A full set of winter tires is one of those bills that lands all at once, right when the first skiff of snow shows up and every other fall expense is already on the table. That is exactly the problem the MPI Winter Tire Program was built for: it lets an eligible Manitoban spread the cost of a winter tire package over monthly payments instead of paying it in one shot. When you are ready to price a set for your own vehicle, our parts department in Portage la Prairie can quote it, and you can book the tire installation with our service team once you have picked them.
Here is how the program works in plain language, what the loan can pay for beyond the tires themselves, and the rule that changed on October 1, 2026, which decides whether the tire you have your eye on qualifies at all. Every figure below is Manitoba Public Insurance's own, taken from the program page, and MPI's page is the final word if anything changes.
Key Takeaways
- It is a loan, not a rebate. According to Manitoba Public Insurance, eligible customers can finance up to $2,000 per vehicle at prime plus 2 per cent interest.
- Payments come out monthly from your bank account, spread over one to four years.
- The loan covers more than tires. Rims, mounting, balancing, alignment, tire pressure monitoring parts and more can be included when they are part of the first purchase.
- The tire rule changed on October 1, 2026. A qualifying tire must carry the three peak mountain snowflake symbol and be designed and marketed solely for winter.
- We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program, so the tires and the loan can be handled at our counter.
How the MPI Winter Tire Program Works
The program is a financing plan run by Manitoba Public Insurance. You choose your tires at a participating retailer, the retailer sets up the loan, and you pay MPI back over time.
According to MPI's program page, the terms are:
- Up to $2,000 per vehicle. That is the ceiling on what you can finance for one vehicle.
- Prime plus 2 per cent interest. The rate is tied to the prime rate, and MPI notes that interest rates "are subject to change without notice." Ask at the counter for the rate that applies on the day.
- One to four years to repay. MPI describes this as spreading your payments "over one to four years with convenient monthly withdrawals."
- Automatic payments. In MPI's words, payments "are automatic and withdrawn monthly from your bank account."
Because this is MPI's loan and not ours, the rate and the terms are the ones MPI publishes. We do not set them and we cannot change them.
Who Is Eligible
MPI lists three conditions. You must:
- Be a Manitoba Public Insurance customer, as an individual and not a corporation.
- Own a passenger vehicle or light truck registered in your name.
- Have no outstanding MPI payments or restrictions.
That covers the Ram 1500 in the driveway, the Grand Cherokee your daughter drives to school in Winnipeg and the minivan that does the hockey run to Brandon. A truck registered to a farm corporation or a business is a different story, because the program is for individual customers.
What the Loan Covers, and What It Does Not
This is the part people miss. The loan is not only for four tires. MPI lists these items as eligible:
- Approved winter tires
- Rims
- Mounting, balancing and alignment
- Tire pressure monitoring system components
- Studding, with some limits
- Storage or the seasonal switchover, when included in the initial purchase
- Nitrogen fill
- Valve stems
- Shop supplies
- Applicable taxes and fees
MPI also lists what is not covered: tire repairs, and maintenance, storage or the switchover cost unless it was part of the initial cost.
That second list matters for planning. If you want a dedicated set of rims so each changeover is a quick wheel swap, or you want storage, put it on the first purchase. Added later on its own, MPI says it is not covered. Our post on winter tires on rims or a seasonal swap walks through which path makes sense for your vehicle.
What Changed on October 1, 2026
The program has always asked for a real winter tire. As of October 1 it asks for something stricter. MPI's page states: "Effective October 1, 2026, approved tires must also be designed and marketed solely for winter driving conditions, including snow and ice."
In plain terms: as of October 1, 2026 the MPI Winter Tire Program covers tires marketed solely as winter tires. All weather and all season tires no longer qualify, even with the mountain snowflake mark. MPI names the marketing labels that rule a tire out: all weather, all season, four season and year round.
