More than eight in ten Quebec drivers (85%) believe that weather conditions exacerbated by climate change have made winter tires much more necessary than they were a few years ago.
• Read also: First snow in Quebec: are you ready for winter driving?
• Read also: Winter tires: date, tips and models to buy
That’s the finding of new Léger research commissioned by the Canadian Tire and Rubber Association (CTRA) released Monday.
According to the same survey, 82% of drivers surveyed said that winter tires allowed them to avoid at least one accident or loss of control. Among young people aged 18 to 34, that number rises to 87%.
“The fact that such a large majority of drivers in Quebec share this belief underscores and reinforces the need for improved handling and increased stopping power on Canada’s icy roads, made possible by ‘winter’ tires,” said Carol Hochu, President and CEO of the ACPC. , in a press release.
As of 2014, all passenger vehicles in Quebec must be equipped with winter tires with the three-point snowflake pictogram, approved by Transport Canada.
Be careful with all-season tires
However, when winter arrives, drivers have two options: alternate between winter tires and “classic” tires or opt for all-season tires.
“Customers should understand that all-season tires with the Alpine symbol, even if they meet the definition of a winter tire, are still a compromise. (…) This tire category may not offer adequate traction to ensure optimal performance in the harsh winter driving conditions of Quebec,” we can read in the press release.
Winter tires are designed to maintain optimal performance, even at temperatures above -30 degrees Celsius.
The survey was conducted among 1,521 Canadian drivers, including 353 Quebecers, and was conducted online between October 20 and 22, 2023.
