9. (1) No person shall operate a vehicle equipped with studded tires on a highway unless all of the following conditions are met: 1. The vehicle is operated during the period starting on September 1 and ending on May 31. 2. The permit holder of the vehicle is, i. a resident of Northern Ontario, ii. a corporation with a business premise in Northern Ontario, as shown by the address on the plate portion of the vehicle permit, iii. a municipal corporation having jurisdiction and control of a highway or portion of a highway located in Northern Ontario, iv. a road authority having jurisdiction and control of a highway or portion of a highway located in Northern Ontario, v. a district school board in Northern Ontario, vi. a school authority in Northern Ontario, vii. Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario, or viii. not a resident of Ontario and the vehicle is in Ontario for no longer than 30 days. 3. In the case of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating equal to or less than 3,500 kilograms, all vehicle wheels are equipped with studded tires. 4. In the case of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 3,500 kilograms, studded tires are either on all vehicle wheels or on only the vehicle wheels on one axle, and the vehicle is, i. an ambulance, police vehicle or fire department vehicle, ii. a school bus, iii. a public utility emergency vehicle, or iv. a road service vehicle. 5. The studs meet the specifications listed in paragraph i or ii as follows: i. The studs, A. are evenly embedded during tire manufacture, B. do not protrude more than 2.0 millimetres, C. have an aggregate object exposed surface area of 3 per cent of the tread surface area or less, and D. have an exposed surface area variability between tires of the same size of no greater than 25 per cent. E. meet the performance criteria requirements set out in the Table to this subparagraph. TABLE: Studded tire performance wear specifications Item   Gross vehicle weight rating     Maximum wear value    

  1.   2,400 kilograms or less   0.9 g 

  2.   more than 2,400 kilograms but not exceeding 3,200 kilograms   1.1 g 

  3.   more than 3,200 kilograms but not exceeding 3,500 kilograms   1.4 g 

  4.   3,500 kilograms or more   1.8 g ii. The studs, A. are securely and safely embedded after tread manufacture in pin-holes moulded in any part of the tread other than the middle one-third, B. are inserted in a tire that after manufacturing or remoulding has never been driven on a vehicle, C. have only one peak per stud and no hollow part, and D. meet the stud specifications applicable to the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle on which the studded tires are mounted, as set out in the Table to this subparagraph. Table: Stud Specifications Item   Gross vehicle weight rating   Maximum protrusion of stud when newly installed   Maximum protrusion of stud when in use   Maximum stud weight and maximum static force   Maximum number of studs per tire   Material of studs 

  1.   2,500 kilograms or less   1.2 millimetres   2.0 millimetres   1.12 grams and 120 newtons   90 for rim size R14 or lower 110 for rim size R15 130 for rim size R16 or higher   Any, except steel 

  2.   more than 2,500 kilograms but not exceeding 3,500 kilograms   1.2 millimetres   2.0 millimetres   2.3 grams and 180 newtons   90 for rim size R14 or lower 110 for rim size R15 130 for rim size R16 or higher   Any, except steel 

  3.   3,500 kilograms or more   1.5 millimetres   2.5 millimetres   3 grams and 340 newtons   150   Any 

  4.   3,500 kilograms or more   1.5 millimetres   2.5 millimetres   1.12 grams and 120 newtons   250   Any O. Reg. 617/05, s. 2; O. Reg. 243/10, s. 1; O. Reg. 168/14, s. 1; O. Reg. 4/19, s. 1 (1-5). (2) Where the condition set out in subparagraph 2viii of subsection (1) is met, the vehicle is exempt from the requirements of paragraphs 3 and 5 of that subsection.  O. Reg. 617/05, s. 2. (3) Where the conditions set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of subsection (1) are met, but the conditions set out in paragraph 5 of subsection (1) are not met, the vehicle may be operated on a highway while equipped with studded tires if, instead of meeting the conditions set out in paragraph 5 of subsection (1) the vehicle is instead equipped with studded tires described in the list of approved tire-stud combinations, as it may be amended from time to time, that is available on the Internet through the website of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. O. Reg. 4/19, s. 1 (6). (4) For the purposes of the Table to subparagraph 5 i of subsection (1), the maximum wear value shall be determined in the manner described in the Decree of the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Tyre Studs, 408/2003 (unofficial translation by Trafi), as it may be amended from time to time, that is available on the Internet through the website of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. O. Reg. 4/19, s. 1 (6).