Ontario Winter Tires: The Law and the Insurance Discount

Every fall the same question comes up: does Ontario make you put winter tires on your car? The short answer is no. Winter tires are not required by law in Ontario, unlike some provinces. But the law does give you a strong reason to use them anyway, and the safety case is even stronger. Here is what the rule actually says.

Winter tires are not required in Ontario

Ontario does not make winter tires mandatory. All-season tires are legal on your car year-round, and you will not be ticketed for running them in January. That is different from Quebec, which requires winter tires through the coldest months. In Ontario the choice is yours, so the decision comes down to safety and cost rather than avoiding a fine.

The insurance discount

Here is the part many drivers miss. Since 2016, every auto insurance company in Ontario has to offer a discount to drivers who install winter tires. You put on a full set, tell your insurer, and your premium drops. The exact amount varies by company, but the discount is not optional on their side, so it is worth asking for the moment you switch your tires over.

Why winter tires actually grip

Winter tires are not just about snow. Their rubber stays soft in the cold, while all-season rubber goes hard and slick once the temperature drops below about 7 degrees Celsius. That softer rubber, plus a deeper tread that bites into snow and clears slush, is what shortens your stopping distance on a frozen morning. Look for the three-peak mountain and snowflake symbol on the sidewall, which is the mark of a true winter tire.

Put on all four

If you use winter tires, use four of them. Fitting only two leaves the other end of the car with far less grip, which can swing the back around in a corner or a hard stop. A matched set of four keeps the car balanced and predictable, and it is what qualifies you for the insurance discount as well. Half measures here are worse than none. If cost is the worry, a plain set of four winter tires still does more for you than two premium ones on one axle.

How this fits the bigger picture

Tires are only one part of driving a Canadian winter safely. The habits matter just as much, from gentle inputs to longer following distances, which we cover in winter driving for new Ontario drivers. The same idea of matching your grip to the conditions applies in the wet, as in wet-weather driving.

The short version

Winter tires are not required in Ontario, but they earn you a mandatory insurance discount and they grip far better once it drops below 7 degrees. Fit a full set of four, look for the snowflake symbol, and tell your insurer. It is the rare safety upgrade that also saves you money.

Keep reading: summer driving hazards for new Ontario drivers and the complete guide to the G1 test.

Based on Ontario government tire-safety information and the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook. Last reviewed July 2026.