A move by Quebec to make winter tire usage mandatory could have a ripple effect on Ontario motorists looking to upgrade for the snow season.

Ninety per cent of Quebec drivers were already using snow tires.

"But what they found out is that the 10 per cent who weren't using them were getting in 38 per cent of the accidents," Pat Foran, CTV Toronto's consumer affairs reporter, told Canada AM on Thursday.

But if demand goes up in Quebec when the new rule kicks in on Dec. 15, that could leave fewer tires available for motorists in other provinces, he said.

Some dealers report that major tiremakers such as Toyo, Michelin and Yokohama are out of some winter tires for the year.

Ontario has said it won't be following Quebec's lead and make snow tire use mandatory in this province.

But the consensus amongst safety experts is that winter tires are worthwhile investments for motorists in this climate -- and motorists have been responding, with sales increasing every year.

Winter tires are more flexible in cold weather. They grip the road better and shorten braking distances on snow by up to 25 per cent.