Quebec's winter tire deadline is December 1—here's who has to comply

All motorized road vehicles registered in Quebec must have winter tires installed between December 1 and March 15—and that requirement extends to rental cars, motorcycles, mopeds, and motorized scooters. Drivers who fail to comply face fines of $200 to $300, plus costs.

The rule comes from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). Winter tires must carry the mountain-with-snowflake pictogram and maintain a minimum tread depth of 4.8 millimetres across the entire tire width. The SAAQ recommends installing winter tires before December 1, noting that cold weather typically arrives before the official deadline.

Several categories of vehicles are exempt: newly purchased vehicles within their first 7 days of ownership, leased vehicles in their final 7 days of a 12-month-or-longer lease, vehicles with dealer plates, temporary registration certificates (up to 7 days after issue), motor homes, and spare tires. Motorcycles operated as emergency vehicles are also exempt. Drivers can obtain an exemption certificate online through SAAQclic or in person at a SAAQ service outlet.

Studded tires are permitted between October 15 and May 1 for passenger vehicles, taxis, and commercial vehicles weighing up to 3,000 kilograms. Summer and all-season tires begin losing grip below 7 degrees Celsius, while winter tires remain flexible down to minus 40 degrees.

First snow in Southern Quebec is forecast to be possible between October 11 and 17 this year, and could arrive by mid-October according to Quebec's fall forecast—well ahead of the December 1 tire deadline.