Auto Parts - How to Change Tires for Winter - New - Blog

Swapping out your summer or all-season tires for your winter set is a typical experience for most Canadian drivers. By doing your own tire swap, you don’t have to rush into a shop before the first snowfall, saving you time and money.

Keep reading to learn when to swap, how to check that your winter set is in good condition, and what tools, steps, and follow-up are required for an effective winter tire swap.

When to Put Your Winter Tires On

Always follow the 7°C rule when gauging whether it’s time to swap into your winter tires. Below 7°C, all-season and summer tires harden, and they lose elasticity and traction on the road.

Once there are seven consecutive days of daytime highs below 7°C, it’s time to change into your winter tires. For many Canadians, this means that late October or early November is the ideal time for a tire swap.

Pay attention to any provincial rules. For example, Quebec requires drivers to have winter tires from December 1 to March 15. British Columbia requires them on some highways from October 1 to April 30.

Check Your Tires Before You Start

After sitting in storage for many months, you need to check that your winter tires are road ready before installing them. Here’s a checklist of things to watch for:

• Are the tires mounted on rims? A DIY tire swap is only possible if your winter tires are already mounted on their own rims. If your tires are loose, you’ll need to take them to a professional shop to properly mount and balance before they can be installed.
• Do the tires have a winter symbol? Look for the symbol of a peaked mountain with a snowflake inside of it. This should be on the sidewall of each tire.
• How deep is the tread depth? Check that the tread on your tires isn’t below 4 mm (5/32”). You can easily check this on your own with a tread depth gauge.
• Is there any damage? Look for cracks, bulges, or any missing pieces in your winter tires. A bulge can mean that the tire’s internal structure has separated, which is a serious safety concern and heightens your likelihood of a tire blowout.
• How is the air pressure? It’s likely that your tires have lost air pressure while sitting in storage. Check the pressure of each tire when they’re cold and make sure it meets the recommended tire pressure listed on your driver’s door jamb sticker.
• Are the tires sorted by position? The tires should be marked from last season based on where they last sat on your car (for example, “FL” for front left). You should rotate your tires to avoid uneven wear. The correct rotation pattern will depend on whether your car is FWD, RWD, or AWD, as well as the tread design. Directional tires have an arrow on the sidewall and must go on the correct side. The tires with the deepest tread should go on the rear axle.

Tools You’ll Need

Here are the tools you’ll need for a safe and stress-free winter tire swap:

Floor Jack and Jack Stands
Use a floor jack to lift your car, then set the jack stands under your vehicle to hold it off the ground safely while you work. Once the jack stands are secure under your vehicle, you can remove the floor jack.

Breaker Bar and Matching Socket
A breaker bar is a long, non-ratcheting handle that you can use with a matching socket for extra leverage on tight lug nuts.

Torque Wrench
This type of wrench clicks or signals once you’ve tightened the tire lug nuts to an exact force. That force is the “torque spec,” which you can find in your owner’s manual or service manual.

Wheel Chocks
Wedge the wheel chocks against each remaining tire on the ground to prevent the car from rolling.

Wheel Lock Key
If the vehicle has locking lug nuts, you’ll need a wheel lock key to release them.

Rust Release Penetrant
Sometimes, lug nuts can seize up or become stuck over time. Use rust release penetrant to loosen them.

How to Change Your Tires for Winter, Step by Step

Follow this sequence of steps to effectively remove your summer or all-season tires and safely install your winter set.

1. Choose a safe spot to work. Your working surface must be flat, level, and firm. A sloped surface can let the car roll, uneven ground can make the jack or stands twist and fail, and a jack can sink into soft ground.
2. Secure the vehicle. Turn the ignition off, and make sure your car is in park, or in gear if it’s a manual transmission. Set the emergency brake and chock at least two of the wheels.
3. Loosen the lug nuts while the car is on the ground. Turn the lug nuts counterclockwise about one turn, but don’t remove them yet. If the lug nuts are seized, apply rust release penetrant and use a breaker bar for extra leverage.
4. Lift at the correct jacking point. Follow your owner’s manual to find and lift your vehicle at the reinforced spot on the frame or suspension. Never place the jack on bodywork, like the rocker panel, as that can buckle.
5. Support the vehicle on a jack stand. Place the jack stands near the floor jack and remove the floor jack once the stands are secure under a solid support point.
6. Remove the wheel. Take the lug nuts off and pull the wheel straight toward you. Once the wheel is off the car, you can mark its position with chalk or a tire marker. Always be careful when lifting and moving the wheels to avoid hurting your back.
7. Mount the winter wheel. Line the winter wheel up with the studs and place the wheel onto the car. Next, thread the lug nuts on by hand, so the wheel sits flat.
8. Lower the vehicle and torque the lug nuts. Use your floor jack to lift the car off the jack stands, pull them out from under the car, and slowly lower your vehicle until it’s sitting flat on the ground. Now you can tighten the nuts with your torque wrench in a star pattern. Tighten one nut, then the one across from it, and so on, so the wheel pulls evenly.
9. Repeat on all four wheels.

After the Swap

Once you’ve successfully swapped into your winter tires, set a reminder to retorque your tires after you’ve driven about 100 kilometres. Always re-check your tire air pressure when they’re cold and consider visiting your local NAPA AUTOPRO centre for balancing.

Before placing your summer or all-season tires into storage, make sure to check their tread depth and inspect for any wear.

You can easily swap your own winter tires, but if you have questions, stop by your NAPA Auto Parts store to speak with an expert or browse our full range of tire maintenance tools at www.NAPACanada.com.

Meta description: Learn how to change tires for winter at home. Check your winter set, gather the right tools, and follow our step-by-step guide for a safe seasonal swap.