When Should You Put on Winter Tires & Take Them Off? (By Province)

In this guide, we’ll break down when to change over to winter tires (and when to switch back to summer tires) in each province, highlight any laws you need to know, and cover other important winter tire facts – from studded tire rules to how winter tires actually work.

Why Winter Tires Matter

Winter tires are not just regular tires – they are specially engineered for cold weather performance. These four pieces of rubber give you peace of mind by providing superior traction on snow, ice, and slush. Once the thermometer consistently reads 7°C or below, all-season tires begin to harden and lose effectiveness, whereas winter tires stay soft and grippy. This difference means better braking, cornering, and acceleration on winter roads, which can be critical for avoiding accidents.

Key benefits of winter tires:

• Better Grip in Cold: Winter tire rubber compounds remain flexible in freezing temperatures, allowing the tire to conform to the road.
  
  
• Improved Traction on Snow and Ice: Deeper treads and special tread patterns "bite" into snow and ice, reducing slippage.
  
  
• Shorter Stopping Distances: On slick roads, winter tires significantly reduce braking distance compared to all-seasons.
  
  
• Enhanced Stability: They reduce the chances of hydroplaning or losing control in slush and wet snow.
  
  

In short, winter tires are strongly recommended for safe winter driving in Canada. In some places, they’re even mandatory by law during certain months.

Mandatory Winter Tire Laws by Province

Across Canada, only two provinces have laws making winter tires mandatory during the winter season: Quebec and British Columbia. If you drive in these provinces (or plan to visit during winter), you must have approved winter tires installed by the specified dates, or you could face fines. Below are the details for each:

Quebec Winter Tire Requirements

Quebec has the strictest winter tire law in Canada. Under Quebec’s Highway Safety Code, winter tires are mandatory from December 1 through March 15 for all passenger vehicles registered in the province. This means every year, by December 1 at the latest, you must have four winter tires on your car. Driving without winter tires between these dates can result in a fine of $200–$300 (plus additional fees). Keep in mind that Quebec’s winters often arrive early – snow and cold can hit in November or even October – so it’s wise to install your winter tires well before the December 1 deadline.

British Columbia Winter Tire Requirements

In mountainous British Columbia, winter tires (or at least M+S mud-and-snow all-season tires) are required on many highways during fall and winter. From October 1 to April 30, vehicles traveling on designated highways must be equipped with winter tires or all-season tires rated for mud and snow. These designated routes include well-known mountain passes and highways, such as:

• Highway 3 (Crowsnest Pass)
  
  
• Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway)
  
  
• Highway 20 (Chilcotin-Bella Coola)
  
  
• Highway 26 (Barkerville Highway)
  
  
• Highway 37 (Stewart–Cassiar)
  
  
• ...and several others.
  
  

For many of the lower elevation or coastal highways in B.C., the winter tire requirement ends on March 31 (instead of April 30). For example, sections of Highway 1 (Trans-Canada) and routes on Vancouver Island only require winter tires until March 31, since those areas have milder winter conditions. Authorities may extend these dates if late-season winter weather persists.

When you’re driving in B.C., watch for roadside signs indicating you are entering a “winter tire/chain-up” zone. If you pass those signs without proper winter-rated tires, you could be turned around or fined. The penalty for driving on a designated winter tire route without proper tires is approximately $121. It’s worth noting that all-season tires marked “M+S” (Mud and Snow) do meet the minimum legal requirement on these roads, provided they have at least 3.5 mm of tread remaining. However, true winter tires (marked with the snowflake mountain symbol) are recommended for optimal safety in B.C.’s winter driving conditions.

Winter Tires Recommended (But Not Required) in Other Provinces

In all other provinces and territories, winter tires are highly recommended for safe driving when the weather gets cold, but they are not mandated by law. Many provincial governments and insurance companies encourage the use of winter tires through public safety campaigns or incentives. Here’s a breakdown:

• Manitoba: Manitoba doesn’t legally require winter tires, but the province acknowledges their importance. In fact, Manitoba offers a low-interest Winter Tire Financing Program to help residents purchase qualifying winter tires (and associated costs like rims). Thanks to this program, you can finance your winter tire purchase through Manitoba Public Insurance at low rates, making it easier to equip your vehicle. In terms of timing, Manitoba typically sees temperatures drop to the 7°C range by late October, so that’s a good time to plan your winter tire changeover.
  
