Do I Need Tires in Greater Victoria?

Everything You Need to Know

With cooler days finally upon us, the age-old question pops up once again— do I actually need winter tires on Vancouver Island?

Generally speaking, it's best to have winter tires when temperatures drop below 7 ºC. Colder than that and your all-season or all-weather tires become stiff, lose their grip, and need more braking distance, even on dry ice-free pavement. Which, in Greater Victoria, has many drivers wondering if they truly need winter tires.

The answer is yes for most drivers. Here’s why:

  • Whether or not to change your tires depends on your winter driving habits. If you can park your car when the snow flies, or the temperature dips, AND plan to stay in Greater Victoria, you might get away with it.
  • But, if you plan to travel outside the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island, you’re going to need to swap out your summer times. Winter tires are required on most highways in BC.
  • Already, approximately 60 per cent of B.C. drivers now own winter tires, compared to 38 per cent in 2014, according to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.

Here's More Information

The Malahat is designated a winter tire / chain route from October 1 to April 30. Further afield, most highways outside the Lower Mainland or Southeastern Vancouver Island are also designated as winter tire / chain routes from October 1 to April 30. Which means, generally speaking, if you plan on leaving Greater Victoria via ferry or via the Malahat between October and April, you’re going to need to swap out your tires.

Throughout the rest of the province, winter tires or chains are required on most routes from October 1 to April 30. For select highways not located through mountain passes and/or high snowfall areas, tire and chain requirements end March 31.

So, if you plan to travel outside the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island, winter tires are a must.

 

But what about my all-season tires?

Both the all-season Mud and Snow (M+S) tires and the 3-peaked mountain/snowflake tires meet the legal requirements for winter tire designation in B.C. In all cases, a winter tire must be in good condition, with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm (5/32”).

Please note that summer tires with chains are not an acceptable substitute for legal winter tires on signed B.C. highways.

Here are the details:

The difference between winter tires and all-season tires is winter tires have an advanced rubber compound, which means the rubber stays elastic and flexible at lower temperatures, according to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada. They also have deeper tread patterns that are designed to get water away from under the wheel. Winter tires provide better traction and stopping performance than summer tires in cold temperatures and on wet, snowy, and icy roads. And traction may be the difference between safely driving on winter roads and being involved in a serious crash.

  • Tires with a 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol offer the best traction on snow, ice, and in cold weather. They provide good winter driving performance, especially in harsh winter conditions. The tire industry indicates winter tires with the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol outperform Mud and Snow (M+S) tires at temperatures of 7°C or lower. The natural rubber compound in these tires helps them to stay soft and flexible in colder temperatures.
  • All-season tires with the M+S (Mud and Snow) symbol offer better traction than summer tires and meet the minimum legal requirement for a winter tire. But, in severe winter conditions, they are less effective than the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake tires.
  • Summer tires are not permitted for driving between October 1 and March 31. Chains on summer tires are not an acceptable substitute for legal winter tires on signed B.C. highways.

Colder Temps

It's best to have winter tires when temperatures drop below 7 ºC

BC Requirements

Winter tires are required on most highways in BC

What About Chains?

Please note that summer tires with chains are not an acceptable substitute for legal winter tires on signed B.C. highways.

Better, Best, and... Nope

NOT ACCEPTABLE: Summer tires. BETTER: All-season tires with the M+S (Mud and Snow) symbol offer better traction than summer tires and meet the minimum legal requirement for a winter tire. BEST: Tires with the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol offer the best traction on snow, ice, and in cold weather.

Conclusion

Come talk to the tire experts at Kia Victoria. We'll get you set up for a safe winter of driving ahead with one of our Winter Ready Tire Packages. We'll even store your summer tires. Call us at 250-360-1111 to book an appointment. You can also check pricing and tires here.