Ontario will not be following Quebec's lead and mandating the use of snow tires in the winter.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says lots of people have talked to him about the idea of forcing drivers to install snow tires, but he's not ready to take that step.

McGuinty says people in south and southwestern Ontario have told him "not to dare" force their families to buy snow tires when they don't feel it's necessary.

He says with so much of Ontario's population in the south, it doesn't make economic sense to mandate the tires.

The premier joked that the media would start writing about his nanny state government if Ontario instituted a snow-tire rule.

However, he says people should use good judgment and take care when driving in snowy conditions.