The essential winter tire guide

What are winter tires?

Winter tires are pretty easy to define: they’re tires designed for use in winter. The confusing part is how they differ from the other types of tires.

Tires come in all shapes and sizes (okay, maybe not shapes). One of the most important ways to classify tires is the season or weather for which they’re designed. In that regard, there are four common types of tire in Canada:

1. Summer tires
2. Winter tires
3. All-season tires
4. All-weather tires

Depending on the manufacturer, you may see different names, or tires that exist in between two categories. But if you understand these four types, you’re well on your way to understanding which tires you need.

There are two main differences between these tire types: their tread and their rubber compound.

The tread is the flat edge of the tire that makes contact with the ground. Different tread patterns and depths are useful for different things. Think of an off-road tire with deep treads for gripping loose gravel or mud. Then, think of the tires on a drag racing car — totally smooth to maximize traction on flat, dry concrete.

Rubber compounds are mixtures of different rubbers. Different compounds give the tires different qualities like hardness or temperature sensitivity.

Let’s look at the differences between the four main tire types:

Summer tires

Summer tires are primarily designed for warm, dry weather. They have shallower tread depth, which makes them more responsive in good road conditions. A shallow tread depth also improves fuel efficiency.² The downside of the shallower tread is a shorter lifespan — summer tires need to be replaced more often than other types.

Summer tires are made of rubber that’s most effective at temperatures above 5°C. In cooler temperatures, the rubber will harden, reducing traction.

Winter tires

Winter tires are designed for use in cold temperatures when there may be ice or snow on the road. They feature deeper treads, with more intricate slots and sipes designed to grip ice and compacted snow.

Another feature of winter tires, and the most often overlooked: they’re made of special rubber compounds that don’t harden in cold temperatures. This improves traction at temperatures below 5°C. The downside is that the rubber softens at warmer temperatures and can wear quickly. This is one of the reasons it’s important to remove your winter tires in the spring.

All-season tires

All-season tires lie in between summer and winter tires. They aim to offer year-round capability, with a tread deeper than a summer tire but not as deep as winter tires. Their rubber splits the difference temperature-wise: it’s most effective in temperate conditions and still loses traction when it gets too cold.

Despite their name, all-season tires are more like three-season tires in most of Canada — they aren’t appropriate for winter in most of the country. But we’ll get to regional differences in the next section.

All-weather tires

Though the name sounds similar to “all-season,” all-weather tires are different. Ironically, all-weather tires are better year-round tires than all-season tires. In fact, all-weather tires are usually legally acceptable winter tires in locales that require them (again, more on that next).

All-weather tires aren’t as good as winter tires in extreme winter weather. If you live in an area with severe winters, you’ll probably still want actual winter tires.

Studded tires and tire chains

Obviously, there are countless types of tires. Aside from the four main categories above, it’s also worth mentioning two other things when we’re talking about winter driving: studded tires and tire chains.

Studded tires

Studded tires have hundreds of metal rounded spikes along their tread, like football cleats. These spikes, or studs, are meant to bite into ice or compact snow to improve traction.

Studded tires are useful for vehicles that often drive on back roads that aren’t properly plowed, salted, or sanded. But, they aren’t really necessary for most day-to-day drivers. For one thing, studded tires are only permitted during the winter months in most provinces. We’ll mention studded tire regulations in the following section.

Something else to think about? Studies show that studded tires might actually perform worse than regular winter tires on snow and ice if the temperature is too far below freezing.³

Tire chains

Tire chains aren’t a type of tire, but rather devices attached to existing tires. They function like a removable set of tire studs.

Most personal vehicles have no need for tire chains.

Chains are more common on heavy commercial vehicles or vehicles driving on unmaintained roads. In fact, tire chains are restricted in many provinces, and not all vehicles are allowed to use them. A good set of winter tires will serve most people better on their everyday vehicle.

Choosing the right tires

So now you know the difference between all-season tires, winter tires, and other types. But how do you decide which tires to buy?

In almost all of Canada, it’s wise to have a set of dedicated winter tires. Most Canadian drivers have two sets of tires: a winter set and a summer set. Actual winter tires are simply safer for winter driving. In some places (mainly BC’s south coast), the weather is mild enough that all-season tires are acceptable year-round. But in most of Canada, all-season tires aren’t enough for winter roads.

