How to Choose from 4 Types of Tires for Winter Driving in BC

Winter is Coming Shift into Winter 3 peak mountain for winter tires

There’s been a lot of tire talk lately, which is great. Winter is coming, and you obviously want to be prepared.

We want you to be prepared, too. So, we thought we’d go over the four types of tires you are permitted to use when driving high mountain passes and other signed BC highways requiring winter tires for passenger vehicles.

studded tire
By Kantor.JH via Wikimedia Commons

Studded Winter Tires

How to identify? 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol on sidewall and metal studs on tread
Perform best in? Wet, rough ice, and heavy snow; temperatures below 7C
What else should you know? Studded tires with studs up to 2 mm are allowed on BC highways from October 1 to April 30.
Vehicles weighing less than 4,600 kg can have up to 130 studs per tire, and vehicles weighing more can have up to 175 studs per tire.
It’s also important to note that you should use studded tires on all four wheels for optimal control.
Legally, you cannot have studded tires only on the front wheels.

 

Winter_tires_with_North_American_symbol_crop
by A7N8X via Wikimedia Commons

Winter Rated Tires

How to identify? 3-peaked mountain and snowflake on sidewall
Perform best in? Rough ice and soft to hard-packed snow; temperatures below 7C
What else should you know? Full winter tires with the mountain/snowflake emblem maintain good traction in winter conditions
because they are composed of a rubber compound that stays soft in cold temperatures.
They also have an aggressive tread design for added traction on snow and ice.

All-Weather Tires

How to identify? 3-peaked mountain and snowflake on sidewall (ask tire dealer about the differences between winter and all-weather tires)
Perform best in? Milder winter conditions with rain and fast-melting snow; temperatures above and below 7C
What else should you know? All-weather tires are the newest type of tire designed to counter winter conditions. What makes them different from standard winter tires is they maintain good handling in both cold and warm temperatures, but can be kept on the vehicle year-round. However, they are made of a compound that is not as soft as standard winter tires, so they do not perform quite as well in cold temperatures. Still, the compound is softer than all-season tires.

All-Season Tires

How to identify? M+S (Mud and Snow) on the sidewall
Perform best in? Milder, dry or slightly wet conditions
What else should you know? All-season tires will not perform as well as standard winter tires in severe conditions; however,
all-season tires have a shape and tread design that gives better traction than summer tires in snow and ice.
The tire industry indicates M+S tires are made of a hard compound that offers reduced traction when temperatures dip below 7C, compared to winter tires with the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol.

All of these tires are legal on highways with winter tire requirements between October 1 and March 31 or April 30, as long as they have a minimum 3.5 mm tread depth. Tip: pick up a tire depth gauge – they are inexpensive and available at most stores that sell auto supplies.

For maximum stability in cold weather and on ice, snow and slush, we recommend using standard winter tires with the mountain/snowflake emblem. On the other hand, if you only drive in a milder area (ie. Lower Mainland) that gets rain rather than snow, you may choose all-weather or all-season tires.

BC’s diverse range of weather can make tire shopping confusing – we know. That’s why we created a website to help guide your decision. No matter what type of tire you use, your driving performance is one of your best defences against cold, snow and ice. Give lots of space in poor conditions. And remember, speed limits are for ideal driving conditions – think dry asphalt, warm weather, windows down, wind in hair – so, please slow down when necessary.

If you liked this blog, check out these other popular posts:

Share this page:SharingFacebookTwitterLinkedInCopy Text

Page 1 of 211 comments on “How to Choose from 4 Types of Tires for Winter Driving in BC”

Leave a Reply to Colin Cancel reply

  1. Bad terminology!

    You define ‘all weather’ as hardness of tread compound, softer

    But to most people it means tread shape.

    IMJ the tread shape people refer to as ‘all weather’ is not suitable for snow.

    And beware of mis-representation of the term by cheap makers.

    ‘All weather’ seems to just mean more tread than ‘summer tires’, which remind me of what car racers call ‘rain tires’ for wet but not awash track surfaces.

  2. Thanks.

    I think rules about studs are more complex than you claim, and fiefdoms may vary (years ago WA website was a contradictory mess).

    The tread you show with studs is a minimum IMJ, it is the best that will fit some vehicles like early 90s Dodge Caravans because of steering angle unless you pad the stops.

  3. If I am renting a car in Kelowna to drive to Revelstoke – what type of tires are required.
    Do most car rentals at the Kelowna airport have the acceptable tires on them ( even though they are M and S and not necessarily Snow tires ? It seems when I try to “talk” to the companies that their automated answer machine only tells me to go to their website, which does not have the answer to the question….?
    thx

    • Hi there Margaret,

      Most rental vehicles will be equipped with M+S tires, which meet the minimum winter tire requirement.

      If you are renting a vehicle and travelling outside the Greater Vancouver or Greater Victoria areas, it’s a good idea to ensure your vehicle rental is equipped with winter tires. While M+S tires are legally acceptable, tires with the 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol provide the best traction in winter conditions. If there is a way to email or leave a message asking for the company to ensure that your vehicle is equipped with winter rated tires specifically, we encourage you to do that before you arrive. We hope this is helpful.

  4. For added traction, when M&S or even 3 Peak is not enough, are tire socks legal for use on passenger cars? I have used chains in the past over my 3 Peak, but socks are much easier. I saw an Amazon delivery van with them on recently.

    If tire socks are not legal, do chains meet the legal requirement on passenger cars as an alternative?

    • Hi Kevin,

      Recreational vehicles such as fifth wheels and trailers should have either 3-peaked mountain snowflake or M+S tires on the drive axle of the primary vehicle and chains on board for the trailer tires to prevent slippage on banked curves. Hope this is helpful.

  5. Thanks for all the information.
    Its strange that it is very hard to confirm rental vehicles with proper Winter tyres. Many have the all season during Winter but don’t guarantee availability of Winter tyres.

  6. Always use snow tires… and not all season tires in winter. Snow tires are the only tire that should be mandatory in all Canadien Provinces.

    In Quebec its law to have snowtires from December to April every year and they work the best in snow or ice on the roads. The rubber on the snow tire is softer so they do not freeze up like all season or summer tires.

    Driving in the mountains and in the vallies you have no idea when bad weather is going to appear for safe yourself and save you family and car for a accident from happening and get snow tires.

    • Hi there Mark – thanks for your message. While both Mountain Snowflake (or winter rated) and Mud and Snow (M+S) tires are legal on BC highways, we encourage drivers who regularly travel in winter conditions to install winter rated tires on their vehicle.

      • Snow tyres aka Winter tyres are fair better than any MS tyres I have ever driven on. The problem is rental companies are reducing the amount of winters available , this is sad. All rentals in winter should have Winter tyres available.. No extra payment really. That is the real minimum safety requirement.

  7. You could display the information more clearly. For example:
    BC highways requiring winter tires for passenger vehicles:
    1) Standard Winter Tires: with 3-peaked mountain and snowflake on sidewall, studded or unstudded, or
    2) All Weather Tires: 3-peaked mountain and snowflake on sidewall, or
    3) All Season Tires: M+S (Mud and Snow) on the sidewall

    For winter conditions, tires have a minimum 3.5 mm tread depth.

