The Official Legal Window in New Brunswick
Under the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act, studded tires are legally permitted on provincial roadways starting October 15 and must be removed by May 1. Neighboring provinces share similar windows (Nova Scotia allows studs from October 15 to May 31, while PEI permits them from October 1 to May 31).
Driving with studded tires outside this window can result in provincial fines and accelerates pavement wear on warm roads.
Stopping Distances: The Hard Science on Black Ice
Maritime winters are notorious for freezing rain and freeze-thaw cycles that coat highways in invisible glaze ice. In controlled stopping tests from 50 km/h on pure ice at -2°C, studded tires stop in approximately 29 meters, compared to 38 meters for non-studded winter tires and 62+ meters for all-season tires.
The tungsten carbide pins physically penetrate the ice surface, creating mechanical grip that friction-only rubber compounds cannot replicate near the freezing point.
The 100-KM Break-In Rule Every Driver Must Follow
When you install new factory-studded or shop-studded tires, the metal studs sit in flexible rubber pockets. Hard acceleration, aggressive cornering, or speeds over 90 km/h in the first 100 km can dislodge studs or cause them to seat crookedly.
Drive moderately for your first tank of fuel to allow the studs to bed firmly into the tread compound.
