Winter tires 2026 in Quebec: mandatory dates and when to install them

What Quebec law says

In Quebec, the Highway Safety Code requires all passenger vehicles to be fitted with winter tires from December 1 to March 15 inclusive. Not following this rule can lead to a fine of $200 to $300.

The rule applies to all passenger vehicles registered in Quebec, including SUVs, pickup trucks and rentals.

Key dates for winter 2026-2027

Three dates frame the season in Quebec:

• ✓Studded tires: allowed from October 15, 2026 to May 1, 2027
• ✓Winter tires mandatory: December 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027 inclusive
• ✓Summer tires: allowed again from March 16, 2027

The 7 °C rule matters more than the date

Winter tires are made of a special rubber that stays flexible below 7 °C. Under that threshold, an all-season or summer tire hardens and loses up to 50% of its grip. Do not wait for the first snowfall: icy roads in the fall and morning frost are just as dangerous.

• ✓Install your winter tires once the temperature hovers around 7 °C for several days in a row (CAA-Québec's advice)
• ✓Depending on the region, that is often between late October and mid-November: a little earlier in colder regions, a little later in Montréal
• ✓Do not wait until November, to avoid the waiting lists at garages

Four-season tires: allowed only with the pictogram

During the mandatory period, a tire must bear the pictogram of a snowflake inside a mountain (or be studded). Four-season tires with this pictogram are therefore allowed; "all-season" tires marked only M+S are not. On ice and deep snow, a dedicated winter tire still has the edge.

Storage: how to keep your summer tires

To extend the life of your summer tires while they are stored for the winter:

• ✓Clean them before storage to remove salt and dirt
• ✓Store them in a cool, dark, dry place (ideally between 10 and 20 °C)
• ✓Stacked flat or standing upright on a shelf, never hung
• ✓Wrapped in opaque bags to protect them from ozone