  8. Hello,
    We are heading to whistler
    My tires are new all weather
    Have mountain and snowflake symbol and M+S on them
    I do not have chains. Do u need chains to go from van to whistler?
    Thank you

    • Hello Waltraud,

      Thanks for your question.

      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)
      The 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol (some manufacturers label with both the mountain snowflake and the M+S symbol)

      3-peaked mountain/snowflake tires offer better traction on snow and ice. We recommend drivers install 3-peaked mountain/snowflake tires for cold weather driving and, for extreme conditions, carry chains.

      Summer tires are not permitted for driving during designated winter months. Chains on summer tires are not an acceptable substitute for legal winter tires on signed B.C. highways.

      Due to a more temperate winter climate in the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island, drivers are not required to use winter tires in many areas along the coast. See the South Coast Map for places where winter tires are needed, such as the Malahat. Remember, you are responsible for equipping your vehicle properly for the conditions you are driving in. Many drivers choose to use M+S tires year-round.

      Here is the link for more information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving

  9. The map shows that hwy 97 requires snow tires but for approximately 5km’s this hwy runs through the city of penticton. Does this mean that this part of the hwy is under the control of the city and not department of highways?

    • Hello Ray – thanks for reaching out to us here. The ministry has jurisdiction over all of Highway 97, including the stretch of road which runs through Penticton. Hope this information is helpful! Safe travels.

        • Hi Patricia, to drive on BC highways in the southern interior of the province, you must have tires that have “M+S” or the mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewalls. This short video shows how to identify the tires that you have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x4Zob9J2mE BC cities, municipalities and private roads (such as ski hills) may have their own bylaws or rules around the use of winter tires, chains or traction devices are different from provincial highway regulations. I suggest you contact the City of Penticton to ask about tire regulations for the within the city limits.

    • Hi there Donny – thanks for your question. Tires with the Mud and Snow (M+S) letters on the side meet the minimum requirement for winter travel in BC. Tires must also have at least 3.5 mm tread depth. If you are travelling this route regularly during the winter, we recommend investing in winter rated tires (those with the mountain snowflake logo on them). Hope that this is helpful!

  10. Good morning. It’s been really warm and I’m not supposed to use winter tires until it’s 7C or lower or they degrade. It’s 29C today and in the 20s until beginning of next week (as per environment Canada). We are supposed to head to Vancouver Island for Thanksgiving (We are in Saskatoon). If we put the snow tires on they will wear really fast at this temp. Advice?

  11. Please answer these 4 questions for bc law.
    Deadlines of when we must have the studs/chain winter tires on.

    If tires have to be on by oct 1 how soon before the deadline can you put studded winter tires on?

    How long after deadline do you have to take them off?

    What is the suggested time for taking them off?

    • Studded tires may only be legally used on BC highways from October 1 to April 30. In terms of installation/removal and enforcement, that would be up to the discretion of police.

  12. What tires are allowed in Alberta ? Why is M&S not recognized as a snow tire ? My insurance company do not discount my policy unless a snow flake is recognized on a tire ..I really don’t think it’s clear to them or myself . Would really like to clarify these issues .
    Thanks

    • Hi P.E.

      Studded tires may only be used on BC HIGHWAYS from October 1 to April 30 and the studs should not protrude more than 2 mm from the tread or traction surface of the tire. Use of studded tires outside of this period may result in a fine. I suggest you contact the municipality that you’re concerned with, to see if they have rules about when studded tires are permitted on city STREETS.

  13. I will be renting a car at Kelowna airport in February, and driving to Rossland. Are the rental agencies required by law to equip rental cars with the minimum requirement tires for that region?

    • Hello Elliott and thank you for your comment. Most rental vehicles will be equipped with M+S tires, which meet the minimum winter tire requirement.
      While M+S tires are legally acceptable, tires with the 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol provide the best traction in winter conditions. Please discuss options with your vehicle rental provider. Keep in mind, cities, municipalities and private roads (such as ski hills) may have their own bylaws or rules around the use of winter tires, chains or traction devices that may differ from provincial highway regulations. We hope this information is helpful.

      • I had thought there provincial (non city/private) highways on the Kelowna-Rossland route that require true winter (3-peaked mountain/snowflake) tires. Do you know if this is correct? Also, if a ticket/fine is issued for non-legal tires, do you know if that goes to the driver personally, or to the owner of the vehicle?

        Thanks

        • Hi Elliott,

          Thanks for your comment. If there is a private road (not maintained by the ministry) it may have different regulations in place. We encourage you to identify the group responsible for the road and follow up directly with them (this may be a ski hill operator, development, etc.). Unfortunately, we can’t say how the fine and ticket system work – ICBC would though and here is their contact info: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/contact-us/Pages/default.aspx

  14. Hello

    My motorcycle has a sidecar attached for stability in winter conditions and has studded tires for winter conditions. I am very well equipped for winter conditions as well as temperatures below 0c. From what I have read, the requirement for winter designated (M+S) tires does not apply to motorcycles as they are exempt, and as far as motorcycles SHOULD (not MUST) not be on the road:

    “ if the temperature is near or below freezing
    if road conditions include snow, slush or icy conditions”…

    this is left to the discretion of any RCMP/Police officer and that there is no provincial law that specifically applies to motorcycles.

    Is this correct?

    • Hello Ron and thank you for your question. We sent your question to our engineering group and here’s what we heard back.

      Motorcycles are not exempt.

      It is just that motorcycles are not identified on the signage that the minister puts up on highways. This is covered off on item 2 of section 208 of the BC MVA. As motorcyclist are not specifically shown on the sign, as such, there are no rules specific tire or chain rules that apply to them when encountering the signs. However, what applies to them (and applies to all who operate on a highway) is found in Section 144 of the BC MVA.

      It is indeed fact that many motorist has been charged under this section 144 item for not being prepared, and causing a mishap for others when on the highway.

      (2)The minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act may, by public notice or by placing signs, prohibit any vehicle or a class of vehicles from being driven or operated on a highway, unless the vehicle is equipped with chains, winter tires or traction devices, or a combination of these, that the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers adequate in view of prevailing road conditions.

      https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section208

      Winter tires and traction devices

      208 (1)For the purpose of this section, “winter tire” means a tire that meets the standards and specifications prescribed for winter tires.
      (2)The minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act may, by public notice or by placing signs, prohibit any vehicle or a class of vehicles from being driven or operated on a highway, unless the vehicle is equipped with chains, winter tires or traction devices, or a combination of these, that the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers adequate in view of prevailing road conditions.
      (3)A public notice or sign under subsection (2) may provide differently in relation to specified dates, prevailing weather conditions or any other criteria the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers necessary or advisable.
      (4)A person who drives or operates a vehicle in contravention of a prohibition made under subsection (2) commits an offence.

      Careless driving prohibited

      144 (1)A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a highway

      (a)without due care and attention,
      (b)without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway, or
      (c)at a speed that is excessive relative to the road, traffic, visibility or weather conditions.
      (2)A person who contravenes subsection (1) (a) or (b) is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $100 and, subject to this minimum fine, section 4 of the Offence Act applies.

  15. If I have the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 tires on my AWD Honda CRV, are these sufficient for driving in the mountain routes? Rather than The M+S symbol, they have the M/S symbol. Is this ok?

  16. I have Hankook Kontral Durapro HT P265/70 R 111T tires which have the M/S rating on my 2018 Nissan Frontier. The tir s still have good thread on them. Are these legal for winter driving up to Mount Washington or into the Okanagon, Summerland area?

  17. It’s worth mentioning that the industry definition of M+S tires is that they have 20% open space in the tread. This makes them noisier on the road but you don’t have to change tires twice a year in milder winter conditions. Snowflake tires incorporate a rubber compound additive that contracts as the temperature goes down making the rubber material softer as the temperature decreases to a certain point. Because of this snowflake winter tires wear out very quickly. A neat trick if you’re stuck on patch of ice with spinning tires is to put your car floor mats under the tire.

    • Hi Hilde. Yes, M+S tires are the minimum legal requirement. However, 3-peaked mountain/snowflake tires offer better traction in cold weather and on snow/ice.

      • Hello there,

        My question is similar to Hilde. While you say that the 3-peaked M/S tire are better, are they the requirement? Lets say if someone has M/S tire with no snowflake, will that driver be fined?

        Siddharth

        • Hi Siddharth. As stated in the blog, both are legal on highways with winter tire requirements.
          M+S = minimum legal requirement.
          3-peaked mountain/snowflake = also legal, but provide better traction in cold, ice and snow. Therefore, our recommendation for driving in these conditions.
          Hope this helps!

  18. For RWD vehicles, do they require M&S or snowflake tires on all 4 wheels or can they just be on the drive wheels? When I was a young man, living in the interior most people just put on 2 snow tires.

  19. Hello,

    Just curious if you can use studded winter tires for regular driving around the lower mainland in the winter? I’m a little confused as I see it says you can use them on BC highways. Does this also include local driving around Richmond, Vancouver, etc in the winter time?

    Thank you!

    • Hi Desiree.
      Studded winter tires may only be used on BC highways from October 1 to April 30 and the studs should not protrude more than 2 mm from the tread or traction surface of the tire. Use of studded tires outside of this period may result in a fine. As for local driving, sorry, those are not provincial highways and fall out of our jurisdiction.

    • Hi Elliot,

      Tires with the M+S logo (and at least 3.5 mm tread depth) are the minimum acceptable type of tire for driving mountain passes in BC. Our recommendation for regular travellers of these routes is to use winter rated (Mountain snowflake) tires. We encourage you to also carry chains, in case you should require extra traction, give yourself plenty of time to travel, so that you aren’t in a rush, check DriveBC.ca and drive to the conditions of the road, not the posted speed limit. Speed limits are set for ideal driving conditions and winter driving conditions are not ideal. Here’s a link to further information about chain up routes and winter tire requirements: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving

  20. Why can’t ICBC require 3peak winter tires on all bc roads between Oct 1 and April 30th? if it saves even 1 life and reduce numerous accidents, wouldn’t it be worth it? Even in the lower mainland, it is often below 7 degrees and proper winter tires would decrease stopping distance and it would prevent many accidents, therefore reduce injury claims and save ICBC money and yet no cost to ICBC to mandate this requirement. Or reduce the premium by 2 or 5% to people that opt to drive with 3 peak snowflake winter tires? Just like health insurance, if you are a non smoker, your premium is reduced.

    • I agree, I strongly wish that the Gov’t would NOT allow all-season M+S on the mountain pass roads. If someone doesn’t drive these, then M+S would be fine. But if you plan to drive the Sea to Sky or the Coq or the 97C etc, you should be REQUIRED to have 3-peak Mountain tires only. They’ve made an entire TV show out of how bad the conditions get on those highways – it’s clear they are not the types of roads or conditions that we should be allowing people to drive on M+S all-seasons. Everyone knows it, let’s just step up and make it the law.

      • Hi Kristina – Due to a more temperate winter climate in the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island, drivers are not required to use winter tires in many areas along the coast. If motorists are plannning on driving a mountain pass – we recommend they use winter rated snow tires. Hope that this helps!

  21. Hello “tranbceditor”. Just want to says ‘thanks’ for the fact that someone is actually reading people’s questions and responding in timely manner. Seems like most people have similar questions with confusion about m+s and mountain-snowflake. Reading through comments has been very helpful. Keep up the great work. The 3.5mm minimum needs more mentioning.

  22. Is it legal for car rental companies in the Okanagan for example, to charge more for cars with ‘winter tires’? It appears that it’s a substantial charge for that ‘option’. If not willing to pay that, then it seems only cars with the M + S symbol are available which may not be safe in adverse snow conditions.

  23. Hi there,
    I’ve read about 2 dozen comments and am yet to find one for traveling in 2019 – 2020 from Kelowna to Vancouver via Hwy 97C and the Coquihalla Hwy…
    I don’t want to get a headache by continuing to read on my tiny phone, which is my only access to the internet.

    If traveling from Kelowna to Vancouver between October 2019 and April 2020, either in an SUV (2016) or a Ford 150 (2014) EXACTLY what tire’s are Needed on these 2 specific Hwys??

    I don’t want to be more confused with the “You Need “”Either”” “”Or””! I want EXACT SPECIFICS for these 2 Hwys only, please and thank you!

    And I’ll apologize in advance if I seem too blunt…

    Sincerely Appreciated and Thank You,
    KP

    • Hello Bena,

      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)
      The 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol (some manufacturers label with both the mountain snowflake and the M+S symbol)

      3-peaked mountain/snowflake tires offer better traction on snow and ice. We recommend drivers install 3-peaked mountain/snowflake tires for cold weather driving and, for extreme conditions, carry chains.

      Summer tires are not permitted for driving during designated winter months. Chains on summer tires are not an acceptable substitute for legal winter tires on signed B.C. highways.

  24. I noticed the signs now have M+S and the snowflake in the mountain peak. It doesn’t say M+S or Snowflake anymore.

    Does this mean you have to have both the M+S and the snowflake in the 3 peak mountain to drive on BC highways?

  25. Hi I have M+S Nokia Rotiiva, they don’t have the snowflake on them, at least I can’t find it. I got a little confused after reading this is the snowflake symbol mandatory or if you have M and S with 3.5mm tread depth you are O.K.? Don’t want to break the rules, trying to avoid buying 6 tires too 🙂

  26. Hi. Me and my wife are planning to go to whistler in a few weeks. We bought a set of M+S tires late last year. I would assume I can use those on the sea to sky. Lots of tread on them . They still look new.

    • As long as your M+S tires have a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm you are good to go (but please also check DriveBC.ca before you go and give yourself plenty of time, so you don’t have to rush)!