  
• Ontario: Winter tires aren’t mandatory in Ontario, but there’s a financial perk for using them – most auto insurance companies offer a discount (around 5% off premiums) if your vehicle is equipped with winter tires during the winter months. This incentive is backed by the Ontario government to encourage safer winter driving. Ontario is a large province, so the average date when temperatures consistently hit 7°C varies: in northern Ontario it might be earlier, but in many parts of southern Ontario, it’s usually between late October and mid-November. Plan to switch to winters by early November to be safe, and don’t forget to notify your insurance company if you want that discount.
  
  
• Alberta and Saskatchewan: Neither prairie province requires winter tires by law, but both experience harsh winter conditions with snow and ice. The governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan recommend using winter tires when winter conditions arrive, especially if you’ll be driving frequently or long distances. In these provinces, early November is often when the weather turns. Many drivers in Alberta and Saskatchewan put on winter tires by the first part of November (or even late October if an early snow arrives). Given the flat, open highways and occasional black ice in these areas, winter tires can be a lifesaver.
  
  
• Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador): The eastern provinces get plenty of snow, ice, and slush each winter. None of these provinces legally force you to use winter tires, but all strongly encourage it. In practice, most drivers in Atlantic Canada do switch to winter tires because of frequent storms and icy conditions. Aim to change to winter tires by early November in the Maritimes and Newfoundland, as temperatures in these coastal provinces usually dip below 7°C by then. (For Newfoundland and Labrador, sometimes late October is advisable, especially in Labrador or higher elevations.)
  
  
• Northern Territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut): Surprisingly, even the territories with their extreme winters do not mandate winter tires by law. However, given the severe cold and snow, winter tires are essentially a must for safe driving in these regions. Many drivers use studded winter tires or even chains when conditions get very bad. If you live in or plan to drive through the North, you probably want your winter tires on by October, since snow and freezing temperatures arrive early in the fall.
  
  

Bottom line: Outside of Quebec and B.C., you won’t get a ticket for not having winter tires, but it’s strongly in your interest to use them. A common guideline is to install winter tires around late October or early November, or whenever your local average temperatures start hovering at 7°C or lower. Keep an eye on the forecasts – if an early cold snap or snowfall is expected, get those winter tires on a bit sooner.

Studded Tires – When Are They Allowed?

Winter tires come in studded and non-studded versions. Studded tires are winter tires with small metal studs embedded in the tread. These studs act like tiny cleats or pickaxes that dig into ice, providing even more traction on slick, icy roads. While studded tires can offer superior grip on ice, they can also damage paved roads and produce more road noise. For this reason, the use of studded tires is restricted or regulated in many places.

In most parts of Canada, studded tires are legal to use during winter months, but the exact rules depend on the province:

• Allowed in Winter Months: Provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia allow studded tires generally from the fall through spring (often October 1 to April 30, similar to winter tire season). For example, B.C. permits studs during the same periods it requires winter tires on certain highways (Oct–Apr).
  
  
• Eastern Canada: In the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador), studded tires are usually allowed in winter as well (typically October or November through April or May, depending on the province). Each of those provinces has specific date ranges in their regulations.
  
  
• Manitoba & Saskatchewan: These prairie provinces also allow studded tires during the winter season. Manitoba generally allows them October 1 – April 30.
  
  
• Quebec: Studded tires are legal in Quebec from roughly mid-October to May (specifically, October 15 to May 1 for passenger vehicles). Many Quebec drivers, especially in more rural or icy regions, use studs for extra safety, but they must remove them by the May 1 deadline.
  
  
• Ontario: Ontario has the most restrictive rules. **Southern Ontario **(most of the province) does not allow studded tires at all for residents. The only exception is for visitors from out-of-province who are passing through, or for Northern Ontario residents in certain designated far-north areas – they can use studded tires in winter. If you’re an Ontario driver in the populated areas, you’ll have to rely on non-studded winter tires.
  
