The short answer
Switch back once daytime temperatures stay above about 7°C, which in Manitoba is usually late April or May. Winter tires wear quickly on warm pavement and take longer to stop than summer tires in the heat. Watch the forecast: a late-April snowfall is common, so don’t rush the swap on the first warm week.
The 7°C rule works in reverse
The same guideline that tells you when to put winter tires on tells you when to take them off. Once daytime highs settle above 7°C, the soft winter compound that grips so well in the cold starts to work against you.
What happens if you leave winter tires on all summer?
- Faster wear: the soft rubber wears quickly on hot pavement, so the set will not last as many winters.
- Longer braking distances on warm, dry roads compared with summer tires.
- Vaguer handling, because the deep, flexible tread blocks move more under load.
Don’t switch too early
Manitoba springs often include a cold snap or snowfall after the first warm days. Waiting until the forecast holds steady is safer than swapping back and getting caught on summer tires in a late storm.
Storing your winter set
- Clean the tires and wheels before storing them.
- Store them somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight.
- Stack tires mounted on wheels, or hang them. Stand unmounted tires upright.
- Check tread depth now, so you know in the fall whether you need a new set.
- Mark each tire’s position so they can be rotated next season.