  27. Winter is becoming more severe on the island, with many residents frequenting the malahat, and it seems wildly unsafe to allow M+S tires on highways. Are you considering changing the laws, with the development of all-weather tires? The prices aren’t much different, and they are, statistically, a much safer option.

  28. Can you please clarify if a M + S Tire with greater than 3.5mm tread is sufficient for the curent 2019 regulations for Highway 19 on Vancouver Island, including the Malahat ?

  29. Me and a group of friends will be travelling to Edmonton on the 11th and returning on the Tuesday the week after. I have MS tires and are the correct tread depth. I am wondering if I am okay with these and won’t be sent back and fined during the trip.

  30. I have 1995 f150 4×4
    Is it legal to only have studded tires for the rear tires?
    The same brand.
    Can i have 2 non studded tires on front that are different brand.
    Thanks

  31. Good afternoon! I was curious if you know who is responsible for handing out the approval that would allow a tire manufacturer to put the severe weather “apline snowflake” symbol on tires? Lately we’ve been seeing alot of mud terrain tires with a severe weather rating on the sidewall – the Comforser cf3000 is one of them! Any info is appreciated!

    • Hello Kevin and thanks for your message. We asked our engineers your question and they let us know that the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) test determines whether a tire qualifies to get the mountain/snowflake symbol.

      It’s a standard test used across North America. Our understanding is that the tire manufacturer can conduct the test or have a private company conduct the test.

      As to whom you should contact, perhaps the tire manufacturer to confirm that the tire meets ASTM standards (ASTM F1805).

      We hope that this is helpful.

  32. i live in prince george bc,i have a old 92 chevy silverado 2whl drive so only 1 tire spins,should i get studded tires?i dont drive much at all but want the most traction but cant afford a whole lot of money !

    • Hi Bert. We recommend using 3-peaked mountain/snowflake tires for best traction in winter conditions. We suggest discussing the pros and cons of studded tires with your local tire dealer.

  33. I am trying to determine what requirements the tire must meet in order to be labelled with the mountain snowflake symbol. I am not able to find any quantitative information on this. Surely there must be some regulation(s) governing the tire manufacturers in regards to this. The only answer I seem to be getting to this question is a qualitative one: “A mountain snowflake tire provides better traction on snow and ice than a tire labelled with only M+S.” BUT HOW MUCH BETTER? If an all-weather tire is just a 10% improvement over all-season tire, for example, each of us can then personally choose for ourselves if it’s acceptable benefit given the higher cost and shorter life span of an all-weather tire.

    • Hi there Roger – thanks for connecting with us here. The federhttps://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/safevehicles-safetyfeatures-wintertires-index-468.htmal government works with the Rubber Association of Canada to set the standards and we encourage you to contact the federal government directly on this issue. Here’s their contact info:

  34. We are currently residents of Washington State. We will be taking a driving trip through BC to Calgary for a conference at the beginning of October. Having been long time residents of Alaska, we do have a full set of studded tires (Nokian Hakkapeliitta) on extra wheels which I can install prior to departing. Is this likely to get me into trouble with law enforcement, or do they have some leeway for out-of-province vehicles?

    • Hi there Jeff – thanks for connecting with us here. Winter tires are required on most BC highways beginning October 1st. We classify winter tires as those with the mountain snowflake symbol or M+S tires with at least 3.5 mm tread depth. If you are using studded tires, you should have them on all four wheels for even traction. If using studded tires on the front of the vehicle they MUST be used on the back of the vehicle as well.These tires may only be used on BC highways from October 1 to April 30 and the studs should not protrude more than 2 mm from the tread or traction surface of the tire. Use of studded tires outside of this period may result in a fine.

      If your car already has what we classify as winter tires on it, you might not need to swap over your tires. Here’s a link to our winter tires site for more information:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/about-winter-tires

  35. I think they should banish the m&s designation. It confuses people. You would think a tire that said snow would work on snow. THEY DO NOT. They are utterly useless and a hazard because people think they must work, after all it Says snow… right on the tire…..

    • Thank you for your comment.
      We agree that mountain snowflake tires offer better traction on snow and ice and we recommend drivers who travel outside the lower mainland install mountain/snowflake tires for cold weather driving and, for extreme conditions, carry chains. The use of Mud and Snow tires accounts for a large portion of the population of BC who live in the lower mainland which rarely receives snow. We hope that this helps answer your questions.

  36. Hey there guys,
    I am wondering if studded tires are restricted anywhere during the “winter” months. I work in Alberta and will be driving through the mountains to get home to the island. I know that most of the lower mainland and island doesn’t require studs and I just wanted to know if there are any restrictions in those areas.
    Thanx

    • Hi Sean. There are time period restrictions but not location restrictions. Studded tires may only be used on BC highways from October 1 to April 30, and the studs should not protrude more than 2 mm from the tread or traction surface of the tire. Use of studded tires outside of this time period may result in a fine. Safe travels!

  37. I will be traveling from Vancouver to Kelowna, I have a good set of M/S tires on my 2015 AWD Nissan Pathfinder, I want to pull a utility trailer with me, does the trailer require winter tires or M/S tires?

  38. For a Mazda CX9 GT 2018, thinking of getting dedicated winter tires. Have asked tire companies and told me that since it is only used during winter season, Light Truck or SUV can be used instead of Passenger tires… Would you advice, Please. Thanks

    • Hi there Flocosa,

      We are glad to hear that you are getting dedicated winter tires however, we are the experts in the best type of tire for your vehicle. Perhaps ask a local Mazda dealer? Hope that this helps!

  39. Hello,

    I am planning to go Whistler for hot spring on mid February, and will be back to Vancouver on the next day. I am not a winter sport guy so I only have M+S tires on my Subaru AWD car. I also check the corresponding road camera. The road condition is wet and not covered by snow. I know my tires reach the minimum safety requirement and I am a safe driver that have not had any accident, but since I have no experience driving to Whistler in winter, do you think I should rent a car with mountain snowflake tire or I should be fine with M+S tires?

    Thanks for your recommendation in advance!

    • Hi Wilson,

      Thanks for connecting with us here and asking your questions. Your M+S tires (with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm) are the minimum legal requirement on BC Highways. For added safety and traction, we recommend you carry chains, in case you need them. Give yourself plenty of time, so you don’t have to rush and you should be fine. Happy trails.

      • Hello,

        Thanks for your reply. Definitely I will drive carefully in an appropriate speed. I am not going anywhere further than Whistler, plus the weather and road condition look good. If there is no snow covered on sea to sky highway, do I still need to carry chains? Moreover, I have no experience installing chains, so probably if weather and road condition becomes worse 1-2 days before my trip, I will rent a car with mountain snowflake tires…

    • Hey Wilson, just wanted to throw my two cents in here, I work at a tire shop in Prince George, when I started here and the winter season was approaching, I wasn’t 100% sure what the rules where, so I called icbc and they told me M&S as well as the 3 peak snowflake are fine to run, I then called the Prince George RCMP and asked them and they told me (October 2017) that M&S is fine in town but illegal on the highway, to drive the highway you need the snowflake. Now with that being said, I could be wrong, just giving you a heads up of what the RCMP told me when I asked them about M&S and the snowflake.

