This Is When You Should Have Winter Tires On Your Car In Canada & Don't Put It Off Any Longer

Winter tires are mandatory in some provinces.

A close-up of a car tire covered in snow on a winter road. Right: Cars driving on a snow covered road in the winter.

A car tire with winter tires covered in snow. Right: Cars driving on a snow-covered road in the winter.

Senior Writer

Winter is inching closer and some provinces in Canada have already had their first snowfall, meaning if you don't have winter tires on your car yet, you should get those on now.

Some provinces make it mandatory for vehicles to have winter tires for several months out of the year so you may already be overdue depending on where you live.

In B.C. winter tires or chains are mandatory for drivers on most routes in the province from October 1 until March 31 or April 30, depending on whether you're driving through mountain passes or high snowfall areas. For drivers who don't comply, they could face a $121 fine if they're caught.

In Quebec, winter tires are also mandatory for all vehicles from December 1 until March 15. Drivers could face a fine of $200 if they fail to comply with the rules.

While winter tires are not mandatory by law in any other province, they are still recommended.

In Ontario, drivers are advised to have their vehicles equipped with winter tires between October 1 and April 30.

According to the Michelin website, winter tires are recommended with "at least a tread depth of 3.2mm" in Alberta where temperatures can drop as low as -40 degrees Celsius.

In Manitoba star-studded tires are permitted on the road from October 1 to April 30, New Brunswick between October 15 and May 1, and Newfoundland and Labrador between November 1 and May 31.

Over in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, drivers should consider having winter tires between October 1 and May 31.

There are no laws in place for Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories or the Yukon Territory but those provinces do see a lot of snow so winter tires are also highly recommended!

According to the Weather Network, winter tires should be on your vehicle when the temperature dips below 7 degrees.

The network is reporting a messy next few days for Ontario, with rain and snow both in the mix so if you haven't swapped your tires yet, don't delay it any longer.

If you don't know where to get them installed you can head to your nearest Costco for winter tires or Canadian Tire.

In November, the Old Farmer's Almanac released its winter weather forecast for Canada. It looks like cities across the country will see lots of snow this winter so make sure your vehicles are ready before then!

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

  • Senior Writer

    Asymina Kantorowicz (she/her) was a Senior Writer for Narcity Media. She has worked at Yahoo Canada, CTV News Vancouver Island, CTV News Channel, and CHCH News. Over the past eight years, she took on various newsroom roles and helped produce award-winning newscasts. Loving the fast-paced environment of any newsroom, she helped cover stories like the 2016 royal visit to Victoria, the 2019 B.C. manhunt, and provincial elections. She had an MA in journalism and a BA in media from Western University. She moved from Toronto to Victoria a few years ago and loved being close to the ocean.

Here's when to put on your winter tires in 2025, based on where you live in Canada

A cross-country guide on when your city could hit the winter tire sweet spot this fall. 🛞

This new winter forecast reveals when Canada's weather will become colder than normal

An "abrupt transition" to the start of winter is expected soon!

Canada's new winter forecast reveals when the season will be snowiest and coldest

The polar vortex could bring "extreme cold and increased snowfall." ❄️

A burst of snow will bring up to 20 cm to Ontario this week before the cold snap ends

Temperatures will warm up but still be cold enough for "lingering" snow.

Costco is hiring for jobs that pay $20 to $25 an hour and some don't require any experience

Positions are available at a new unique warehouse that's opening in Canada soon.

CSIS is hiring for these jobs and you can get paid up to $120,000 a year to be nosy

You'll help investigate threats to national security. 🔍

6 cheap and safe Caribbean destinations to visit in 2026 if you're skipping Cuba

Turquoise waters, white sands, and no travel warnings. 😌🏝️

Lotto 6/49 winners split a $5M jackpot with another ticket and didn't believe it was real

They checked the ticket online and at a store to make sure they really won the jackpot. 💸

U of T is the only Canadian school in the top 10 of this new best universities ranking

It beat every Canadian university in all of these subject areas! 📚

Canada's 'most romantic town' is near Toronto and it's filled with European charm

It's the perfect place to visit with your favourite person.