Winter Tires Required by Law on British Columbia Highways

Beautiful British Columbia can be home to some of Canada’s harshest, winter driving conditions. As of October 1, 2015, the vast majority of BC highways require, by law, the use of winter tires from October 1 – March 31 yearly.

The policy requires drivers of all vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, commercial, holiday, etc.) to have tires marked with the M+S sign or the mountain snowflake (see below). In addition, carrier vehicles and semis are required to carry tire chains.

Along with the proper tire symbols, tires need to have at least 3.5mm of tread depth.

Vehicles also need to have at least two matching winter tires on the primary drive axle, including on 4x4 vehicles. Mixing tread patterns compromises stability and while two matching winter tires are the minimum, having all four tires with matching tread patterns is recommended.

The benefit to using winter tires in the cold and snow, as opposed to summer or all-season tires, is in the compound of the rubber. The specialized compound has the ability to grip in snow and react favourably to the freezing temperatures.

The law applies to most major highways and secondary highways throughout the province. For a complete list, the British Columbia government has provided maps.

If you choose to ignore the law, you are putting yourself and others at risk – as well as your wallet. Fines for not having the proper winter tires, during enforced times, start at $121.