      Hope this helps

      • Hello Desmond (and Wilson),

        The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is only responsible for writing the legislation, not enforcing it. We sent your comment to our traffic engineers who let us know that:

        1) If it ain’t written, it aint’ so,
        2) If it is written, it is so.

        With that in mind, the BC MVA and BC MVA regulations for current winter tire laws are based on how the ministry signs the road. We could sign the road indicating that only 3 peaked mountain snowflake winter tires are required. We do not have any of those signs. We only have signs indicating that both 3 peaked mountain snowflake and M+S are allowed. As such, on ministry controlled highways, both types of tires are allowed.

        http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/26_58_04#section7.162

        Winter tires
        7.162 (1) A winter tire under section 208 of the Act must have at least 3.5 mm of tread depth.
        (2) A winter tire under section 208 of the Act must
        (a) when tested in accordance with section 5 (4) (a) of the Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations (Canada) meet or exceed the traction index prescribed by that section, or
        (b) meet the specifications adopted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association to be labelled on a sidewall with the letters “M” and “S”.
        (3) A winter tire under section 208 of the Act must be labelled on a sidewall by the manufacturer with either of the following:
        (a) the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol as shown below:

        (b) the letters “M” and “S”.
        [en. B.C. Reg. 177/2015, App. s. 3.]

        Winter tires and traction devices
        208 (1) For the purpose of this section, “winter tire” means a tire that meets the standards and specifications prescribed for winter tires.
        (2) The minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act may, by public notice or by placing signs, prohibit any vehicle or a class of vehicles from being driven or operated on a highway, unless the vehicle is equipped with chains, winter tires or traction devices, or a combination of these, that the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers adequate in view of prevailing road conditions.
        (3) A public notice or sign under subsection (2) may provide differently in relation to specified dates, prevailing weather conditions or any other criteria the minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act considers necessary or advisable.
        (4) A person who drives or operates a vehicle in contravention of a prohibition made under subsection (2) commits an offence.

        Hope that this helps.

  40. Dear tranbc Editor,

    Thanks to you and all your participants for
    your extensive postings on what has become
    a confusing issue, practically, technologically,
    and legally. I’ve been driving for fifty-five
    years, put a lot of emphasis on road safety,
    but I still learned a lot.

    However, I still have a question.

    Some friends from New Zealand are going
    to Whistler in late January and driving to
    to Clinton, in the Southern Cariboo, probably
    via the Duffy Lake Road, Highway 99, to
    Lillooet, through Pavillion, to Highway 97.

    The alternative route would necessitate driving
    back to Metro Madness and following the
    TCH North, a longer and not necessarily
    safer route.

    They will be renting a vehicle at YVR.
    I’m concerned that they may not be able to
    rent what they need in Metro Madness for
    that trip at this time of the year.

    So, please offer me your advice, to pass
    on to them, about getting a rental
    vehicle, with appropriate tires, chains, and
    equipment.

    Thank you, in advance, for your help.

    Happy and Safe Trails,

    Ramblin’ Ryan Lake.

    • Hello again Ramblin’ Ryan,

      Your friends should tell their rental company that they will be travelling outside of Metro Vancouver and will require a vehicle with winter tires. They can also ask that chains be included in their trunk, should they need them. M+S tires are the minimum requirement and work best while in the lower mainland wet. Once outside this zone, those dedicated winter tires are the best choice. Hope that this helps.

  41. HELLO,
    STILL CONFUSED BETWEEN ALL SEASON M&S TIRES AND WINTER TIRES M&S , I DRIVE LIMOUSINE (SEDAN , SUV STRETCH AND SPRINTER VAN). BY LAW WHICH TIRES SHOULD BE USED TO DRIVE ON SEA TO SKY HWY . AS I SEE BOARD ON THE HWY SAYS WINTER TIRES WITH SNOW FLAKE & PEAK . PLS SPECIFY DIFFERANCE BETWEEN ALL SEASON AND WINTER TIRES OR SNOW TIRES.

    • Hi Yuri,

      Some winter tires will also include the M+S logo, which can be confusing we know. All-season tires will not perform as well as standard winter tires in severe conditions. M+S tires are made of a hard compound that offers reduced traction when temperatures dip below 7C, compared to winter tires with the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol.

      All of these tires are legal on highways with winter tire requirements between October 1 and March 31, as long as they have a minimum 3.5 mm tread depth. For maximum stability in cold weather and on ice, snow and slush, we recommend using standard winter tires with the mountain/snowflake emblem. Hope that this helps.

  42. Can I use the following combination of tires, is there any ICBC regulation on the use of tires, any link?

    1. Front two tires of different make and rear with different make all have same size.
    2. Three tires of different make and one tire another make, with all have same same size.
    3. Front two tires of different make (Example size is 225/50R17) and rear two of different or same make
    ( EXample size 215/50R17).

    • Hi Sukh,

      We recommend drivers use 4 winter tires that are evenly matched in tread type and depth; however – the BC MVA requires you to have a minimum two matching tires and those must be on your primary driving axle (even when driving a 4X4 vehicle). We strongly discourage mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal construction and size as this compromises stability, and should be avoided. Tires with different construction and wear carry the vehicle differently, affecting the overall operational safety of your vehicle in winter conditions. Hope that this helps.

  43. I travel from Chilliwack to Vancouver daily. Getting new tires but am still not sure if I should stud them.We are expecting a rough winter so is it worth it to stud tires in the Lower Mainland/ Fraser Valley?

    • Hi Ron,

      We recommend you use winter rated tires (those with the three-peaked mountain snowflake symbol) with 3.5 mm tread depth. Dedicated winter traction tires should give you the performance you need in the Fraser Valley, which can often see more wintery conditions than the Greater Vancouver area.

  44. Hello,
    I am trying to decide what type of tired to buy for my small SUv which is all wheel drive. I drove in the lower mainland and rarely to never on the mountains. Is it sufficient to use all season for highway driving this winter or is it safest to be using winter tires. I drive with my children on the highway daily so am hoping to make the safe-sensible choice.
    Thanks for your help!!

    • Hi Erin,

      If you are driving in the Lower Mainland and not up into higher elevation areas with snow, all season tires with the M+S logo and at least 3.5 mm tread depth will be the best choice for you.

  45. I’ve been speaking with ICBC and the person is saying that an long as the front 2 tires match as per referencing the government website it’s fine.
    I have 4 winter tires I was getting the front 2 studded as I drive on a lot of icy roads I drive a Toyota Matrix. Is that legal ?

    • Hi Linda,

      Winter tires with the 3-peak mountain snowflake symbol provide the best traction in winter conditions. Victoria has milder winters than the rest of the province, but winter conditions do happen, especially travelling up-Island via the Malahat.

  46. What you guys need to do is homework M+S is on every tire unless it’s strictly a summer ire commonly coming in Hi Performance cars luxury stuff

    So what you are saying is that yeah your M+S is okay when really it’s not you need the M+S with the 3 peak snow flake that’s a winter tire.