  

Because the regulations for studded tires vary, always check your local provincial laws or Ministry of Transportation guidelines before installing them. If studded tires are allowed in your area, use them only during the winter months and remove them once the roads are clear in spring. And if they’re not allowed where you live, stick with regular (non-studded) winter tires or all-weather tires for winter traction.

When to Take Off Your Winter Tires

Knowing when to remove your winter tires is just as important as knowing when to put them on. Winter tires are designed for cold, ice, and snow – not warm, dry pavement. Using winter tires in warm weather can lead to faster tire wear and reduced performance, so you’ll want to switch back once winter is over.

As a general rule, use the 7°C guideline in the spring: When average daily temperatures rise above 7°C consistently, it’s time to take off the winter tires. For many parts of Canada, this happens in late March or early April. However, timing can vary:

• Quebec: By law, Quebec drivers must keep winter tires on until March 15. After that date, assuming the weather is warming up, you can switch back to all-season or summer tires. (If an early spring heat wave comes before March 15, you still have to wait until that date – the law is the law!)
  
  
• British Columbia: On B.C.’s designated winter tire routes, the requirements end on March 31 in some regions and April 30 in others (mountainous interior and northern routes). If you’ve been driving with winter tires in B.C., you can remove them after those dates, depending on which highways you travel. In practice, many B.C. drivers in milder areas (like Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland) swap back to all-season tires in early April, while those in colder interior regions wait until late April.
  
  
• Other Provinces: There’s no legal deadline in other provinces, so use your judgment based on temperature. In the Prairie provinces and Atlantic Canada, April is usually a safe time to switch back (earlier in the month out west, later in the month out east, depending on when spring truly arrives). In Ontario, many drivers change back in April as well, though in northern Ontario it might be later (late April or even early May if snow lingers).
  
  

Why not leave winter tires on year-round? Once the weather warms up, winter tires will wear out much more quickly. The soft rubber compound that’s great for cold roads will get torn up on hot pavement. Additionally, winter tires don’t handle as well in warm temperatures – braking and cornering on dry roads will actually be worse than with proper summer or all-season tires. So, driving on winter tires through the summer is not only expensive (you’ll ruin an expensive set of tires fast), it’s also not as safe.

In summary, plan to remove and store your winter tires in spring once it’s consistently above 7°C and snow/ice is no longer a threat. Swap back to your all-season tires (or summer performance tires if you have them) for the warm months.

The Mountain Snowflake Logo: How to Identify a True Winter Tire

Not all tires are created equal. How can you tell if a tire is an official winter tire? In Canada (and many other countries), true winter tires and all-weather tires are marked with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol (also known as the Alpine symbol). This emblem looks like a pictograph of a mountain with three peaks, with a snowflake inside it.

What does this symbol mean? It signifies that the tire has been tested and certified for use in severe snow conditions. In other words, tires with the mountain-snowflake logo meet specific snow traction performance standards set by Transport Canada and rubber industry organizations. When you see this symbol on a tire’s sidewall, you can be confident it’s a winter-rated tire capable of providing better snow grip than a regular all-season.

By contrast, All-Season tires might have the letters “M+S” (Mud and Snow) on them. The M+S marking indicates a tire has a tread pattern designed for light mud and snow traction, but it is not the same as the mountain snowflake certification. M+S tires are basically standard all-seasons – they can handle mild winter conditions (and, in fact, M+S-marked tires do meet the legal winter tire requirements on B.C. highways), but they won’t perform as well as a true winter tire in heavy snow or cold ice.

All-Weather tires are a relatively newer category that confusingly sit between all-season and winter tires. The good news is all-weather tires do carry the mountain snowflake logo, meaning they are rated for winter use, but they are designed to be used year-round (winter tires you must remove, all-weathers you can leave on in summer). We’ll discuss more on all-season vs all-weather vs winter tires next.

Tip: When shopping for winter tires, always look for the mountain-snowflake symbol. And remember, if you’re in British Columbia and don’t have winter tires, an M+S all-season tire will satisfy the law on designated routes – but for safety, a mountain-snowflake tire is still the better choice in real winter conditions.

Are All-Season Tires Good Enough for Winter?

