Starting today (Oct 1) people will be required to have winter tires on their vehicles on most British Columbia highways for safe travel during winter months.
In BC, regulations state that an appropriate winter tire is defined as one with either the M+S or mountain/snowflake symbol and in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 millimetres.
Drivers are encouraged to choose their tires based on the region and conditions in which they regularly drive.
Tires marked with a mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall offer the best traction on snow and ice and in cold weather. Tires marked with M+S (mud and snow) offer better traction than summer tires but are less effective than mountain/snowflake tires in severe winter conditions.
While winter tires are not mandatory provincewide, they are required on a majority of BC highways. Drivers without the proper winter tires in good condition driving on designated BC highways can receive a fine of $109.
Drivers are reminded to slow down, use caution and check DriveBC.ca to plan ahead when setting out during the winter months.
Winter tire regulations end on March 31st on many highways, however, the regulations have been extended to April 30, 2019, on select mountain passes and rural highways, to account for early spring snowfall.
Also starting today, commercial vehicle operators must carry chains and are required to use them when a mandatory chain-up is in place.