Depending on where you live in Canada, swapping your summer tires for winter tires before winter arrives can be legally required. The cost of a tire change tends to fluctuate based on a few factors, such as where you live and who you hire.
Another determinant factor of tire change price is whether your seasonal tires are on wheels (rims) or not. If your seasonal tires are on rims, you can save well over $100 per year.
Keep reading to find out the price of a tire change in Canada. We’ll also highlight some of the factors that influence the cost of a tire changeover.
Tire Change Prices 2023
The cost of a tire change varies based on the service provider you hire, the size of your tires, and whether your seasonal tires are on rims. You can also expect to pay an additional $10 to $20 per wheel if your tires require balancing.
Here is an overview of tire change prices in Canada, based on province and service provider:
Cost of a Tire Change With Rims
The cost of swapping tires is much cheaper if the tires are on rims. You can generally expect to pay between $10 and $20 per tire, for a total of between $40 and $80.
Cost of a Tire Change Without Rims
The cost of changing tires that are not already mounted on rims costs twice as much at most locations. That said, you can expect to pay between $20 and $50 per tire if your tires are not on rims, for a total of between $80 and $150.
How Much is a Tire Change in British Columbia?
The cost of switching tires over in BC can cost anywhere from $100 to $120 in total if your tires are not on rims. You can sometimes find a small mechanic who will do it for less.
How Much is a Tire Change in Quebec?
The cost of a tire change in Quebec varies between $40 and $70 if your tires are on rims. You can expect to pay almost double this price if your seasonal tires are not on rims, but it largely depends on where you go and the size of your tires in some cases. Changing your tires at the dealership will cost you a lot more.
There are more and more mobile tire change services available in Montreal and Quebec. These service providers will come to you at your home or office and change your tires. While you will pay more for this level of service, the convenience of not having to go out of your way and leave your car at the garage is worth it.
How Much is a Tire Change in Ontario?
The cost of a tire change in Ontario varies between $20 and $30 if your tires are not on rims. You can expect to pay about double this price if your seasonal tires are not on rims. For larger vehicles, the cost can also be much higher.
How Much is a Tire Change at Kal Tire?
Kal Tire is another popular shop for tire changeovers. The cost of a passenger vehicle tire swap is $14 per tire if the tires are already on wheels. If the tires aren’t on rims/wheels, you can expect to pay $39.50 per tire.
How Much is a Tire Change at Costco?
Costco is one of the cheapest places to change your tires in Canada. A tire change at Costco costs around $20 per tire if the tires are not on rims. If your seasonal tires are on rims, you can expect to pay around $10 per tire instead.
How Much is a Tire Change at Mr. Lube?
While Mr. Lube is convenient for their drop-in tire change service, changing your tires there will cost you more. If your seasonal tires are not on rims, you can expect to pay around $100 for a tire change at Mr. Lube. If your seasonal tires are on rims, the price of a tire change is around $60.
Why is a Tire Switch Cheaper When Tires Are on Rims?
It’s widely known that having rims on both sets of tires can help you save money on your seasonal tire changeover. The reason is that changing tires that are on rims is much quicker and requires less machinery. In fact, most people can even change their tires on their own if they’re on rims. All you’ll need is a jack, a breaker bar, and a torque wrench.
What Provinces Require Winter Tires?
Despite Canada’s snowy winter conditions, there are only two provinces that require winter tires by law: Quebec and British Columbia. These provinces have a strict winter tire deadline that is enforced by the law.
In Quebec, it’s obligatory for all motorized road vehicles to use winter tires between December 1 and March 15. When the weather is mild in December, you can sometimes see a 2-week extension. If you fail to change your tires and aren’t eligible for an exception, you can expect a fine of anywhere between $200 and $300.
In British Columbia, it’s legally required to use winter tires or chains between October 1 and April 30. If you’re driving outside a high snowfall area, the tire and chain requirement ends a month earlier, on March 31. If you’re caught driving without winter tires in BC, you can expect a fine of about $121 for passenger vehicles and $598 for commercial vehicles.
In all other provinces, winter tires are recommended but not legally required. For example, the governments of Manitoba and Ontario strongly encourage people to use winter tires and even offer incentives for those who do so.