Don’t let the name fool you – “all-season” tires are not truly suitable for all seasons in Canada. In a Canadian winter with heavy snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, all-season tires (even those labeled M+S) will not provide the same level of safety and performance as dedicated winter tires. In fact, some experts have started calling all-season tires “3-season tires” to emphasize that they work well in spring, summer, and fall, but not in serious winter conditions.

Here’s why all-season tires fall short in winter and what your alternatives are:

• Rubber Compound: All-season tires use a harder rubber compound optimized for milder temperatures and long tread life. In cold weather (below 7°C), this compound hardens further, resulting in a loss of traction. Winter tires use a softer, silica-infused rubber that stays flexible in the cold, maintaining grip.
  
  
• Tread Design: The tread patterns on all-season tires are not as deep or aggressive. They can handle rain and a bit of slush, but they clog up quickly in deep snow. Winter tires have deep channels and biting edges specifically to handle snow and eject slush.
  
  
• Snow & Ice Traction: All-seasons do not have the multitude of sipes (tiny cuts in the tread blocks) that winter tires have. Sipes create extra biting edges that help on ice. Without enough sipes or the right tread, all-seasons slide much more on ice.
  
  

Legally, if you live in British Columbia, M+S all-season tires are allowed on winter roads where winter tires are required (as long as they have at least 3.5 mm tread). However, just because they’re legal doesn’t mean they’re the best choice. If you regularly face snowy or icy roads, you should invest in either a set of winter tires or possibly all-weather tires.

All-Weather Tires: A Year-Round Alternative

If swapping tires every spring and fall is something you’d rather avoid, all-weather tires might be an option. All-weather tires are designed to handle winter conditions better than all-seasons while still being usable in summer. They carry the same mountain snowflake winter certification, which means they are approved for use where winter tires are required. The advantage is that you can keep them on 12 months of the year – no need for a seasonal changeover.

However, there are trade-offs:

• In winter, all-weather tires are good, but a top-quality dedicated winter tire is often better on ice or in very deep snow (since winter tires are specialized purely for winter, whereas all-weathers are a compromise for year-round use).
  
  
• In summer, all-weather tires generally wear faster than regular all-season tires. Because they have a softer compound (to behave like winter tires in cold weather), hot pavement can wear them down more quickly.
  
  

Winter Tires vs All-Weather vs All-Season: Which Is Most Cost-Effective?

You might wonder whether it’s cheaper to buy one set of all-weather tires and use them year-round, or to maintain two sets of tires (winter and all-season) and swap them out twice a year. In terms of upfront costs, all three options are similar – a full set of four tires will usually range from $400 to $800 (depending on the brand, size, and quality). So an all-weather set might cost about the same as a winter set or all-season set.

The difference comes in how long they last:

• If you use all-weather tires all year, you’ll be putting wear on them 12 months a year. They likely won’t last as many total years because they’re always on the road in both summer heat and winter cold.
  
  
• If you have two sets (winter and all-season) and switch every six months, each set only sees about half the year’s use. While you pay more upfront for two sets, each set will last multiple seasons. You won’t need to replace them as often. In the long run, the overall cost may even out, and you have the benefit of optimum performance: the winter tires keep you safe in winter, and the all-season (or summer) tires give better performance and longevity in warmer months.
  
  

So, from a cost perspective, it often makes sense to have two sets of tires. You spread the wear between them. Plus, you won’t have to compromise on safety or performance. The main “cost” is the semi-annual trip to the garage (or the time spent if you do it yourself) to swap the tires. Many drivers find this well worth it for the peace of mind and improved driving experience.

Bottom line: All-season tires might be passable for very mild winter conditions, but in most of Canada, dedicated winter tires (or all-weather tires) are the smart choice once the snow starts falling and the mercury plunges. They could save your car – or your life – by helping you avoid collisions on slick roads.

How Do Winter Tires Work?

We’ve talked a lot about why winter tires are better in cold conditions, but what exactly makes them so effective on snow and ice? Winter tires are engineered differently from regular tires in several key ways:

• Special Rubber Compound: Winter tires use a rubber compound that stays soft and flexible in freezing temperatures. Unlike summer or all-season tires (which become stiff in the cold), winter tires maintain elasticity in sub-zero weather. This flexible rubber conforms to the road surface and grips the pavement instead of sliding. (Many winter tires incorporate silica in the rubber, which further improves traction and reduces brittleness in the cold.)
  
