When to Put On Winter Tires in Kingston and Eastern Ontario
For Kingston drivers wondering when to put on winter tires, the answer is a temperature rather than a date: the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada says to switch "as soon as the temperature consistently dips below 7°C."
Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kingston show the average day above 7°C in October and below it in November, so an average year reaches that mark around the turn of the two months.
Put on a set of four winter tires that carry the mountain and snowflake symbol, and send your service request while the weather is still mild.
Everything below is general planning information, and the owner's manual for your vehicle outranks it; the week's forecast picks the day.
Choosing a tire brand or size is outside this guide, and the Kingston climate numbers here fit less well if most of your driving happens far from the city.
Key Takeaways
Put winter tires on when temperatures consistently dip below 7°C, not on a fixed calendar date. The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada and CAA both use 7°C for the switch, and Transport Canada's winter tire guidance says that below 7°C, all-season and summer tires "begin to lose elasticity, leading to less traction."
Jim Thompson Chrysler in Kingston recommends having winter tires on by the end of October, because the average Kingston day slips under 7°C between October and November. Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kingston put the average daily temperature at 9.5°C in October and 3.5°C in November, against the 7°C point the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada uses.
If you drive before sunrise, your mornings reach the 7°C mark sooner than the average day does. Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals put Kingston's average October daily low at 5.1°C, already below 7°C.
Ontario does not make winter tires mandatory, and its insurance rules reward drivers who fit them with a discount on eligible policies. A 2015 bulletin from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario says the rules were amended to require that "all insurers offer a discount to policyholders for the use of winter tires," on eligible private passenger automobile policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2016; the bulletin sets no amount.
A true winter tire carries the mountain and snowflake symbol and goes on as a set of four. Transport Canada's winter tire guidance says to "Look for the peaked mountain with snowflake symbol when shopping for winter tires," and to fit them in sets of four.
When to Put On Winter Tires: Is It a Date or a Temperature?
When to put on winter tires comes from the thermometer: the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada and CAA both key the change to 7°C. CAA's winter tire page advises the change "when the temperature dips below 7°C during the day."
Ontario does not require winter tires, so no provincial deadline exists to plan backward from. A fixed date can land early in a warm fall and late in a cold one, while a temperature follows the fall you actually get.
In Kingston, the practical questions are when the local thermometer usually reaches 7°C and whether your day starts before the air warms up. Both have answers in Environment Canada's climate normals, set out in the sections below.
A Frosty Morning With the Swap Already Done
When the winter tires went on weeks ago, a frost-white morning is just another weekday: you pull the scraper from the back seat, start the defroster and have nothing else to arrange.
You sent the service request on a mild October afternoon, and you marked each tire's position before the summer set went into storage.
As you turn onto Johnson Street in the half-dark, the only decision left is how long to let the windshield clear.
Watching the thermometer through October, instead of waiting for snow on the ground, is what makes a morning that uneventful.
Who Uses 7°C as the Switch Point, and What Does It Measure?
The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada, CAA and CAA North & East Ontario all use 7°C as the point to put winter tires on, and Quebec's auto insurance board (SAAQ) names 7°C as the temperature below which summer and all-season rubber hardens and loses its grip. None of them defines whether 7°C means the daily low, the daily high or the daily average, and their wording differs.
CAA's winter tire page says "during the day," the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada says "consistently," and CAA North & East Ontario's 7-for-7 rule asks for seven days at or below 7°C. Because the wording varies, the Kingston section below gives the daily average, the daily high and the daily low.
The reason behind the number is grip: the Government of Ontario's winter driving page says all-season tires "can start to lose grip at 7°C." Transport Canada's winter tire guidance says "Winter tires keep their elasticity and grip at much lower temperatures."
What the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual Says
The 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual tells owners of trucks fitted with summer tires to install winter tires below 40°F (5°C) or when roads are icy or snowy. The 5°C figure is the maker's own, for summer-tire trucks, and the 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual names no 7°C figure; 7°C is the rule of thumb the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada and CAA use.
If your Ram 1500 has all-season tires, the manual's summer-tire instruction does not cover it, so plan around 7°C.
When to Put On Winter Tires in Kingston: What Do the Climate Normals Show?
For the average day, Environment Canada's 1991-2020 Kingston normals put the 7°C line between October and November. Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kingston list a daily average of 9.5°C for October and 3.5°C for November.
Environment Canada's 1991-2020 Kingston normals put the average daily high at 13.8°C in October and 7.5°C in November, so even a normal November afternoon sits only just above 7°C. Environment Canada's 1991-2020 Kingston normals put December's daily average at -2.2°C, so a winter set still waiting in the garage by then is well behind the weather.
Environment Canada's older 1981-2010 normals for Kingston, recorded at the Kingston Pumping Station, put the average first fall frost around October 12. Environment Canada's 1981-2010 Kingston normals also count about four October days and about 15 November days with a low at or below 0°C.
