Updated October 19, 2026
Why 7°C shows up every fall
That figure comes from how tread compound behaves, and Ontario's winter driving page uses it: all-season tires can start to lose grip at 7°C. It is not an Ottawa bylaw and there is no ticket for being late. It is the point where a winter compound still stays pliable and an all-season one does not.
Kanata's first real snow often arrives after a week of mornings already below that line. Waiting for a storm means every shop in Stittsville, Kanata, and Bells Corners is booked, and the car makes the trip on the summer set.
Spring is not the reverse of the statute
Put the summer or all-season set back on once daytime temperatures stay above 7°C and the overnight freeze has stopped, often mid to late April. A winter tire wears quickly on warm, dry pavement, and it feels soft in a warm-weather lane change. Quebec's legal window ends March 15 for Quebec-registered vehicles, but Ottawa roads still ice in late March. Follow the local temperature, not the Quebec calendar.
After the wheels go on, set cold tire pressure the next morning. The first cold night will drop the reading even if the shop filled the tires in a heated bay.
How to switch to winter tires in Ottawa
A fall changeover for Kanata and Ottawa: timing, a full set of four, cold pressure, lug torque, and storage.
- 01
Watch the morning low. When Ottawa mornings sit near 7°C for several days, book the changeover. In Kanata that is usually the second half of October, before the first lasting snowfall.
- 02
Mount a full set of four. Install matching winter tires on all four corners. Leave no all-season tire on the car for the winter.
- 03
Set the pressure cold. Inflate to the pressures on the driver's door placard before the car is driven. Do not use the maximum pressure molded on the sidewall.
- 04
Torque the lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to the torque in the owner's manual, then check them again after about 50 km.
- 05
Store the summer set indoors. Wash salt off the summer tires and wheels, then keep them indoors, out of sunlight and away from a furnace or pool chemicals.
Questions
What month do people change to winter tires in Ottawa?
Most years the switch belongs in the second half of October, when morning temperatures stay near 7°C. A late September cold snap is a reason to watch the forecast, not a standing date.
Is the 7°C guideline a law in Ontario?
No. Ontario does not require a seasonal tire change. The 7°C figure is the temperature where all-season grip starts to fall off.
When should winter tires come off in Ottawa?
Once days stay warmer than 7°C and nights have stopped freezing, commonly mid to late April. Leaving them on into a hot May wears the tread down before the next winter.
Should lug nuts be checked after a changeover?
Yes. Torque them to the figure in the owner's manual, then recheck after about 50 km. Wheels can settle on the hub.
Where should the off-season tires be stored?
Indoors, away from sunlight, furnaces, and chemicals. Wash road salt off before summer tires go into storage.