Traffic Offences
Does Ontario Require Winter Tires? The Law on Tires
Ontario has no law forcing drivers to install winter tires — but a separate, real offence covers driving on tires that are worn, damaged, or otherwise unsafe, in any season.
Quick answer: No. Unlike Quebec, which legally requires winter tires on most passenger vehicles for part of the year, Ontario has no province-wide winter tire mandate. What Ontario does regulate is tire condition generally, year-round, under section 70 of the Highway Traffic Act -- a worn, damaged, or improperly inflated tire can be ticketed regardless of the season or tire type.
Key Takeaways
- Ontario does not require winter tires by law, unlike Quebec's seasonal winter-tire requirement.
- Section 70 of the HTA instead targets unsafe tires generally -- worn tread, exposed cord or fabric, cuts, or underinflation.
- Some insurers offer a winter tire discount even without a legal requirement to install them.
- An improper-tires charge applies in any season, not just winter.
Ontario has no winter tire mandate
Quebec's Highway Safety Code requires most passenger vehicles registered in that province to run on tires designed for winter conditions between December 1 and March 15. Ontario has no equivalent requirement. A driver here is free to use all-season tires, all-weather tires, or dedicated winter tires year-round, and won't be ticketed simply for not switching to winter tires when the temperature drops.
The real rule: tire condition, not tire type
What Ontario does regulate is the condition of whatever tires are on the vehicle. Section 70 of the Highway Traffic Act sets out equipment requirements for tires, and driving on a tire that's excessively worn, cut, cracked, or has exposed fabric or cord -- generally understood to mean tread worn down to roughly 1.5 millimetres or less -- can result in a ticket regardless of whether it happened in July or January. The same goes for a significantly underinflated or visibly damaged tire.
Why the "winter tire law" idea persists
Part of the confusion comes from Quebec's well-publicized mandate, and part comes from the fact that some Ontario auto insurers offer a modest premium discount for drivers who install winter tires, even though there's no legal obligation behind it. A discount program is not the same thing as a Highway Traffic Act requirement, and conflating the two is a common misconception.
What this means for drivers
In practice, the safest approach is to treat tire condition -- not tire label -- as the thing that actually matters under Ontario law: check tread depth, watch for cuts or bulges, and keep tires properly inflated throughout the year, since any of those issues can support a ticket whether or not the tires themselves are marketed as "winter" tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to drive without winter tires in Ontario?
No. Ontario has no law requiring winter tires, unlike Quebec. All-season tires in good condition are legal year-round.
Can I still be ticketed for my tires in the winter?
Yes, but it would be under section 70's general tire-condition rule -- worn tread, exposed cord, damage, or underinflation -- not because the tires aren't winter-rated.
Do insurers give a discount for winter tires in Ontario?
Some do, as a voluntary discount program, but this is separate from any legal requirement -- Ontario doesn't mandate winter tires the way Quebec does.
Sources
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