  
• Deep, Aggressive Tread Patterns: Take a look at a winter tire and you’ll notice the tread blocks are deeper, chunkier, and more angular than those on an all-season tire. These deep grooves and aggressive patterns are designed to bite into snow. They also act like channels to push snow, slush, and water out from under the tire. This reduces the chance of hydroplaning on slush and helps the tire dig down to find traction on slick surfaces. The open tread design also tends to “self-clean” as the tire rotates, throwing off packed snow so the treads don’t get clogged.
  
  
• Lots of Sipes (Tiny Cuts): Winter tires are covered in small cuts in the tread blocks, called sipes. Each sipe provides an extra biting edge that grips the road. On ice or hard-packed snow, sipes create friction and help the tire stick rather than slide. The effect is improved traction during acceleration and shorter stopping distances when braking. All-season tires have far fewer sipes, which is one reason they struggle on ice.
  
  
• Wide & Open Channels: In addition to deep tread, winter tires have wide voids or channels between tread blocks. These wide channels efficiently evacuate water and slush, which helps keep more of the rubber in contact with the road surface. By clearing out water and slush, the tire can maintain a good grip on the road instead of hydroplaning. It’s almost like the tire is continually shoveling away the loose snow and water under it as it rolls.
  
  
• Enhanced Braking Power: All of the features above – flexible rubber, deep tread, sipes, and channels – combine to give winter tires much shorter stopping distances on winter roads. Tests have shown that a car with winter tires can come to a stop on snow or ice in a significantly shorter distance than the same car on all-season tires. This could be the difference between a close call and a collision. On ice, especially, winter tires dramatically improve braking response because their tread can bite into the ice and their soft compound grips instead of skidding.
  
  
• Optimized for Cold (But Not Heat): Winter tires are at their best when it’s cold. They’re designed to perform optimally below 7°C. Conversely, above that temperature, their advantages disappear – in fact, warm weather can make winter tires feel "mushy" and less responsive, and driving on them in summer wears them out quickly. This temperature-sensitive design is why you should swap them out in the warmer seasons. They’re specialists for winter conditions only.
  
  

Overall, every aspect of a winter tire – from the chemistry of the rubber to the geometry of the tread – is fine-tuned for one goal: to maximize traction and control on snow, ice, and cold pavement. If you’ve never used winter tires before, the difference in handling and confidence can be eye-opening once you make the switch.

How to Install Winter Tires Yourself (Step-by-Step)

When it’s time to put on your winter tires, you have two options: take your car to a garage or do the swap yourself. Installing winter tires at home is quite straightforward if your winter tires are already mounted on their own rims (wheels). If you have to remount tires onto one set of rims, it’s much more involved and usually best left to professionals with the proper equipment. Below, we’ll assume you have a second set of wheels with winter tires on them, ready to go. Always exercise caution and safety when working on your vehicle.

Tools and Equipment Needed:

• Winter tires on rims: Your set of winter tires, ideally pre-mounted on a dedicated set of wheels.
  
  
• Car jack: The jack that comes with your car or a hydraulic floor jack.
  
  
• Jack stands: Sturdy jack stands to support the car (never rely solely on the jack!).
  
  
• Lug wrench: A wrench or tire iron to loosen and tighten the lug nuts (the one in your spare tire kit, or a cross-shaped lug wrench).
  
  
• Torque wrench: A wrench with a torque setting to properly tighten lug nuts to the manufacturer’s recommended specification.
  
  
• Wheel chocks: Blocks to place behind the wheels that are still on the ground, preventing the car from rolling.
  
  
• Gloves and safety glasses (optional): Work gloves to keep your hands clean and safe, and eye protection if you’ll be kneeling near the car.
  
  

Step-by-Step Tire Change Guide:

1. Park on a Level Surface and Prepare: Find a flat, level area to park your vehicle. Engage the parking brake firmly. If you have a manual transmission, also leave the car in gear. Place wheel chocks or heavy blocks behind the tires that will remain on the ground (for example, if you’re changing a front tire, chock one of the rear tires). This ensures the car won’t roll while you’re working.
   
