Note. Effective Oct 1st:
You'll need winter tires by this weekend for out of town highways - NEWS 1130
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you’re driving on the Sea to Sky Highway and some other major highways around the province, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got your winter tires on, with the rules kicking in for the season this Saturday.
The provincial government recommends you do your research ahead of any journey to find out the requirements of the roads you’re taking.
“Drivers who travel on high mountain passes and designated routes where weather can suddenly change need to make sure their vehicles are winter ready,” says Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. “We want to be certain drivers are prepared for unpredictable and changing driving conditions. Make sure you are using winter tires that are in good condition, with solid treads, and adjusting your speed to match road and weather conditions.”
You can check to see if your tires meet the criteria easily enough — they’ll have either a mountain snowflake or a mud and snow symbol.
Beyond getting the right rubber around your wheels, you’ll also want to ensure you’ve got the correct air pressure because the cold weather can cause that to drop. Keep in mind the rules are in effect until March 31st and if you break them you can be hit with a $121 fine.