The winter tire business was booming as the first snowfall hit Montreal streets Monday.

Even though regulations stipulate drivers must have winter tires installed by Dec. 15th, garages across Montreal were busy installing them and taking appointments at the first sign of the white stuff.

Mechanics had their hands full at Jimmy Gerontakos's garage in Cote St. Paul, where they've been changing an average of 25 cars a day - and that's before the snowfall.

"When it snows - first snow fall - they all rush. You know, they're afraid," said Gerontakos.

At Talon Tire in St. Laurent, the story's the same.

"We were already booked by appointment but we are getting a high volume of phone calls for people booking and inquiring about purchasing tires," said Jay Zinniger, from Talon Tire.

They'll see between 40 and 50 clients per day, six days a week, for the next few weeks until the Dec. 15th deadline, said Zinniger.

And though the snowfall worries some drivers, others aren't in a rush.

"I'll go this week. I'm off on Friday, so I'll take an appointment for Friday. That's the problem too, because I work all week and I need my car for work. I can't leave it there," said one motorist.