   
2. Loosen the Lug Nuts (Before Lifting): Using your lug wrench, turn each lug nut on the wheel you’re about to change counter-clockwise to break it loose. Do not remove the lug nuts completely yet – just loosen them by maybe one or two turns. It’s much easier to loosen tight lug nuts while the wheel is still firmly on the ground rather than when it’s in the air spinning.
   
   
3. Jack Up the Vehicle: Locate the proper jack point nearest the wheel you are changing. (Consult your owner’s manual for jack point locations – using the wrong spot can damage the car’s frame.) Position the jack and slowly raise the vehicle until the tire is off the ground. Important: As soon as the car is high enough, place a jack stand under a sturdy part of the car’s frame or axle near that corner. Once the jack stand is in place, gently lower the jack until the car’s weight rests securely on the stand. Never work under or around a car that is only supported by a jack – jacks can fail or slip. The jack stand is your safety backup.
   
   
4. Remove the Old Tire: Now fully remove the loosened lug nuts. It’s a good idea to take them off in a star or crisscross pattern (this helps the wheel come off evenly). Put the lug nuts in a safe spot nearby – you’ll need them for the winter tire. With the lug nuts removed, grip the tire and pull it straight toward you to take it off the hub. Sometimes, wheels can stick due to rust; if it’s stuck, a gentle tap with a rubber mallet or a firm knock with your hand at the tire’s edge can help loosen it. Carefully set the removed wheel aside.
   
   
5. Mount the Winter Tire: Take one of your winter tires (mounted on its wheel) and line it up with the wheel studs on the hub. Lift and slide the winter wheel onto the studs. (Tip: aligning one of the wheel’s holes with the top stud first can make this easier, as you can rest the wheel on that stud while aligning the others.) Push the wheel in as far as it will go so it’s sitting flush against the hub. Hand-tighten the lug nuts: Thread each lug nut onto the studs by hand, turning them clockwise. Tighten them snugly by hand in a star pattern (e.g., top, then bottom, then opposite side, etc.) – this ensures the wheel centers properly and sits evenly.
   
   
6. Lower the Car: Jack the car up slightly to take weight off the jack stand, then remove the jack stand carefully. Now lower the car slowly with the jack until the tire just touches the ground and the weight is starting to transfer onto it. At this point, the car isn’t fully on the ground (the tire is touching but not bearing full weight – this is ideal for the next step).
   
   
7. Tighten the Lug Nuts to Spec: With the tire now in contact with the ground (so it won’t spin), use the lug wrench to tighten each lug nut a bit more, again following a star pattern. Then, for the final tightening, use a torque wrench set to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended torque (check your owner’s manual, but passenger car lug nuts are often in the range of 80–100 ft-lbs; SUVs and trucks may be higher). Tighten each lug nut with the torque wrench until it clicks at the set torque. Move in a star sequence, so that each nut is tightened evenly. Proper torque is important – too loose and the lug nuts could come off while driving; too tight and you could warp the brake rotor or strip a stud.
   
   
8. Fully Lower the Car: Now you can safely lower the jack the rest of the way and remove the jack from under the car. The winter tire should now be securely installed on that wheel.
   
   
9. Repeat for Each Remaining Tire: Move to the next tire and repeat the process (loosen lugs, jack up, jack stand, swap wheels, etc.). It’s best to change one tire at a time rather than lifting the whole car at once, especially if you only have one jack. Take your time and reposition your tools for each wheel. Note: If your car is front-wheel drive, your two winter tires absolutely must go on the front. If rear-wheel drive, on the rear. Ideally, you should have winter tires on all four wheels for balanced handling, but if for some reason you only have two, they go on the drive axle. (Four winter tires are strongly recommended for safety and control, regardless of drivetrain.)
   
   
10. Final Checks: Once all four winter tires are on and the car is back on the ground, go around to each wheel with the torque wrench one more time and double-check each lug nut is tightened to spec. It’s also wise to check the tire pressures at this point – make sure each winter tire is inflated to the recommended PSI (which you can find in your car’s manual or on the driver’s door jamb sticker). Finally, clear away your tools, remove the wheel chocks, and you’re ready for winter driving!
    
