Thousands of fake Michelin winter tires recalled
Forgive us for talking about winter tires when spring is in full swing and the vast majority of Quebec drivers have installed their summer or all-season tires, but a reminder from Michelin forces us to do so.
As you know, all tires marked with the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol must meet winter safety and traction requirements set by Transport Canada. Ironically, these requirements themselves lack teeth, as we complained a few years ago.
In Michelin's case, more than 77,000 tires of its Agilis CrossClimate C-Metric model, used mostly on vans, are now being recalled because they do not meet the minimum snow traction standards of Canadian regulations. This tire is defined as an "all-weather" tire and not as a true winter tire, but it still bears the pictogram in question.
Clearly, it doesn't have what it takes to allow drivers to brave the winter safely, as it increases the risk of accidents in some cases, especially on ice and during extremely cold weather.
The recall affects model years 2017 through 2023 in sizes 185/60R15C, 195/75R16C, 205/65R15C, 205/75R16C, 225/75R16C and 235/65R16C. It only affects tires with a date code between 0117 and 1423.
Michelin will notify owners in the coming weeks, at least those who have registered their tires (you can do so by clicking on this link). However, the manufacturer has not yet determined any corrective measures at this time or if a refund will be possible. To be continued.
Car Guide's advice for the coming season: make sure you are well informed when buying new winter tires, ideally by relying on specialized dealers who sell several brands, choose authentic winter tires over those that claim to be "all-weather" (despite their pictogram) and don't skimp on quality, despite the rise in prices. Don't forget that tires are the only link between your vehicle and the road.
