MPI restricts loan program to winter tires
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WINNIPEG — Manitoba Public Insurance is getting strict about its winter tire program after years in which customers used it to buy other types of tires.
As of Oct. 1, only tires that are “designed and marketed solely for winter driving conditions, including snow and ice,” will be eligible for financing through the public insurer.
Currently, all-weather, all-season, four-season and year-round tires are included in the program, which allows MPI clients to pay the cost in monthly instalments. The program, established in 2014, offers financing for up to $2,000, plus interest.
In an email to retailers, MPI says the program is being changed so it “helps ensure customers receive the full winter-driving safety benefits associated with dedicated winter tires.”
By only allowing loans for winter tires that meet the Crown corporation’s specifications, MPI is “realigning the program with its original intent,” spokesperson Kristy Rydz said in an email.
“Research shows that winter tires reduce collisions by 6.3 per cent, and vehicles equipped with winter tires may experience less severe damage in crashes,” Rydz wrote.
“By focusing funding on tires that provide the greatest safety benefits for winter driving conditions, we hope this change will contribute to fewer collisions on Manitoba roads during the season.”
There were more than 65,000 active loans under the program as of December 2025, MPI data show. That includes drivers with more than one loan.
» Winnipeg Free Press