    All season is every tire other then a summer tire like stated above all season doesn’t have the 3 peak snow flake just a M+S

    All a weathers have M+S and the 3 Peak snow flake as a person who sells tires its very frustrating the way that Trans BC doesn’t even know what’s what if you have a M+S on the Sea To Sky and we have snow like last year the cops turn you around if you don’t have the snow flake…. juts the M+S doesn’t cover it but you guys say it does so it’s contradicting

    • Hi Colin,

      There is the legal minimum requirement and then there is our recommendation. M+S tires with at least 3.5 mm tread is the minimum legal requirement on signed highways (which is most highways outside the Lower Mainland). We recommend winter tires with the 3-peak mountain snowflake symbol. It is the driver’s responsibility to equip his or her vehicle based on the road conditions he or she drives.

    • Hi Nisha,
      Do your all season tires have the M+S (Mud and Snow) symbol and at least 3.5 mm tread depth? If they do, they are acceptable on the Sea to Sky between October 1 and March 31. Please note: If highway conditions become very poor, the BC RCMP has the right to turn any vehicle around, even those with M+S tires and winter tires with the 3-peaked mountain snowflake symbol on them. Remember to check DriveBC.ca before you travel and give yourself plenty of time. Safe travels.

  47. I drive a sierra half ton in and around 100 mile house. This year I need new tires for winter. In the past I liked studded tires. This time if I choose a different type of tire how would I evaluate between an all weather tires and non-studded winter tires?

  48. well not much really – you’ve told me all I already knew. I was asking very specifically about my journey
    I will try to find that info but so far all I’m getting are these general/generic safe answers that don’t help at all..
    thank you

  49. hi
    I have a set of conti procontact all seasons on my golf 7 and next week I will be driving up to Port McNeill to stay there for a month. I cannot figure out if the roads from Vancouver to PMcNeill are in good enough a shape for all season tire or do the driving conditions require winter tires? can you advise on this?
    thank you!

  50. SO here is a very Simple question, I have excellent winter ties that I purchased for a vehicle I had last year, I would like to put them on my new vehicle, however the tires are for a 16 in rim and my new vehicle has 17 inch rims. New 16″ rims that would fit my new vehicle and the winter tiers are available, but I was told by Canadian Tire that if I drop down a size from the manufactures recommendation of 17″/7.5, that Transport Can would consider any accident sustained with the smaller tire would result in my ICBC insurance being voided, thus leaving myself and Canadian Tire liable.

    I got to be honest, this seems a bit far fetched considering that this small alteration is easily achievable as the appropriate rims are available at CanTire. Considering that we have all seen vehicles with much more extreme alterations, I’m gather that this guys was not correct?…But to be safe I’d like to confirm. To be clear here are the dimensions of everything I spoke of:

    I would like to take 4 near new 16″ Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx Tires and place them on 4 new 16″ rims that are available and can accommodate the tires and fit on my new 2016 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that specifies the current tire size as 17″/7.5.

    So really by dropping down to from 17″ to 16″ to make my jeep safer, I could be held liable? I cant seem to find any trace of this on TransCan or ICBC’s sites, please confirm.

  51. I work in law enforcement for the provincial government , and I’ m subject to enforcing laws that legislators make with no real world experience or common sense,and with no real experience in actually enforcing the laws. This is just one more example of this….. M+ S tires acceptable for true winter driving!!!!! What a joke! This is a big mistake and really a waste of time, true winter rated tires with the snowflake and mountain symbol should be the minimum rating! It seams to me that the legislators are trying to accomidate the coast with a one size fits all approach. Here is my prediction!!!! And I’ve never been wrong!!!! The amount of accidents that will occur due to people relying on the minimum requirement of M+S will increase accidents and force legislators to change the law to either require the snowflake and mountain symbol as a minimum or require tire manufacturers to change the characteristics of the M+S tires to be more like that of the snowflake and mountain symbol tires. Just my humble opinion! And remember….. never been wrong…… okay one time but that was years ago!!!!

    • Hello Craig,

      Thanks for your comment. We shared your concern with our traffic engineering branch and here is their response:

      This a complex issue that encompasses a wide assortment of issues, focussed on tires dedicated for roads covered with snow and ice.
      In the USA, these types of dedicated tires are called snow tires and not winter tires. The reason is that winter is a season, and not a road condition, and as such, in places like Miami, Los Angeles and Phoenix winter season generally represents different weather than what could be expected in Nome, Alaska.

      In British Columbia the winter season for the majority of the population is more about rain, or dry pavement that snow covered roads. Making people convert to a dedicated “winter tire” for a single trip from Vancouver to Whistler, or Vancouver to the interior, when most of the winter season will be on wet roads or dry roads does not make good safety or economic sense.

      As such, the ministry has set a minimum standard for snow covered roads, in recognition that many people in the winter season may only encounter such snow conditions for a short time, and where different tires might be the better choice for surface road conditions drivers’ encounter on a much more regular basis. The ministry does always say that if the environment you operate in is more snowy and ice filled, then full “winter tires,” including chains is the better choice.

      We often point to the rubber association brochure on winter driving which indicates that, from a safety standpoint, drivers should always select tires that best suit the driving conditions they drive the most in during the winter months.

      Hope that this helps!

    • I have to agree with the comment by Craig, the enforcement officer who is almost never wrong. The company I work for refuses to put winter tires on several of their 1500 Ram truck fleet vehicles even though we are in the Interior / Okanagan and have to access customers’ properties everywhere including two ski resorts. Until it is law, companies like this will continue to cheap out and expose their employees and the public to greater risk. Recommendations are not enforceable.

      • Hi Dan – thanks for connecting with us here and sharing your concern. While M+S tires with 3.5 mm tread is the minimum requirement for winter driving in B.C. it is highly recommended that you use mountain snowflake tires and carry chains while driving high mountain passes like the Coquihalla and the Malahat or anywhere that severe winter conditions are likely to occur.

        It is the responsibility of the operator of any vehicle to understand the conditions on the roads they regularly drive and equip their vehicle for those conditions to ensure their own safety and the safety of others on the road. The Shift into Winter website lists employers requirements: https://shiftintowinter.ca/employer-and-supervisor-tools/your-legal-obligations/

        Hope that this helps.

  52. I just bought a brand new 4×4 but am sure it only has all season tires (no M+S)on it. As the tires are new (full tread) IF I am carrying chains can I travel beyond those winter tire only signs??? I notice that semi’s only have to carry chains so was wondering if the same could be applied to cars and trucks

    • Hi Rob,

      Unfortunately only tires displaying the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol OR the M+S (mud and snow) symbol, with at least 3.5 mm tread are accepted as winter tires on BC highways. Drivers may wish to enhance the traction of their winter tires by carrying chains however, chains on other types of tires are not an acceptable substitute for winter tires on signed highways. Given their extraordinary load and the softer rubber used in winter tires, it is not feasible for commercial vehicles to run winter tires as would wear through them too quickly. This is why we have strict and explicit requirements for commercial vehicles to use chains and areas set aside for them to chain up, should winter driving conditions present themselves. Hope that this helps.

