Winter Tire Planner
Your on and off windows, computed from the 7 C threshold in the 30-year climate record at your nearest station. Below it, the actual law in every province and territory, cited to the government page it came from.
Both dates, every year, with a one-week reminder.
The law, province by province
Three jurisdictions regulate winter tires; the rest leave it to judgment and insurance. Every row links to the responsible government source, with the date we last verified it.
| Province / territory | Status | Rule | Studded tires | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Some highways | Winter tires or chains required on most designated highways October 1 to April 30 (select routes end March 31). | Permitted in season; check the official page for current dates and stud specifications. | Government of British Columbia verified 2026-06-11 |
| Alberta | No law | No winter tire law. Strongly recommended; mountain park highways may require chains for commercial vehicles. | Permitted year-round, no date restrictions. | Government of Alberta verified 2026-06-11 |
| Saskatchewan | No law | No winter tire law. Recommended for the full prairie winter. | Permitted; commonly run October through April. | SGI verified 2026-06-11 |
| Manitoba | No law | No winter tire law, but MPI offers a low-interest Winter Tire Program loan. MPI low-interest winter tire financing is available to eligible Manitobans. | Permitted in season; check MPI/provincial guidance for current dates. | Manitoba Public Insurance verified 2026-06-11 |
| Ontario | No law | No winter tire law. Since January 1, 2016 insurers must offer a winter tire discount, typically 2 to 5 percent. Declare your winter tires to your insurer; the discount is mandated but not automatic. | Permitted only for residents of Northern Ontario districts, in season; not permitted in southern Ontario. | Government of Ontario verified 2026-06-11 |
| Quebec | Required by law | Winter tires required by law December 1 to March 15 inclusive on all motorized vehicles registered in Quebec. | Permitted October 15 to May 1. | SAAQ verified 2026-06-11 |
| New Brunswick | No law | No winter tire law for passenger vehicles; required on school buses. Studded tires October 15 to May 1. | Permitted October 15 to May 1. | Government of New Brunswick verified 2026-06-11 |
| Nova Scotia | No law | No winter tire law. Studded tires permitted in a fall-to-spring window. | Permitted from October 15 into spring; confirm the current end date at the official source. | Government of Nova Scotia verified 2026-06-11 |
| Prince Edward Island | No law | No winter tire law. Studded tires permitted October 1 to May 31. | Permitted October 1 to May 31. | Government of Prince Edward Island verified 2026-06-11 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No law | No winter tire law. Studded tires permitted November 1 into spring. | Permitted from November 1; confirm the current end date at the official source. | Government of Newfoundland and Labrador verified 2026-06-11 |
| Yukon | No law | No winter tire law. Winter conditions can run September to May; winter tires effectively essential. | Permitted; no practical restriction in winter months. | Government of Yukon verified 2026-06-11 |
| Northwest Territories | No law | No winter tire law. Extreme cold season; winter tires essential, plug-in and survival gear advised. | Permitted. | Government of the Northwest Territories verified 2026-06-11 |
| Nunavut | No law | No winter tire law. No road connection to the south; community roads see winter conditions most of the year. | Permitted. | Government of Nunavut verified 2026-06-11 |
Reference windows for major cities
Computed from each city’s own station normals. Your town’s dates may differ; use the planner above for your exact place.
| City | Tires on by | Off after | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | BC | November 10 | March 18 |
| Vancouver | BC | November 10 | March 16 |
| Kelowna | BC | October 17 | April 5 |
| Calgary | AB | October 5 | April 29 |
| Edmonton | AB | September 30 | April 29 |
| Saskatoon Diefenbaker | SK | October 3 | April 26 |
| Regina | SK | October 4 | April 25 |
| Winnipeg Richardson | MB | October 7 | April 26 |
| Sudbury | ON | October 11 | April 28 |
| Ottawa Cda | ON | October 22 | April 17 |
| Toronto Lester B. Pearson | ON | October 28 | April 15 |
| Windsor | ON | November 6 | April 6 |
| Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau | QC | October 22 | April 18 |
| Quebec/Jean Lesage | QC | October 13 | April 28 |
| Fredericton | NB | October 17 | April 26 |
| Halifax Stanfield | NS | October 25 | April 29 |
| Charlottetown | PE | October 23 | May 4 |
| Whitehorse | YT | September 16 | May 14 |
| Yellowknife | NT | September 16 | May 23 |
Method: monthly mean daily temperature normals anchored mid-month, linear interpolation across 7 C. Full notes on the methodology page.
Questions, answered plainly
When should winter tires go on?
When the mean daily temperature settles below 7 C, the rubber in all-season tires hardens and grip falls off sharply. That crossing arrives at a different date everywhere in Canada: late October in Toronto, mid November on the BC coast, mid September in Whitehorse. Set your place above and the Almanac computes your window from the 30-year climate record at your nearest station.
Is there a winter tire law in Ontario?
No. Ontario has no law requiring winter tires, but since 2016 insurers in Ontario must offer a discount, commonly 2 to 5 percent, if you install four winter tires. Quebec requires them by law in winter, and British Columbia requires winter tires or chains on designated highways from October 1. The full table below cites each province’s government source.
Why 7 degrees Celsius?
Tire makers and transport agencies, including Transport Canada, use 7 C as the threshold where winter compounds outperform all-seasons. It is about rubber chemistry, not snow: even on dry pavement below 7 C, winter tires stop meaningfully shorter.
When do winter tires come off?
After the mean daily temperature climbs back above 7 C to stay, typically mid March on the coast through mid May in the north. Taking them off too early risks a cold snap; too late wears the soft compound on warm pavement. Your station’s off date is computed above, and Quebec’s legal minimum is March 15.
Winter tire dates by city
Every page computed from that city's own nearest-station record. All cities by province.