While winter tires are not mandatory province-wide, they are required on a majority of B.C. highways. Drivers without the proper winter tires in good condition driving on designated B.C. highways can receive a fine of $121.
Do I need winter tires to drive Vancouver?
Remember: If you plan to travel outside the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island, winter tires are required on most highways.
Where in B.C. are snow tires mandatory?
Approved winter tires are necessary to travel on the following highways: All highways in the North. All highways in the Interior. Sections of some highways on the South Coast, including the Sea to Sky Highway.
Are all season tires legal in B.C. in winter?
About Winter Tires
A legal winter tire (on a standard passenger vehicle or a four-wheel/all-wheel vehicle) MUST have at least 3.5 mm of tread depth. A winter tire must be labelled with either of the following: The letters “M” and “S”, the minimum legal requirement (mud + snow/all season tires)
Do you need winter tires to drive the Coquihalla?
1, winter tires are mandatory for all vehicles on most British Columbia highways — including the Coquihalla and Trans-Canada highways that connect Kamloops to the Lower Mainland until spring.
Can you drive with all season tires in BC?
All season tires have the M + S symbol, meaning mud and snow, and in B.C. they are considered the minimum acceptable winter tire. However, you could be turned away on some roads where only tires bearing the three peak snow flake symbol and the M + S are allowed.
Do you need winter tires from Vancouver to Whistler?
In B.C., vehicles are required to use winter tires on most major highways between October 1 and March 31 – see map.
Do all weather tires count as snow tires?
While a set of all-season tires can offer some traction in light snow and the occasional winter storm, they’re not designed for deep snow, ice, and cold weather (when temperatures stay below ~45º F). Winter or snow tires are designed for prolonged winter conditions, including snow, ice, and slush.
Can I go to Whistler with all-season tires?
From October 1 to March 31, snow tires or all-season tires are required to travel the Sea To Sky Highway. This is to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. What’s more, if there is snow on the road, it is very challenging to drive the hilly landscape with improper tires.
Do I need winter tires in Burnaby?
You can get slapped with a $121 fine for not having winter tires on most B.C. highways. Winter tires are required on most routes in B.C. starting Oct. 1. While there isn’t any snow on the ground in Metro Vancouver, locals should ensure they are prepared for wintry conditions in the province starting today.
Can you drive with summer tires in the winter?
The short answer is no. Using summer tires in winter conditions might be dangerous and risks damaging your tires. Local weather conditions are a huge deciding factor for the choice of your tires. With only occasional bouts of freezing temperatures, all-season tires could be an option for mild winter conditions.
Is it safe to drive with all-season tires in winter?
While all-season tires are safe when you’re driving on a wet road in the rain, they’re not as efficient when it comes to stopping and handling on snow-covered roads. On the other hand, winter tires help you stay in control of your vehicle even on snow-covered roads.
Do I need chains to drive to Whistler?
Whistler Winter Driving:
It is recommended that your car is equipped with proper snow/winter tires for the drive from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler. If you have all-season tires, please carry chains and know how to put them on. In case of heavy snowfall, a shovel and road salt are advisable.
Can you use chains instead of winter tires?
Your first line of defence in winter driving is a dedicated set of winter tires. A set of chains, which hopefully you’ll never need, is cheap insurance. “Chains improve traction and climbing by 100 per cent. They also considerably improve your stopping distance, because they will bite into the snow or hard-packed ice.
Are snow tires mandatory on the Sea to Sky Highway?
Winter tires are legally required on the Sea to Sky from now until spring. That is a law, not a suggestion. “It is the temperature change that should be instigating the tire change, not the snow,” noted Smythe.
Are all season tires good for Canadian winters?
Like winter tires, all-weather tires are recognized by Transport Canada as safe to use in most snowy conditions. On the physical tire, you will see a symbol of a 3-peaked mountain/snowflake (“Alpine”) logo (see table) on tires that qualify for this designation.
What tires are required on the Coquihalla?
“The tires must be in good condition and have a minimum tread depth of 3.5 millimetres. For rural highways and mountain passes, tires with the mountain/snowflake symbol provide the best traction and handling.”
Can you drive to Squamish without winter tires?
BC Highway Patrol Squamish and Squamish RCMP Municipal Traffic Services roles include ensuring drivers have proper tires, and they will be doing winter tire education and enforcement campaigns. Under the Motor Vehicle Act, police can fine drivers of passenger cars $121 for not having winter tires as required.
Is it better to get winter tires or all-season?
Snow tires outperform all-season tires under snowy and icy conditions. They’ll give you better traction, more stability in turns and better stopping power. If you wonder whether your “all-season” tires perform just as well in snow as the best snow tires, we have the answer.
Which is better all-weather or winter tires?
On wet and dry freezing pavement, the all-weather tire is more stable and stops surer than a winter tire. In heavy slush both tires work well.
Do you need winter tires with AWD?
But whether your vehicle is AWD, FWD, RWD or even four-wheel drive (4WD or 4X4), you still may need winter tires if you live in an area with snow or freezing temperatures. That’s because, while some drive systems do a better job of using the available traction than others, ALL of the traction is provided by the tires.