Environment Canada's 1981-2010 Kingston normals show measurable snow on about three days in an average November and about eight in December, while October snow is rare.
On Environment Canada's 1981-2010 Kingston normals, late October is a sensible target for having winter tires on in an average year, ahead of most of November's frosts and snow days. A warm fall can push that target into November and a cold one can pull it forward, so let the week's forecast settle the exact day.
When to Change to Winter Tires If You Drive Before Sunrise
If you drive before sunrise, change to winter tires sooner than the daily average suggests, because Kingston's coldest hours reach 7°C first. Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kingston put the average October daily low at 5.1°C, already under the 7°C mark.
Environment Canada's 1991-2020 Kingston normals put the average November daily low at -0.6°C, just below freezing. For an early commuter, the daily low is the number to watch.
A shift that starts at six, a pre-dawn drive to a job site or a school drop-off before the sun is up all happen in the coldest part of the day. For those drivers, an October swap is on time rather than early.
A driver who rarely leaves home before mid-morning can reasonably use the daily average instead.
Does Ontario Require Winter Tires, and What Do Insurers Offer?
No, Ontario does not require winter tires: a 2019 Transport Canada briefing on winter tires names Quebec as "the only jurisdiction in Canada where the use of winter tires is mandatory province-wide." What insurers offer is a discount on eligible policies: a 2015 bulletin from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), then the province's insurance regulator, says the rules were amended to require that "all insurers offer a discount to policyholders for the use of winter tires."
FSCO's 2015 bulletin applies the discount rule to eligible private passenger automobile policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2016, and it sets no amount. Ask your insurer how much its discount is and what it requires.
How Do You Tell a True Winter Tire From an All-Season Tire?
The sidewall tells you: a true winter tire carries the mountain and snowflake symbol, while an M+S marking on its own identifies an all-season tire. CAA's winter tire page says the symbol means a tire has "passed a government-regulated traction test."
The 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual draws the same line: it says all-season tires carry an M+S, M&S, M/S or MS designation, and that snow tires "can be identified by a 'mountain/snowflake' symbol on the tire sidewall."
A 2019 Transport Canada briefing on winter tires notes that Canada has no minimum government standard for winter tire performance on ice. Icy mornings still call for slower speeds and longer gaps, whatever the sidewall says.
The Government of Ontario's winter driving page says winter tires shorten braking distances "by as much as 25%." If the ABS warning light comes on during an icy stretch, read what an ABS light on means and when to arrange service.
A Set of Four, Never a Pair
Winter tires go on as a set of four: Transport Canada's winter tire guidance says "you should install winter tires in sets of 4." The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada is just as direct: "Never install two winter tires on the front axle of a vehicle only."
Transport Canada's winter tire guidance also says "Don't mix tires with different tread patterns, internal construction, and size." If you are buying a new winter set, the 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual says to "select tires equivalent in size and type to the original equipment tires."
The 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual adds that snow tires generally have lower speed ratings than the original tires, so check the rating on any set you buy. To start shopping for a set, open our Tire Finder and confirm the size against the tire information label on your vehicle.
What Goes Into Planning the Swap at Jim Thompson Chrysler?
Planning the swap at Jim Thompson Chrysler means sending a service request before the cold arrives, deciding where the off-season set will live, and checking the pressure sensors if your winter tires are mounted on a separate set of wheels. The swap itself happens in our service department, and you can read about our service centre before you send the request.
Wheel Sensors and Cold-Weather Pressure
Winter tires raise a sensor question: Transport Canada's tire pressure monitor page says that when installing winter tires, the monitoring system may not work properly "unless the correct type of pressure sensors for your vehicle are also installed." Transport Canada's tire pressure monitor page also says "Large temperature changes outside can cause the low tire pressure warning to come on."
Transport Canada's winter tire guidance notes that "Tire pressure goes down in the cold," which is why it says to do your checks when the tires are cold. Transport Canada's tire safety guide, Riding on Air, says "Don't use the pressure indicated on the tire"; use the vehicle's own tire information label instead.
If a tire pressure warning stays on after the swap, call our service department and describe what the light is doing.
Storing the Tires You Take Off
Store the off-season set in a cool, dry place out of the sun: CAA North & East Ontario advises "Keep tires in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight." CAA North & East Ontario also suggests washing off road salt and grime first and noting each tire's position so the set can be rotated next season.
If home storage is not an option, tire storage at Jim Thompson Chrysler is onsite and climate-controlled. Our tire storage page says we label, inspect and store your seasonal set, and you arrange the install online when it is time to put the set back on.
Picking a Date While the Weather Is Mild
Send your request while the forecast is still mild, so the date you choose lands before the cold rather than in the middle of it. Our Request Service form lets you name a day and time, and the page says "A member of our service team will contact you to confirm availability."
Seasonal work is also a good moment to view current service specials, a page that changes through the year.
Signature Service and the Tire Swap
Need a winter tire changeover but do not have time to sit at the dealership? Ask about JTC Signature Service.