This is the change most likely to catch someone at the counter. All weather tires commonly carry the snowflake symbol, and before October 1 that symbol was the program's test. It is still required, but it is no longer enough. If you are weighing the two kinds of tire for other reasons, our comparison of all weather vs winter tires in Manitoba covers how they actually differ on snow and ice.
The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol
MPI's rule is short: "To qualify for the Winter Tire Program, tires must display the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol." The symbol is moulded into the sidewall and looks like what the name says, a mountain with three peaks with a snowflake inside it. It means the tire has met a standardized test for traction in snow.
You will also see M+S on a lot of sidewalls. M+S stands for mud and snow, and it describes the tread design rather than a winter traction test. On its own it does not qualify for the MPI program. For the program, look for the mountain and snowflake, then check that the tire is sold as a winter tire and nothing else.
How to Apply at a Participating Retailer
MPI lays out the process in three steps:
- "Visit a participating retailer and choose your tires."
- "Bring your driver's licence and vehicle registration."
- "Your retailer will confirm eligibility and complete the loan setup."
We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program. Bring both documents when you come in to choose your tires. Our service department supplies and installs new tires and does the seasonal changeover, so once the set is chosen you can book the install with our service centre.
What Fits Under the Ceiling on a Half Ton
We are not going to print a tire price here, because sizes, load ranges and brands move the number too much for one figure to be honest. What we can say is how the ceiling tends to play out.
On a half ton like a Ram 1500, the tire size on your door jamb placard is the first thing that decides it. A smaller wheel size with a passenger or light truck winter tire leaves more room under $2,000 for mounting, balancing and valve stems. Move up to a 20 or 22 inch fitment, add a set of rims and four tire pressure sensors, and the full package can come close to the ceiling or go past it. On a heavy duty truck that needs a light truck tire with a higher load range, the tires themselves take a bigger share. Our guide to what winter tires cost in Manitoba breaks down each line on the bill.
So if you are the Portage la Prairie driver who has been putting off a set because of the up front bill, the useful step is a quote both ways, tires only and tires on rims, so you can see what the loan covers before you decide. Our parts department can price both.
Timing It Right
The loan does nothing for you if the tires are still in a warehouse when the first freezing rain hits Highway 1. Tire makers generally put the switch point at around 7 degrees Celsius, the temperature where an all season compound starts to stiffen. Our post on when to change to winter tires in Manitoba has the longer answer, and our roundup of the best winter tires for trucks can help you narrow the shelf before you come in.
FAQs
What is the MPI Winter Tire Program?
It is a financing program from Manitoba Public Insurance. According to Manitoba Public Insurance, eligible customers can finance up to $2,000 per vehicle for approved winter tires and related items at prime plus 2 per cent interest. The loan is repaid over one to four years by automatic withdrawal from your bank account.
Do all weather tires qualify for the MPI Winter Tire Program?
No, not as of October 1, 2026. MPI now requires approved tires to be designed and marketed solely for winter driving conditions, so all weather and all season tires no longer qualify, even with the mountain snowflake mark.
Can I put rims and installation on the MPI loan?
Yes. MPI lists rims, mounting, balancing, alignment, tire pressure monitoring components, valve stems, shop supplies and applicable taxes and fees as eligible. Storage and the switchover are covered only when included in the initial purchase.
What do I need to bring to apply?
Your driver's licence and your vehicle registration. The participating retailer confirms your eligibility and completes the loan setup.
Is Dunn Ram Trucks a participating retailer?
Yes. We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program, so you can choose your tires and set up the loan with our team.
The Bottom Line
The MPI Winter Tire Program turns a winter tire bill into monthly payments, and it covers more of the package than most people expect. The one thing that changed this fall is the tire itself: it has to carry the mountain snowflake symbol and be sold solely as a winter tire.
Bring your driver's licence, your registration and the size from your door jamb to our parts department, and we can price the set and start the loan. Then book the installation before the first real storm.
Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie
