B.C. Outlaws Summer Tires in Winter in Some Areas

British Columbia's provincial government has made mandatory the use of winter tires on certain highway routes from October through March.

The new rules make B.C. the second Canadian jurisdiction after Quebec to specify the use of certain types of tires in the winter season on vehicles registered in the province.

However, unlike Quebec's rules, B.C.'s law accepts the use of tires bearing the mud and snow (M+S) designation (otherwise known as all-season tires) as well as the mountain-and-snowflake logo used on tires engineered specifically for - and proven to be more effective in - winter conditions.

Whichever type of tire a driver chooses to use, the tread must measure at least 3.5 mm in depth. Motorists not using appropriate tires will be fined and could be forbidden from continuing to their planned destination.

The regulation applies to vehicles being driven in the province's north, interior and south coast regions on routes including Highway 99, also known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway, which links Vancouver with Whistler. Certain Vancouver Island highways are included, as well.

Drivers in B.C.'s temperate Lower Mainland (which includes the City of Vancouver) and Victoria, on the southeast portion of Vancouver Island, are not required to use winter or all-season tires.

All routes that require specific tires for winter driving will be signed as such. The rule also requires that operators of heavy trucks carry tire chains while travelling on the designated roads during winter months.