# How to Switch to Winter Tires – Step-by-Step Guide > Fit four tires with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol once daily temperatures stay below 7°C, check the tread, torque the wheel nuts and reset the pressure. Source: https://www.howtodoos.com/how-to-switch-to-winter-tires/ · By Emily Carter · Updated 2026-11-07 To switch to winter tires, install a full set of four tires marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol once daily temperatures consistently drop below 7°C, rather than waiting for the first snowfall. You can have a shop do the swap or do it yourself in about an hour with a jack, a lug wrench and a torque wrench. In Quebec it's also the law: every passenger vehicle registered there must be on winter tires from 1 December to 15 March. ![How to Switch to Winter Tires — steps at a glance](https://www.howtodoos.com/images/posts/img/how-to-switch-to-winter-tires-steps.webp) This guide uses the timing and tread advice from [Co-operators' winter tire tips](https://www.cooperators.ca/en/resource-centre/stay-safe/winter-tire-maintenance), the tire-marking rules explained by the [Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC)](https://tracanada.ca/consumers/why-winter-tires) and Quebec's [Regulation respecting the use of tires specifically designed for winter driving](https://legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/C-24.2,%20r.%2045%20). Laws and dates can change, so check the official site for your province before you rely on them. ## What you need - Four winter tires, ideally already mounted on their own rims - Your vehicle owner's manual (jack points and wheel-nut torque) - The vehicle's jack and lug wrench, or a floor jack and jack stands - A torque wrench with the right socket for your wheel nuts - A tire pressure gauge and access to an air pump - A tread depth gauge (or a coin, see Step 2) - Wheel chocks or a couple of bricks - Gloves, and a marker or chalk to label the tires you take off ## Steps ### Step 1: Pick the right time Don't wait for snow. [Co-operators](https://www.cooperators.ca/en/resource-centre/stay-safe/winter-tire-maintenance) says the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada recommends putting winter tires on when the temperature drops below 7°C, because summer and all-season rubber loses elasticity below that point while winter compounds stay soft. [Michelin Canada](https://www.michelin.ca/en/auto/learn/preparation-for-winter/when-should-you-put-on-winter-tires-in-canada) gives the same rule: install when daily temperatures consistently stay below 7°C, and take them off when they consistently stay above it. If you use a shop, book early. Appointments fill up fast as soon as the first cold snap hits. Check the deadlines that apply to you: - **Quebec:** from 1 December to 15 March, all the tires on a vehicle registered in Quebec must be designed for winter driving. Heavy vehicles, tool vehicles and farm machines are excluded, and the rule also covers rental cars in Quebec, according to [section 1 of the regulation](https://legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/C-24.2,%20r.%2045%20). - **British Columbia:** winter tires are required on specific highways, and [Co-operators notes](https://www.cooperators.ca/en/resource-centre/stay-safe/winter-tire-maintenance) that the dates vary by route. Signs at the roadside show where the rule applies. The [BC government's winter tire page](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/about-winter-tires) lists the current routes and dates. - **Elsewhere in Canada:** winter tires aren't required by law, but the 7°C advice above still applies wherever you drive. ### Step 2: Check that your tires qualify and have enough tread Look at the sidewall for the **three-peak mountain snowflake** symbol (a mountain with three peaks and a snowflake inside). [TRAC explains](https://tracanada.ca/consumers/why-winter-tires) that tires carrying this symbol must pass a Transport Canada-referenced traction test on packed snow. A tire marked only **M+S** (mud and snow) is an all-season tire, and [Co-operators warns](https://www.cooperators.ca/en/resource-centre/stay-safe/winter-tire-maintenance) that it may not grip well enough in severe winter conditions. In Quebec, the [regulation](https://legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/C-24.2,%20r.%2045%20) recognises this pictogram (or legally used studded tires) as a winter tire. Next, measure the tread in a few places across each tire. Co-operators says tires with less than 4 mm (5/32") of tread shouldn't be used on snow-covered roads, and any tire worn flush with its wear indicators should be replaced. No gauge? Co-operators also describes a quick check using the caribou on a Canadian quarter, but a gauge in millimetres is more precise. Also check each tire for cracks, bulges, nails or uneven wear. Replace damaged tires before winter, not during it. ### Step 3: Prepare the car Park on firm, level ground (never on soft grass or a slope), put the car in park (or in gear for a manual), switch it off and set the parking brake. Chock the wheel diagonally opposite the one you're lifting. Find the jack points in your owner's manual. Using the wrong spot can bend the body or let the car slip off the jack. ### Step 4: Loosen the wheel nuts, then lift the car ![Loosening wheel nuts with a lug wrench](https://www.howtodoos.com/images/posts/img/how-to-switch-to-winter-tires-ai-1.webp) With the wheel still on the ground, use the lug wrench to loosen each wheel nut about half a turn. Don't remove them yet; the tire's contact with the ground stops the wheel from spinning. Now jack