When should I install my winter tires?
When should I install my winter tires?
This is a frequently asked question when winter is close and the legal date was on December 15th. However, as part of several changes in the road-safety code, the Ministère des transports du Québec changed that date.
From 2019 onwards, The new date for everyone in Quebec will be no later than December 1st.
When should I take my winter tires off?
No changes here, the legal date that allow you to change to your standard tires is still the same and matches more or less the end of the clod season. You can change back to your standard tires anytime after March 15th of every year.
Should I wait for december before installing my winter tires?
As you can probably guess, the answer is no for a simple reason: You don’t want to have to take an appointment at the same time everyone else is. Most garages receive their winter tire stock around the end of august or early september and we strongly suggest you take advantage of that time period to take an appointment so you won’t be late.
Which feature do I need on my winter tires?
Following the law, the tire tread must be at least 5 millimetre thick ( 6/32nd of an inch). If your choose a tire with thinner tread, you risk going under the legal minimum of 1.6 millimetre (2/32nd of an inch) and get fined.
Another question we often get about winter tire prices is: Are cheap tires good enough or should I invest in intermediate or premium winter tires from the main brands?
The is no universal answer to this question, it mostly depends on how you use your car in the wintertime. One thing is certain, the quality of a tire is in direct link to its price.
Low-priced, intermediate or premium?
Low priced tires will always be less durable and reliable. they will also degrade faster. We suggest you buy this kind of tires only if you use your car in rare occasion. Otherwise, they won’t last more than a couple winters.
If you wish to purchase cheap tires, you can go with chinese brands like Sailun, Minerva or Maxtrek.
Intermediate and premium tires
For those of you who use your car in a regular fashion, We suggest you invest in at least intermediate tires with brand like BF Goodrich or Firestone (respectively owned by Michelin and Bridgestone). These tires will last longer even if you use your car often, They can last many winters.
Finally, if you drive your car everyday for long periods of time during the winter, like for woking, then the best thing you can do is invest more and go with brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Dunlop, Goodyear or Yokohama. These tires are filled with top of the line technologies that guarantee a long lasting and comfortable experience.
For example, Bridgestone’s Blizzak WS80, Michelin’s X-ice Xi3 or Goodyear’s Ultra Grip Ice WRT are amongst the best and most popular winter tires on the market.
If you wish to know more, please consult this top 10 best winter tires for passenger vehicles and small SUVs.