and operated tire store retailers across Quebec.
Sims said industry estimates on the expected jump in winter tire demand range from 15 to 40 per cent.
"We've heard some manufacturers can't meet orders, but we're certainly doing everything we can to provide our dealers in Quebec," he added.

Pneus Unimax is prepared. Its 400,000-square-foot distribution centre, opened last year, is full with inventory and another 100,000 winter tires are arriving soon, Gélinas said. Some of his dealers have also been storing extra stock.

Although he doesn't expect a shortage, Gélinas suggested motorists buy early "because consumers wanting a certain brand may have to change if their model is sold out."

Joanne Elson, manager of public relations at Canadian Tire Corp., which operates 94 stores in Quebec, said the company has "done everything possible to ensure we're well-stocked."

She said steps were taken that include introducing a new affordable winter tire and working with manufacturers to increase orders.
Another advantage, Elson said, are contracts with companies like Goodyear to supply certain models exclusively to Canadian Tire "so we get everything they make."

Like Gélinas, Elson recommends "people should be thinking (about buying winter tires) now rather than wait."

Gélinas said adding to the higher demand for winter tires are auto manufacturers offering free snow tires with new vehicles in order to boost sales and fleets.

The past president of Regroupement de loueurs de véhicules du Québec, which represents the province's rental car companies and approximately 35,000 vehicles, acknowledged the extra cost of fitting all of them with winter tires will result in higher fees.

Robert Lalonde, who is also Quebec vice-president of Discount Car & Truck Rentals Ltd., said the industry has come up with two options: an automatic year-round charge of between $2.75 and $3 a day or a seasonal surcharge of $8 to $12 a day between Nov. 15 and April 15.


For more about the new regulations, visit Transport Quebec's website at www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca and look under the heading of seasonal information.

[Jaak]

And if you've just realised this now, you're already in the rush... Don't think if you're not in Quebec, that this doesn't affect you... They suck up stock and then the rest of Canada has to deal with it.