the car up until the tire is just off the ground. If you're using a floor jack, place a jack stand under the recommended support point before you go further. Never put any part of your body under a car held up only by a jack. ### Step 5: Swap the wheel Remove the nuts and pull the wheel straight off. Mark it with chalk or a marker (for example "FL" for front left) so you can rotate the tires correctly next season. Lift the winter wheel onto the studs, then thread each nut on by hand so none of them cross-thread. Snug them up with the lug wrench in a star (criss-cross) pattern, which seats the wheel evenly. If your winter tires are directional, an arrow on the sidewall shows which way they should rotate. Make sure it points forward. ### Step 6: Torque the nuts and lower the car Lower the car until the tire is resting on the ground, then tighten the nuts with a torque wrench to the figure in your owner's manual, again in a star pattern. Hand tightness isn't accurate enough: under-tightened nuts can work loose, and over-tightened ones can stretch the studs or warp the brakes. Repeat Steps 4 to 6 for the other three wheels. Always fit all four; [Co-operators says](https://www.cooperators.ca/en/resource-centre/stay-safe/winter-tire-maintenance) to install winter tires in a set of four, not two, and not to mix tires of different size, tread or construction. Quebec's rule also applies to all the tires on the vehicle. ### Step 7: Set the tire pressure Set each tire to the cold pressure printed on the placard inside the driver's door jamb (or in the owner's manual), not the maximum number moulded into the sidewall. Check in the morning before you drive, when the tires are cold. Co-operators recommends checking air pressure at least monthly. It's worth doing more often in winter, since tire pressure drops as the air gets colder. ### Step 8: Store your off-season tires ![Off-season tires stored in bags in a garage](https://www.howtodoos.com/images/posts/img/how-to-switch-to-winter-tires-ai-2.webp) Clean the tires you removed, let them dry and store them somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight, such as a garage or basement. Tire storage bags keep them clean. Many tire shops also offer seasonal storage if you're short on space. ## Tips - **Buy winter tires on their own rims.** Swapping complete wheels takes minutes and avoids paying for mounting and balancing twice a year. - **Re-check the nuts.** After the first short drive, go round each wheel with the torque wrench once more. - **Reset the TPMS if needed.** If your dashboard tire-pressure light comes on after the swap, check the pressures first, then follow your owner's manual; some systems need resetting or new sensors in the winter rims. - **Plan the removal date too.** In Quebec, keep them on until at least 15 March. Elsewhere, switch back once daily temperatures stay above 7°C. ## Troubleshooting **A wheel nut won't loosen.** Make sure you're turning anticlockwise, and put the wrench on so you can push down with your foot or body weight. If it still won't budge, stop and get a shop to remove it rather than rounding the nut. **The wheel is stuck to the hub.** Rust can bond the rim to the hub. With the nuts loosened a couple of turns (but still on), lower the car and rock it gently, or tap the tire's sidewall with a rubber mallet. Never hit the rim with a steel hammer. **The car pulls or vibrates after the swap.** Re-check the tire pressures and nut torque. If the problem stays, the wheels may need balancing or the car an alignment check at a shop. ## FAQ ### When should I put winter tires on in Canada? Put them on once daily temperatures consistently stay below 7°C. The date varies by region. In Quebec, they must be on by 1 December at the latest. ### Can I just put winter tires on the front wheels? No. [Co-operators](https://www.cooperators.ca/en/resource-centre/stay-safe/winter-tire-maintenance) says to always install winter tires in a set of four. Mixing tires front and rear gives uneven grip and can make the car spin or slide. In Quebec, all the tires must be winter tires by law. ### Are all-season tires with M+S good enough for winter? M+S tires aren't the same as winter tires. Tires with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol have passed a snow traction test, and [TRAC](https://tracanada.ca/consumers/why-winter-tires) says they give the best performance in winter conditions. Some all-weather tires carry both the M+S marking and the snowflake symbol; it's the snowflake symbol that counts. ### How much tread do winter tires need? [Co-operators](https://www.cooperators.ca/en/resource-centre/stay-safe/winter-tire-maintenance) advises not to use tires with less than 4 mm (5/32") of tread on snow-covered roads, and to replace any tire worn down to its wear indicators. Provincial minimums can differ, so check the rules where you drive. ### Can I use studded tires? Studded tires can help on ice, but studs can damage bare roads, and provinces limit where and when they can be used. Check your province's rules before buying. ## Conclusion Switching to winter tires comes down to timing and doing it properly: fit four tires with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol once temperatures stay below 7°C, check the tread, tighten the nuts to the correct torque and set the pressure from the door-jamb placard. If you're also getting your home ready for the cold, see [how to winterize outdoor faucets](https://www.howtodoos.com/how-to-winterize-outdoor-faucets/) and [how to inspect a used car](https://www.howtodoos.com/how-to-inspect-a-used-car/) if you're shopping for a vehicle before winter.