For the non-winter set, all-season tires are the most common. While all-seasons may not be enough in extreme winter weather, they’re great during the rest of the year.

Obviously, there are costs to switching your tires twice each year. Nevertheless, most Canadians agree that winter tires are worth it. Just don’t leave them on all summer to save money — they won’t last long.

Winter tire laws by province

In most provinces, winter tires aren’t required by law, though they’re recommended everywhere. To figure out whether your tires meet provincial standards, there are two symbols to look for on your tires:

The three-peak mountain snowflake symbol means the tire is rated for winter driving. The M+S symbol means “mud and snow,” and you’ll see it on many all-season tires. Some tires have both. You’ll find either symbol on the outside wall of each tire.

British Columbia

BC requires winter tires on most highways from October 1 to April 30 or March 31, depending on the route. The only exceptions are a few highways in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.⁴

Tires bearing either the M+S or the mountain snowflake symbol are acceptable as winter tires in BC. However, proper winter tires (with the mountain snowflake) are strongly recommended, particularly outside the south coast.

Studded tires are permitted in BC only from October 1 to April 30.

Alberta

Winter tires are not mandatory in Alberta.

However, Alberta Transportation recommends winter or all-weather tires during severe winter conditions.⁵

Alberta doesn’t specifically restrict studded tires or tire chains. However, there are laws about damaging highway surfaces — something to keep in mind if you want to use tire studs.

Saskatchewan

Winter tires are not mandatory in Saskatchewan. The province also doesn’t restrict the use of studded tires.

Manitoba

Winter tires are not mandatory in Manitoba.⁶

However, Manitoba’s public insurance company, MPI, offers a financing program for residents to buy winter tires.⁷

Under the program, Manitobans can apply for a loan with interest at prime plus 2% for up to $2,000 per vehicle. They can use this loan to buy tires and cover related costs like mounting, storage, or wheel alignment.

Manitoba restricts the use of studded tires, allowing them only from October 1 to April 30.

Ontario

Winter tires are not mandatory in Ontario.⁸

However, the province has required all insurance providers to offer a discount to customers who use winter tires.⁹ Check with your provider to see which dates they require winter tires.

The discount amount varies by provider. For example, Square One customers in Ontario can save 3% on their premiums if they have winter tires on their vehicle from December 1 to March 31.

For studded tires, Ontario permits them only on vehicles registered in the northern part of the province and then only from October 1 to April 30.¹⁰

Quebec

Quebec’s winter tire laws are the strictest in Canada — winter tires are required throughout the province from December 1 to March 15. Unlike BC, all-season tires aren’t good enough in Quebec. Winter tires must have the three-peak mountain symbol to qualify.¹¹

Quebec permits studded tires from October 15 to May 1.

Atlantic Canada

None of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, or Newfoundland and Labrador require winter tires. Despite this, the region has some of the highest winter tire usage rates in the whole country.¹ The region’s high level of annual snowfall makes winter tires a very wise idea.

The Atlantic provinces have a patchwork of dates during which they allow studded tires:

• New Brunswick: October 15 – May 1¹²
• Nova Scotia: October 15 – May 31¹³
• Prince Edward Island: October 1 – May 31¹⁴
• Newfoundland and Labrador: November 1 – April 30¹⁵

The territories

In Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, winter tires are optional. Nevertheless, drivers in the North are strongly advised to have winter tires to contend with the frigid temperatures.

None of the territories restrict the use of studded tires.

Winter tires and car insurance

In some provinces, insurance providers offer discounts on car insurance if the insured vehicle has winter tires during certain months. In fact, such discounts are mandatory in Ontario.⁹

In Ontario, Square One offers a discount of 3% for vehicles that keep winter tires on their car from December 1 to March 31. Valid tires include those with either the M+S or the three-peak mountain snowflake marks.

Winter tire discounts aren’t available everywhere, of course. You won’t find such discounts in Quebec, where winter tires are mandatory by law. The same thing goes in BC.

When it comes to insurance claims, winter tire rules vary by province. Even in places where winter tires are required (like Quebec), your insurer won’t automatically deny your claim just because you don’t have them.¹⁶ However, the lack of tires may be a consideration when determining liability for an accident. For example, in BC, getting into an accident without winter tires may result in a higher degree of fault.¹⁷

Commonly asked questions

When should you change to winter tires?

By law, you must have winter tires on by December 1 in Quebec and October 1 in most of BC.

