It happens twice a year like clockwork. October: "I need my winters put on." April: "Can you swap my summers back?" In Quebec, winter tires are mandatory by December 1st. In BC, they are required on most highways from October to April. Even in provinces without mandates, insurance companies pressure drivers to switch.

That is millions of tire changeovers across Canada, twice a year, in a 4–6 week window. For shops that prepare, it is the most profitable period of the year. For shops that do not, it is chaos that drives customers to competitors.

The Revenue Math

  • Tire swap (on rims): $60–$100 per vehicle × 20 per day × 30 days = $36,000–$60,000
  • Tire swap (off rims, balance): $120–$180 per vehicle × 10 per day × 30 days = $36,000–$54,000
  • New tire sales: Average $800–$1,400 per set × 5–8 per week × 6 weeks = $24,000–$67,200
  • Upsells during swap: Brake inspection, alignment check, fluid top-up. Average $50–$150 additional per vehicle.

Conservative 6-week total: $60,000–$120,000. Some high-volume shops in the GTA, Montreal, and Calgary do $150,000+ during tire season.

The Scheduling Problem

The biggest challenge is not the work — it is the SCHEDULE. Everyone wants their tires changed in the same 2-week window. Your phone rings 50 times a day. You are booked 3 weeks out. Customers get frustrated and go to Canadian Tire or Costco.

The shops that win tire season do one thing differently: they contact customers FIRST. In September, send a message to every customer who did a tire swap last year: "Winter is coming. Book your tire changeover now — appointments filling fast."

Early bookers fill your schedule in October when it is still manageable. Latecomers get November slots. No chaos, no missed appointments, no lost customers.

Tire Storage: The Recurring Revenue Nobody Talks About

Many Canadian shops offer seasonal tire storage — $80–$150 per season. The customer drops off their summers in October, you store them, mount their winters. In April, reverse. They never touch a tire.

100 storage customers × $80/season × 2 seasons = $16,000/year in pure recurring revenue. Almost zero cost — you need a storage room and a labelling system.

Track every customer's tire sizes, storage location, and swap dates with Mekavo. When September comes, one message to 100 storage customers fills your October calendar. Free for Canadian shops.