  53. Is there a chance that the use of new studded tire technology, such as the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tire, will ever be approved for use on BC roads? They have considerably more than 130 studs per tire, but offer almost dry road driving control on even the slipperiest of roads. The Hakkapeliitta series tire is consistantly one of the highest rated studded winter tires in the world.

    Thanks 🙂

    • Hi Grant,

      Thanks for your question. Regulation has recently been updated from the traditional requirements for a certain number of studs per tire to a requirement for studs which do not protrude more than 2.0 mm. It has been found that tires with bigger (longer) studs are good for biting into snow and ice and providing traction in those conditions, however they do not provide adequate traction on bare road, because their height means very little of the tire (only the studs) are in contact with the road surface. Tires with smaller (shorter) studs are okay when on bare pavement, because more of the tire itself makes contact with the road. Here is the MVA language for you to review. Please note that subsection 1 below is the updated language, while subsection 3 speaks to older tires which have been grandfathered in until they are replaced with newer studded tires. Hope that this helps! Let us know if you have any other questions.

      Studs
      7.164 (1) A person must not use studs as a traction device on tires unless the studs
      (a) do not protrude more than 2.0 mm from the tread or traction surface of a tire,
      (b) do not have a hollow centre, and
      (c) are safely and securely embedded in the tire by the manufacturer or a person in the business of selling tires so as not to cause damage to the roadway.
      (2) A person must not use studded tires on the front wheels of a motor vehicle unless the back wheels of the motor vehicle have studded tires.
      (3) Despite subsection (1) (a), a person may use studs that protrude more than 2.0 mm but less than 3.5 mm from the tread or traction surface of a tire if
      (a) the tire was manufactured on or before August 31, 2016, and
      (b) the total number of studs in the tire does not exceed the following:
      (i) 130 studs if the motor vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 4 600 kg or less;
      (ii) 175 studs if the motor vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of more than 4 600 kg.
      [en. B.C. Reg. 177/2015, App. s. 3.]

  54. Hello, I read your full post. I can’t understand that what is different between winter tire of summer tire. Is there special different? I mean i am new there and i have perched new car 3 month ago so i don’t know different between winter tire of summer tire. Please advice me hear by your post. otherwise i also will use winter tire in my future.

    • Hi Amin,

      Winter tires (with the mountain/snowflake emblem) maintain good traction in winter conditions because they are composed of a rubber compound that stays soft in cold temperatures. Summer tires are made of a different, harder rubber compound than winter tires. Because winter tires have a softer rubber compound, they do not perform well during warmer summer months and they should be removed and replaced with all season or summer tires until next winter. If you live in the Lower Mainland, where temperatures are generally mild, and you don’t travel mountain passes very often, we recommend you use all season tires (with the M+S logo). Here is a blog we wrote which breaks down the types of tires for you in more detail: http://tranbc.ca/2014/10/24/how-to-choose-from-4-types-of-winter-tires-for-winter-driving-in-bc/#sthash.bjXFqvKG.dpbs

  55. Hello!
    I’m a big fan of your blog!
    Among the many posts you have published, I love this article, it’s very helpful to me. I’ve shared your awesome post to my friends.

  56. I have a 2002 Honda Accord, 6 cyl, and like to know if the front and the rear tires have to have the same tread pattern. Can they be different and which one should be on the front?
    Do winter tires wear faster than all season tires if used year around?

  57. I’m moving from Vancouver to Vernon in Feb or Mar. The local UHaul office was less than helpful about what their trucks are equipped with, and whether they’re rated to go over the Coquihalla or highway 1. I’ll also be towing our car on a trailer (full trailer, not just a 2 wheel dolly).

    Any advice?

  58. Hi
    All-Season tires as the 4th category mentioned above are permitted to use when winter tires are required.
    I have 2 pairs of ContiProContact tires which are introduced as All-Season tires on the producer website (Continentaltire.ca) while there is not any of above signs (M+S, snow sign, etc.) on their sidewall.
    Since continentaltire.ca seems to be the official website of the producer, can I consider my tires as All-Season & use them on winter tires required routes?
    Thanks for your attention.

  59. Hi
    I have a plan to go to Whistler ski in this winter with a rent car.
    The rent-car has “all whether” tire.
    Is it OK with the Whistler road?
    Is it OK with your regulation about the winter season tire?

    Thank you

  60. I have a two wheel drive truck with mud and snow tires front and back. Traction on ice and packed snow was poor so decided to put studded on the back. Took them off in the spring. Now Canadian Tire refused to put them back on saying I needed studded on the front or they wouldn’t do it. It doesn’t appear to be a rule in BC and so is just another way to force you to spend more money. Very annoying.

  61. Thanks for sharing this information about different types of winter tires. Since it is getting colder out, I have been thinking about getting my winter tires very soon. I have never had studded tires before. Do you know if these provide better traction than traditional winter tires?

    • Both studded and non-studded tires with the 3-peak mountain/snowflake symbol offer good traction in winter conditions. We suggest discussing with your local tire dealer based on the conditions you tend to experience.

  62. Thank you for clarifying this. Safety is the responsibilty of the driver. The difference between tires determines how fast a vehicle can corner, accelerate and stop under different road conditions. It is *incorrect* to say that winter tires are safer on snow, it depends on the driver not the tires. Perhaps all season tires are safer as you cannot drive as fast with them in winter conditions. The key thing is adjusting for your speed and stopping distances. Watch for black ice on the shady sides of mountain roads and frosty conditions. CAA has a brochure on winter driving. Here is the link:caa.ca/docs/eng/winterdrivingbrochure_en.pdf

  63. We are coming to BC from the USA and purchasing tires in advance in the USA- do they have these same stamps or how do we know if the winter tires we buy will keep us from getting in trouble should we get pulled over in Canada? My husband has a 4×4 truck & he was going to get all seasons- will this be ok for travel through BC?

    • Yes, tires available in the USA have the same 3-peak mountain/snowflake and M+S (mud and snow) symbols that identify acceptable tires in B.C. between October 1 and March 31. We recommend installing 3-peak mountain/snowflake tires if you are travelling through B.C., whether you have 4X4 or not. They offer the best traction in cold, snow, ice etc. B.C. weather can change quickly, especially through mountain passes. That said, all-season M+S tires are legally acceptable, as long as they have at least 3.5 mm of tread. Hope this helps.

  64. I drove with all-season tires on my old car for 20 years and they did very well in the snow (although I grew up in Prince George and learned to drive properly on snow). I did purchase winter tires the last 5 years I had the car as I felt it would be safer and I hated them. I live and drive in Vancouver and I found in the rain that they were very slippery. When I had to make a quick stop they skidded a long ways. It really scared me driving with them. I have a new car now, but am hesitant to spend money on winter tires. Is this normal for winter tires to now perform well in Vancouver weather and road conditions? What is recommended? I seldom, but occasionally, drive to Squamish or Hope during the winter months, but rarely and not during any winter/snow conditions.