In Ontario, your car insurance provider will have certain dates that your vehicle should have winter tires in order to get a discount. Square One customers in Ontario should have their winter tires on by December 1.

In every other province and territory, you should get your winter tires on as soon as the weather starts cooling. Once daytime highs start dropping below about 7°C, it’s time — don’t wait for the first snowfall, when tire shops will be slammed with procrastinators. Remember, winter tires are about the temperature as much as the snow.

When should you replace your winter tires?

Like any tires, you should replace your winter tires when the tread starts to wear down. You shouldn’t drive with winter tires that have a tread depth of less than 4 mm (5/32 inches). For comparison, most new winter tires have a tread depth of at least 8 mm (10/32 inches).¹⁸

There are three options for measuring the remaining tread depth of your tires. First, some tires have bars moulded into the rubber that show the remaining tread. Otherwise, you can buy a tread depth gauge for about $5.

Failing that, a quick method of estimating tread depth is to use a toonie. The outer silver band on a standard toonie is approximately 5 mm. If you stick the coin into the tread of your tire, it should be at least as thick as that silver band. If not, it’s time to consider replacing the tires. Make sure to take the measurement in a few places, as tires don’t usually wear evenly.

Sources

1. Tire and Rubber Association of Canada. “Winter Tire Report 2023.” tracanada.ca, tracanada.ca/tire-reports/winter-tire-report-2023. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
2. Telle Tire. “How Do New Tires Save Gas Mileage?” telletire.com, www.telletire.com/what-tires-affect-gas-mileage-improvement/. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
3. Scheibe, Robert. “An overview of studded and studless tire traction and safety.” Washington State Department of Transportation, Oct. 2002, www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/551.1.pdf.
4. Government of British Columbia. “Designated Winter Tire & Chain Routes.” gov.bc.ca, 25 Jun. 2024, www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tire-and-chain-up-routes.
5. Government of Alberta. “Winter Tires.” alberta.ca, www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/tr-swh-winter-tires.pdf. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
6. Hughes, Meagan. “Mandatory winter tires a step forward for public safety.” The Manitoban, 10 Apr. 2024, themanitoban.com/2019/11/mandatory-winter-tires-a-step-forward-for-public-safety/38620/.
7. Manitoba Public Insurance. “Winter Tire Program.” mpi.mb.ca, www.mpi.mb.ca/winter-tire-program. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
8. Driving.ca. “Winter tires a good idea, but won’t become law in Ontario: province.” Driving.ca, 7 Dec. 2020, driving.ca/auto-news/news/winter-tires-a-good-idea-but-wont-become-law-in-ontario-province.
9. Government of Ontario. “Drivers with Winter Tires Eligible for Insurance Discount.” news.ontario.ca, 14 Oct. 2015, news.ontario.ca/en/release/34544/drivers-with-winter-tires-eligible-for-insurance-discount.
10. Highway Traffic Act. “Studded Tire Use in Northern Ontario.” ontariocanada.com, 20 Feb. 2014, www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do.
11. Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. “Winter preparation.” saaq.gouv.qc.ca, 18 Jul. 2024, saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/road-safety/modes-transportation/automobile/maintenance-safety/winter-preparation.
12. Government of New Brunswick. “Winter Driving Safety.” gnb.ca, www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/public-safety/community_safety/content/drivers_vehicles/content/winter_driving_safety.html.
13. Motor Vehicle Act. “N.S. Reg. 45/79.” novascotia.ca, 27 Mar. 1979, novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/mv4579.htm.
14. Government of PEI. “Winter Driving.” princeedwardisland.ca, 12 Oct. 2023, www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/transportation-and-infrastructure/winter-driving.
15. Digital Government and Service NL. “Public Advisory: End of Studded Tire Season Approaching.” gov.nl.ca, 19 Apr. 2023, www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2023/dgsnl/0419n06/.
16. Info Assurance. “Accidents in winter and auto insurance.” infoassurance.ca, infoassurance.ca/en/blog/auto/accidents-in-winter-and-auto-insurance. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
17. ICBC. “Winter driving.” icbc.com, www.icbc.com/road-safety/safety-and-road-conditions/winter-driving. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
18. Transport Canada. “Using winter tires.” tc.canada.ca, 2 Dec. 2022, tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/stay-safe-when-driving/winter-driving/using-winter-tires.

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