Artist's impression of SAAQ discussing motorcycles ...

Image by kachukeland

My issue is the fact that it is now mandatory to have winter tires installed on any passenger/tourism vehicle from December 15 until March 15.

Refer to http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/grand_public_en/vehicules_promenade/securite_routiere/securite_conditions_hivernales/reglement_utilisation_pneus_hiver

If we follow that requirement on all passenger vehicles, we have to come to the conclusion that there are no winter tires sold for motorcycles and therefore riding with those same motorcycles would be illegal as of the middle of December.

That same conclusion leads us to the fact that it is impossible to ride a motorcycle all year round in Quebec and therefore the licence plates for the winter months should be refundable with a real break on the licences fees the same way it goes on a sports car that is only plated for the summertime and for which the driver receives about 100$ out of his 259$ yearly fee.

Can you give me your opinion on this issue and send it to whomever you think can address it with the Ministere des transports du Quebec?

Thanks

JF Filion-Pilon

JF, you're a genius ... almost!

I took a look at the info on the SAAQ website and found this unfortunate caveat:

"Vehicles for which winter tires are not available shall be excluded, by Departmental order, from the mandatory use of tires specifically designed for winter driving. Because the vehicles in question will change from year to year and because they may only become known quite late in the season, this Departmental order shall be published annually."

Besides, I did some further digging and found this*:

"The province of Quebec hates motorcycles and motorcyclists. It is the mandate of the SAAQ to discriminate against, charge for services which cannot possibly be used, unjustly hike insurance rates, limit access on select public roads and generally do our best to make motorcyclists feel like second class citizens."

So although your thought process is fair and logical, sadly the SAAQ isn't.

Nice try though.

Cheers, Rob

* Okay, we may have made that last bit up ...

I DO LIKE THIS ARTICLE IT IS 100% TRUE .  THEY JUST INCREASED THE LICENSE AND REGISTRATION FEES ON OUR BIKES TO COME UP WITH SUCH A THING WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING HERE.  I UNDERSTAND THIS LAW ON CARS ON DAILY USE , BUT WE USE OUR MOTORCYCLES IN WINTER ONLY IF THE ROADS PERMIT WE ARE NOT THAT STUPID. Posted by FIDAA 10-11-2008 22:49 » Report this comment to administrator MITAS/Trelleborg T-644 Army Special 4.75-17    Search for these for a street legal motorcycle winter tire. Have to order from Europe I think. I can't believe there would be no winter tires for bikes Posted by Kurt 15-03-2009 09:26 » Report this comment to administrator ...ever see an Ice Racing video? Get a set of knobbies for your Sport bike, and a couple hundred sheet metal screws and have at it! Posted by BANDIT 29-03-2009 02:04 » Report this comment to administrator I found another way to piss them off...  I asked for an exemption to use winter tires.  You can have 4 one week exemption per winter to use winter tires to allow you to leave the country.  I leave in northern Quebec.  I go to USA, but i change my mind after 50 KM  and come back.  I cant wait to stopped for a ticket.  I am sure that if every motorcyclist would do that  the SAAQ would specificaly exclude winter driving for motorcycles.  Than we would br able to get a refund.    Maico Mike Posted by Michel Ouellette 20-02-2010 16:20 » Report this comment to administrator I found another way to piss them off...  I asked for an exemption to use winter tires.  You can have 4 one week exemption per winter to use winter tires to allow you to leave the country.  I leave in northern Quebec.  I go to USA, but i change my mind after 50 KM  and come back.  I cant wait to stopped for a ticket.  I am sure that if every motorcyclist would do that  the SAAQ would specificaly exclude winter driving for motorcycles.  Than we would br able to get a refund.    Maico Mike Posted by Michel Ouellette 20-02-2010 16:22 » Report this comment to administrator Quebec is very sneaky...Unlike as you mentioned you should get a refund on your licence if you store your sports car or RV for the winter. Motorcycles 12 months are not equal.November and December have only 1% representing your total premium. January, February and March are 0.66% with April and October at 8%. The riding months May through September are at 16% of the total premium.  This is how they get around giving you a refund.  I spoke with the SAAQ and if you can find winter tires with the mountain and snowflake, you can ride your bike. I have surfed the web with no such luck. A German company does make winter tires for scooters though. Kinda funny..lol  We just keep getting screwed in this province all the time. Posted by Harley 883 13-11-2010 12:36 » Report this comment to administrator Heidenau made winter tire for motorcycle but not sure if the appropriate little mountain logo is on it . The Mud & Snow logo are enough for now but will no longer be acceptable by our stupid ( ...and corrupt ) Qc gvnt in a near future. Posted by p. martin 20-11-2010 13:15 » Report this comment to administrator Love Canada but I hate this place, 1500 bucks to plate my CBR and for what?! To drive on the worse roads in Canada! I hate the saaq! Hate the pot-holes ( just bent a rim on my new car ) hate paying crazy gas prices to live in this crappy province. Few more months and New Zealand here I come! Born to ride two wheels so I have to live where there is no snow, and no not Florida... But your not the only one trying to find winter tires to stick it to the cops when we get pulled over, whats this talk about being aloud to ride to the US as a way out of a 1200 fine? Posted by Randy 13-02-2011 01:26 » Report this comment to administrator