We can pick up your vehicle, leave you with a loaner, complete the service, and return your vehicle so you can keep working or enjoy your day.
From Monday through Friday, a Signature Service visit runs in five steps:
We pick up your vehicle
We leave you a loaner to use
We bring your vehicle to the dealership for service
We return your serviced vehicle
We collect the loaner
For a tire swap, Signature Service saves the day off you would otherwise spend in a service department, so you can stay at work and keep your day moving.
The Signature Service page sets out the terms: you arrange it by phone in advance, pick-up and drop-off are within Kingston city limits, and the loaner depends on availability.
When to Take Winter Tires Off Again in the Spring
Take winter tires off once spring temperatures stay at or above 7°C for seven days in a row, the same mark in reverse. CAA North & East Ontario applies its 7-for-7 rule to the spring change as well, warning that "soft winter compound wears down faster on warm, dry pavement."
Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kingston put the April daily average at 5.4°C and the May daily average at 12.4°C, so the average Kingston day is below 7°C in April and above it in May.
Environment Canada's 1981-2010 Kingston normals put the average last spring frost around April 25, so early-morning drivers may want to keep the winter set on a little longer. Leaving winter tires on into a warm May, though, spends tread you will want next fall.
The spring swap is requested the same way as the fall one, and the winter set can go into storage with us when it comes off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Month Should You Put On Winter Tires in Kingston?
Late October: Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kingston put the average day at 9.5°C in October and 3.5°C in November, either side of the 7°C switch point the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada uses. Environment Canada's 1991-2020 normals put November's average daily high at 7.5°C, so even November afternoons sit near the mark.
Is October Too Early for Winter Tires in Kingston?
Not usually: Environment Canada's 1991-2020 climate normals put Kingston's average October daily low at 5.1°C, already below the 7°C mark the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada and CAA use. CAA North & East Ontario notes that soft winter compound wears faster on warm, dry pavement, so a warm spell early in the month is a reason to wait.
Does Ontario Set a Date for Winter Tires?
No: a 2019 Transport Canada briefing names Quebec as the only jurisdiction where winter tires are mandatory province-wide, so Ontario sets no deadline. The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada uses temperature instead, advising drivers to switch "as soon as the temperature consistently dips below 7°C."
What Is the 7-7 Rule for Winter Tires?
CAA North & East Ontario's 7-for-7 rule says to change to winter tires "when it stays at or below 7°C for seven days," and switch back in spring once it stays at or above 7°C for seven days in a row. Environment Canada's 1991-2020 normals for Kingston put the average day below 7°C in every month from November through April.
Do You Need Four Winter Tires or Just Two?
Four: Transport Canada's winter tire guidance says "you should install winter tires in sets of 4," and the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada says "Anything less than four winter tires compromises vehicle safety." The 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual also says to use snow tires only in sets of four.
When to Put On Winter Tires This Fall, and How to Request the Swap
Late October is the target Jim Thompson Chrysler recommends for Kingston, and the swap request can go in while the afternoons are still warm.
For your winter tire changeover, Request Service online, or phone us to arrange Signature Service within Kingston city limits.
If last winter's set looks worn, say so in the conversation that confirms your date.
Visit us at 805 Gardiners Road, Kingston, ON K7M 7E6
Request Service to ask for a preferred date and time. A request is not a confirmed appointment until our service team contacts you.
Local: (613)-389-4426 Sales: (877)-251-9249 Parts: (888)-711-5309 Service: (888)-713-0742
About the Author:
Kerry Irven is the Vice President of New and Used Automotive Operations for Heighton Automotive Group, a family-owned and operated automotive group serving communities across Eastern Ontario. Kerry began his automotive career in new-car sales, building his experience on the showroom floor and working his way through multi-store dealership operations.
With over 25 years in the automotive industry, Kerry has helped grow automotive businesses from one location with 40 to 50 vehicles in stock to more than 500 vehicles across 10 rooftops. His hands-on background in both new and used-vehicle operations gives him a practical understanding of what customers look for when shopping for their next vehicle.
Throughout his career, Kerry has always been actively involved in staff coaching and in understanding customer wants and needs, helping ensure the businesses he works with continue to adapt to what customers are truly looking for.
One of the most exciting chapters of his career has been the shift into modern automotive marketing, embracing new technology, transparent pricing, customer-first inventory strategies, and new ways to create a better vehicle-shopping experience.
Kerry has completed extensive automotive training, including certification through the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, involvement with the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario, Canadian automotive dealer training, and multiple customer service courses.
Born and raised on a farm, Kerry has always valued family, hard work, and a practical, down-to-earth approach. Joining Heighton Automotive Group and working alongside Thomas Heighton and family, along with managing partners Kyle Lothian and Martin Gougeon, has allowed him to bring those same values into the car business. It has also allowed Kerry to continue following a simple philosophy: treat every customer exactly the way he would want to be treated.
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