With the return of warm weather, CAA-Quebec is warning drivers about the risk of using winter tires during the hotter summer months, from June to August. These tires could compromise their safety and that of other road users.

Sophie Gagnon, CAA-Quebec’s Senior Director of Public and Government Relations said that tests conducted by the agency show that all-season tires are safer than winter tires in warm weather. She said that the tests showed that braking distances in emergencies could increase by up to 30 percent with winter tires. Also, for evasive action to be successful, speeds had to be much lower than for the same manoeuvres with all-season tires. Basically, Gagnon said that the test car was less stable with winter tires.

CAA-Quebec said it fears that the introduction last fall of new rules making the use of winter tires mandatory is tempting a growing number of motorists to keep their winter tires on in the hope of saving money. However, not removing winter tires in the summer might increase fuel consumption, and there is no doubt that they wear out more quickly in warm weather, reducing the anticipated savings.