Quebec drivers rush to install winter tires ahead of deadline

Winter came early this year, and many Quebecers are scrambling to get their winter tires on before the legal deadline on Dec. 1.

Auto shops are seeing surges of drivers eager to swap their summer tires for winter-ready ones. At Merson Automotive in NDG, it’s been a busy Monday, with up to 100 cars coming through as drivers rush to get winter tires on.

“We have to work really hard. We had the guys here at 7 a.m. to really get going, to hit the ground running,” said Celso Louro, manager at Merson Automotive.

Staff say they’re flooded with last-minute bookings, and with each installation taking about 15 to 20 minutes per vehicle, the team is working nonstop.

“As soon as the forecast indicated snow for the weekend, the calls and emails ramped up. Everybody is our friend this weekend,” Louro said.

But many drivers are finding garages fully booked. “Unfortunately for a lot of people, a lot of garages are full, and it’s going to the 3rd, the 4th, even in some places the 15th of December for an appointment,” said Nicolas Ryan, director of public affairs for CAA-Québec.

Winter tire bookings are already running about a week behind last year, Ryan said, and roughly 35 to 40 per cent of regular clients are already late in scheduling their appointments.

Drivers themselves are noticing the challenges. “I could have done it a couple of weeks ago, but I said I’m going to do it later… and it’s not right,” said Fernand Lanteigne, whose appointment is now scheduled for Nov. 24.

“I went two days ago to Canadian Tire and saw about 15 cars waiting. So I couldn’t do it at that time,” said Kilien Ayahounton.

“It’s hard, all the garages are busy, they take a lot of time to give you an appointment. So it’s challenging,” said Syed Shah.

“I can see a difference between having summer and winter tires,” said Laura Cousineau, a longtime Pneus Gordons customer.

“You couldn’t drive in Montreal with summer tires. It’d be crazy,” said Zav Levinson.

“It’s a little slippery… But, if you have the right tires, it helps,” said Vanessa Rupert.

The first snowfall of the season on Sunday caused a 20-vehicle pileup on Montreal’s Papineau-Leblanc Bridge, leaving several people with minor injuries.

Officials cited weather as a contributing factor.

“The road surfaces, because of six to seven months of warmer-than-normal temperatures, absorb a lot of heat. But when it goes back and forth ,freezing, melting, freezing, it can make for slippery surfaces,” said David Phillips, a climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“Oh my god, I couldn’t even roll, I was on a little hill and tried to start my car again but my wheels were just turning in place. It was pretty slippery,” said Christine Gagne.

“I went to drop the kids at daycare this morning, and someone went through an intersection because they couldn’t brake,” said Nicolas Ryan.

Experts say high tire prices can also make drivers hesitant to swap their tires, but waiting can put them at serious risk.

“We do see negative outcomes with high tire prices. Some people look at used tires, which is okay, but make sure you know what you’re buying. I’ve opened trunks and found tires that should not have been installed,” Louro said.

Under Quebec’s highway safety code, it’s mandatory to have winter tires on vehicles between Dec. 1 to March 15 inclusively.

Drivers without them could be fined $200 to $300.

The requirement applies to all motor vehicles registered in the province, including rental vehicles – but does not apply to trailers.

“It’s not a bad thing to have them in October or even September. It won’t damage your tires, and you can get your appointment early,” Ryan said.

Officials urge caution

The SAAQ is reminding drivers to slow down, clear snow off their vehicles, and get winter tires as soon as possible, reminding drivers even a few centimetres of snow can make roads dangerous.

A 20-vehicle pileup occurred Sunday around 1:30 p.m. on Montreal’s Papineau-Leblanc Bridge southbound, leaving several people with minor injuries. Preliminary reports cite the weather as a contributing factor.

“We don’t want accidents. Winter is a nice season, but you have to drive differently on the roads,” said Ryan.