    
11. Store Your Other Tires: Take the summer or all-season tires you removed and prepare them for storage. If they’re mounted on their own rims, it’s best to stack them flat or hang them. If they are just loose tires (no rims), store them standing upright. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It’s a good idea to clean them off and maybe mark which position they were on (LF – left front, RR – right rear, etc.) so you can rotate them next time you put them on.
    
    

Safety tips: Always prioritize safety when changing tires. Never crawl under a car that is supported only by a jack. Use jack stands on a stable surface. If at any point you feel unsure, don’t hesitate to seek help from a professional. Also, while doing the changeover, take a moment to inspect your winter tires for any damage or excessive wear – it’s better to spot a problem in your garage than out on the road.

How Much Does it Cost to Change Tires at a Shop?

If getting down on your hands and knees with a jack and lug wrench isn’t your cup of tea, you can always have your winter tires installed by a professional. Tire changeover services are offered at almost every car dealership, auto mechanic, and tire retailer (for example, Canadian Tire, Costco, Kal Tire, and local garages all offer this service in Canada).

The cost for a tire change can vary depending on a few factors:

• Whether your winter tires are on separate rims or not (swapping wheels is cheaper than dismounting/mounting tires on the same rims).
  
  
• Whether the service includes balancing the tires.
  
  
• Regional labor rates and the specific shop’s pricing.
  
  

On average, you might expect to pay around $60 to $100 (total) for a standard winter tire swap at a shop. Closer to the lower end if the tires are already on rims (a quick swap and maybe a balance check), and higher if the tires need to be mounted onto your existing rims and balanced afresh. Some shops offer seasonal specials or discounts for doing all four tires as a package.

If you store your off-season tires with the shop or use a tire hotel service, there could be an extra fee for storage, but it saves you the hassle of transporting and storing the tires yourself.

While it costs money, having the pros do it means it’s quick and done with professional equipment – you don’t have to wrestle with heavy wheels or worry about whether you tightened a lug nut correctly. For many drivers, that convenience and peace of mind is worth the cost.

Winter Tire FAQs

Are winter tires mandatory in Ontario?
No. Winter tires are not legally required in Ontario. However, many insurance companies offer discounts (usually around 5%) if you install them during the winter season.

Are winter tires mandatory in Quebec?
Yes. In Quebec, winter tires are mandatory from December 1 to March 15 under the Highway Safety Code. Visitors driving in Quebec during this period must also comply with the law.

Do I need winter tires in British Columbia?
Yes, on certain highways. From October 1 to April 30 (March 31 in some regions), B.C. requires winter tires or M+S all-season tires on designated highways. Watch for roadside signs marking these routes.

Are studded tires legal in Canada?
It depends on the province. Studded tires are legal in most provinces during the winter months (October–April). Ontario restricts them to Northern Ontario, while provinces like Quebec, B.C., and the Maritimes allow them seasonally. Manitoba allows studs from October 1 to April 30.

When should I put on winter tires in Ontario?
While not legally required, it’s best to install winter tires by late October or early November, when average daily temperatures start dropping below 7°C.

When should I take winter tires off?
Follow the 7°C rule in spring. Once temperatures consistently stay above 7°C, it’s time to remove them. In Quebec, the legal removal date is after March 15, and in B.C. it’s after March 31 or April 30, depending on the highway.

Do visitors to Quebec need winter tires?
Yes. Out-of-province drivers visiting Quebec must also use winter tires between December 1 and March 15. Rental cars in Quebec are required to be equipped as well.

Are all-season tires enough for Canadian winters?
No. Despite the name, all-season tires are not suitable for harsh Canadian winters. They lose flexibility below 7°C and don’t provide the same level of traction on ice and snow. Dedicated winter tires or all-weather tires are much safer.

 

In Conclusion: Changing to winter tires is a crucial part of preparing for Canadian winters. By paying attention to the temperature and the calendar – and knowing your province’s regulations – you can time your tire change perfectly. With proper winter tires installed, you’ll be far better equipped to handle whatever winter throws at you, from black ice to blizzards. Drive safe this winter!

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