    • Hi Tanis,
      Tires with a Mud and Snow emblem (M+S) with a minimum 3.5mm tread are acceptable for winter driving in B.C. The winter tire regulation was recently amended to include M+S tires with Lower Mainland drivers in mind. Hope that this helps.

  65. Thanks so much for sharing these four types of tires, and how to identify them. I really like that it is fairly simple to identify the type of tires you have. In fat, I’m not even sure if the tires I have on my car now are for all seasons, or just for the winter– I am going to check them out and see what they are!

  66. I will be making one cross-country trip to move from MB to Lower Mainland BC during the first week of November…I know what the minimum requirements are, but what is the ideal tire type for the historical conditions through mountainous BC during that time? I understand that I am unable to use my current All-Season Tires with chains any longer. Thanks!

    • Hi Jen. Good question – thanks for asking. We recommend you have winter tires with the 3-peak mountain and snowflake symbol for driving from Manitoba to the Lower Mainland in November.

  67. To be honest, I had no idea that there were studded tires out there. It’s interesting to read that you can put these on during the winter months only. Where I live, we have a lot of snow storms. Maybe I should get some tires like these so that I can avoid slipping.

  68. Contrary to what is stated above about being required on Drive Axles. Studded tires must always be on the rear Tires. ;
    Studded Tires – Regulations
    British Columbia

    In British Columbia (BC) Under the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, tires with studs up to 3.5 mm high can only be used between October 1 and April 30. The regulations limit tires to 130 studs each for vehicles weighing less than 4,600 kg, or 175 studs each for vehicles weighing more than that. It’s important to note you can only use studded tires on the front wheels if you’re using them on rear wheels also (at least one studded tire per rear wheel). This means if you have a rear wheel drive vehicle you usually only use the studded tires on the rear wheels; however if you have a front wheel drive vehicle and use studded tires on the front wheels you must mount studded tires on the rear wheels also. Link here; http://www.bchighway.com/regulations/studded-tires.html

  69. The decision to accept M & S tires for winter use is as foolish as raising the speed limits on 15% of BC rural highways. Not one injury prevention organization or trauma specialist agreed with either of these ill-advised changes. All were ignored. This just makes it simpler for everybody, except for the misguiuded who actually believe that the trip over the Coquihalla or up to Whistler in winter really isn’t that or tough when it snows — and weather is so predictable in the mountains!

    To say that all weather tires are safe in all conditions is totally irresponsible. That’s why in some provinces, winter tires are the law. Period. For every vehicle, even rentals.

    The only circumstances in which all weather tires are acceptable all year round in BC are for those drivers who NEVER venture farther north than Burrard Bridge and east past Hope. These changes just give the false assurance that you can “get away” with all seasons. Will MotI be doing surveys of the mopuntains roads this winter to see what proportion of drivers actually do follow their “recommendations” for winter tires in the snow?

    • Hello Patricia,
      You must have at least 2 matching winter tires on the same axle, but we recommend using 4 matching tires – even when driving a 4X4 vehicle. Hope that this helps!

  70. 97% of the car tires sold in Canada have the M+S stamp or the Mountain/Snowflake (according to an industry representative interviewed on CBC Radio). So all the new signs on the highway are pretty much a waste of time. I wish the Minister would try driving the Trans-Canada through the mountians in a blizzard with all-season tires with (barely) 3.5 mm tread.

    • Hi Nicholas,
      Thanks for connecting with us here.
      While M+S tires with a 3.5 mm tread are the minimum requirement on mountain passes in BC, we encourage drivers who travel mountain routes regularly to invest in a good set of severe weather rated mountain snowflake winter tires.

      • So it is ok for drivers who occasionally travel mountain routes and don’t have experience of driving them not to use real winter tires? They can take your advice that “All-season tires provide safe performance in all types of weather”.

        • All-season tires provide safe performance in all types of weather,

            but will not perform as well as standard winter tires in severe conditions.

          As always, we encourage drivers to check DriveBC so that they are aware of the road conditions along their route and should drive to conditions at all times.

          • Its a shame our government doesn’t take the advice of RTMA and require “snow tires” on mountain passes. M+S rated tires are the result of the initial introduction of all season tires in the 1980’s. Those tires had aggressive tread close to winter tires. Customers found them noisy and eventually manufacturers evolved them into todays (erroneously named) “all season” tires which have a tread not unlike the old summer tires .In fact true “summer tires ” are usually only available in high performance sized for specialized cars. Most good tire shops will dispute that all season tires are ok for mountain passes.
            It’s also important to note that despite the info saying 3.5mm is passable as tread depth, the industry standard (yes even in Canada) is to measure tread depth in 32nd of an inch. Most tread depth gauges are in 32s , few are in mm.
            My 3rd comment is about the placement of winter tires if only 2 are used. Tire manufactures such as Michelin advise if only installing 2 winter tires on a front wheel drive vehicle, that those tires are installed on the REAR of the vehicle NOT the driving axle as stated here. I know this sounds illogical , but the reasoning is if installed on the front, the greater traction can cause spin outs on situations of braking and turning at the same time or turning at too fast a speed.

          • Thanks for the feedback Randy. Due to a more temperate winter climate in the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island, drivers in these areas are not required to use winter tires, (although many drivers choose to use M+S tires year-round). Winter road conditions across the rest of B.C. often include snow and ice and we recommend drivers install mountain/snowflake tires for cold weather driving and, for extreme conditions, carry chains. We recently produced a video titled: 15 Seconds to Safety, and in the video we show the two types of tread depth measurement. Here is a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo4zyUxY55U
            Regarding your comment about the number of winter tires required and their placement, the law requires that you must have at least 2 matching winter tires on the primary drive axle, but we recommend using 4 matching tires on the four outside corners of the vehicle – even when driving a 4X4 vehicle. Mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal construction and size compromises stability, and should be avoided.

            Hope that this helps.

          • That’s not logical.

            “Severe” is a weather condition, which occurs in seasons.
            (We’re talking winter here, they may or may not be better in really west weather.)

            BTW, there’s confusion over the Malahat Mountain Highway which BC refuses to sign as a Mountain Highway. Part of the confusion may be the term “winter tire” which does not mean “snow tire” as many people understand that term.

            BC needs to clean up its web sites for clarity and consistency. (As does WA last I looked.)

          • Hi Keith,

            There is mountain pass winter tire requirement signage at the entrance to Goldstream Park. It identifies the two acceptable types of tires for travelling over the Malahat. Due to a more temperate winter climate in the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island, drivers are not required to use winter tires, although many drivers choose to use M+S tires year-round. Drivers should use discretion when equipping their vehicles. Hope that this helps.

      • Oh and you can add to those on all-season tires in winter all the foreign tourists who rent cars at Calgary Airport and drive into BC. Ideal for driving while jet-lagged.

  71. Highway 1 east of exit 44 should be a Winter Tire zone. The Lower Mainland can experience non temperate weather in the winter. Motorists need to be prepared for severe driving conditions, even if it is only for just for 3 to 6 weeks of the year. The bottom line is that the driver is always responsible for their vehicle’s traction on the road. If you don’t want to make the investment in snow tires, then stay off the road.