Winter tire usage outside of Quebec has rebounded to its 2018 peak after several years of steady declines, according to new data released by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC).

TRAC's winter tire report shows winter tire usage outside Quebec is 69 percent, with usage ranging from 57 percent in British Columbia to 92 percent in the Atlantic provinces. When Quebec, where winter tires are mandatory, is taken into account, the national average rose to 76 percent from 72 percent a year ago.

The rebound brought winter tire usage back to its 2018 peak in most provinces. TRAC also noted that the sample size has a margin of error of +/-2.5%. The survey shows that in Ontario, Canada's most populous province (with 14.7 million residents), winter tire usage is 73%, significantly higher than 66%.

Nearly two-thirds of Canadian drivers cut their driving significantly in 2020 due to fears of the pandemic, research shows. At the same time, the study also showed that 6% of drivers with winter tires avoided changing to summer tires due to fears of contracting the virus; 90% said changing tires in spring would not be affected by the pandemic.

As for the reasons for using or not using winter tires, nearly two-thirds of drivers outside Quebec who do not use winter tires think all-season tires are good enough, 30 percent say they drive less in winter, and 27 percent People mentioned the cost factor. According to the survey, 81% of those who use winter tires believe that driving a vehicle equipped with winter tires can avoid loss of control or a collision.