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Seasonal tire change: what you need to know
Why tires are seasonal at all
Tire rubber compounds are tuned for a temperature range. Summer and all-season tires stiffen and lose grip below roughly 7°C (45°F), while winter tires stay flexible in the cold but wear quickly and grip poorly once it warms up. Switching isn't just for snow — it's about the compound matching the temperature.
When to switch
A simple rule: once average daily temperatures are consistently below 7°C (45°F), it's time for winter tires. Switch back once temperatures are reliably above that mark in spring. Go by temperature trends, not the calendar date or the first snowfall.
Tread depth
Most regions set a legal minimum around 1.6mm (2/32in), but that's a bare-minimum safety line, not a performance target. Winter tires start losing meaningful snow and ice grip below about 4mm (5/32in) of tread — check your local regulations, since minimums vary by region.
Storing your off-season set
- Clean and fully dry each tire before storing — trapped moisture and road salt degrade rubber.
- Keep them away from direct sunlight, ozone sources (electric motors, furnaces), and any contact with oil or gasoline.
- Stack mounted tires flat, or hang unmounted tires — don't stand mounted tires upright for long periods, which can distort them.
- A cool, dry space like a garage or basement works better than an attic or an area with big temperature swings.
Don't mix and match
Keep the same tread pattern and size on all four wheels. Mismatched tires — even just front-to-back — change how your car handles and can affect all-wheel-drive systems that expect equal rotation speed on every wheel.