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The first cold mornings of November are a good reminder that winter tire season is close. Booking your swap early means you get the appointment time you want, your tires go on before the first real snowfall, and you skip the rush that builds in the last days of the month.
This guide walks you through the rule you need to meet, how to find the right tire size for your Mazda, and what to check before the switch. It covers the current lineup, from the compact Mazda3 to the three-row CX-90, so every owner can plan the season with confidence.
Quebec requires winter tires on passenger vehicles registered in the province from December 1 to March 15. For the 2026-2027 season, that means your winter tires need to be on by December 1, 2026, and they stay on until at least March 15, 2027.
The rule is the same for every Mazda. A Mazda3 sedan and a CX-90 with all-wheel drive follow the exact same dates.
Tire service gets busier as December 1 gets closer, so the sooner you reserve your spot, the more choice you have. Aim to have your winter tires installed before the first snowfall, well ahead of the deadline.
The all-new 2026 CX-5 comes with standard i-Activ AWD. Its updated G-Vectoring Control Plus also adds an electronic brake limited-slip differential to improve traction in challenging conditions, and Mazda Intelligent Drive Select lets you choose between Normal, Sport and Off-Road modes.
Those systems help your Mazda put power down on slippery roads. Stopping and steering on ice and snow still depend on your tires, because they are the only part of the vehicle touching the road.
Winter tires use a rubber compound that stays soft in freezing temperatures, along with tread patterns built to grip snow and slush. All-season tires get harder as the temperature drops, which cuts grip right when you need it most. Pairing AWD with a proper set of winter tires gives you the best of both: strong traction to get moving and solid grip to slow down and turn.
To spot a true winter tire, look for the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall.
Your tire size is printed on the sidewall of your current tires and on the tire information label on the driver’s door jamb. Here’s how to read a size like 225/55R19:
Most owners choose winter tires in the same size as their factory tires. Here are the factory sizes for the 2026 Mazda lineup:
| 2026 Model and Trim | Factory Tire Size |
| Mazda3 GX / Mazda3 Sport GX | 205/60R16 |
| Mazda3 Sport GT | 215/45R18 |
| CX-30 GX | 215/65R16 |
| CX-30 GS and GT | 215/55R18 |
| CX-5 GX | 225/65R17 |
| CX-5 GS and GT | 225/55R19 |
| CX-70 PHEV GS-SC and GS-L SC | 265/55R19 |
| CX-70 MHEV GT and PHEV GT | 275/45R21 |
| CX-90 MHEV and PHEV GS, GS-L | 265/55R19 |
| CX-90 GT, GT-P and Signature | 275/45R21 |
If your Mazda has an optional wheel package or you are thinking about a different wheel size for winter, have a service technician confirm the fit for your exact trim before you buy.
You have two ways to run winter tires. The first is a dedicated set of wheels with your winter tires already mounted. Each spring and fall, the technician simply swaps the full wheel and tire assemblies, which keeps each visit quick. It also keeps road salt and winter curb scrapes away from your factory wheels.
The second option is to have your winter tires mounted on your factory wheels each season. You avoid buying a second set of wheels, but every swap takes longer because the tires come off and go back on the rims.
If you choose a second set of wheels, plan for tire pressure sensors. The 2026 Mazda3, CX-5 and CX-90 use a direct-type Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which reads pressure from a sensor inside each wheel. Your winter wheels need their own sensors so the system keeps watching your pressure all season.
A few quick checks before the swap help your winter tires last longer and grip better:
Come spring, wait until March 15 has passed and temperatures stay above 7°C before switching back. Running winter tires in warm weather wears the tread faster.
| Topic | What to Know |
| Quebec winter tire period | December 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027 |
| Best time to install | Before the first snowfall, well ahead of December 1 |
| AWD and winter tires | AWD helps traction; winter tires handle stopping and steering grip |
| Tire size range (2026 lineup) | 205/60R16 (Mazda3 GX) to 275/45R21 (CX-70 and CX-90 GT trims) |
| Second set of wheels | Needs its own TPMS sensors |
| Replace tread at | 1.6 mm |
Getting ready for winter is simple when the right team handles the details. The service department at Planète Mazda in Mirabel knows your Mazda’s tire sizes, can mount and balance your winter tires, and will check your tread and pressure while your vehicle is in the shop.
Reserve your winter tire appointment with Planète Mazda in Mirabel this month, and your Mazda will be ready well before December 1.
