BC Winter Tire Rules for Chilli­wack Drivers: Which Highways, Which Dates, Which Tires

This is a plain-language summary of public rules, not legal advice. The signs posted on the highway and the Province's current maps are what count.

When and where you need winter tires, starting from Chilliwack

The Province's winter tire routes page sets the pattern: October 1 to April 30 on most designated routes, and October 1 to March 31 on select highways that don't run through mountain passes or high-snowfall areas. It also says many coastal areas don't require winter tires at all, because of the milder winters.

For the details, the Ministry publishes regional maps. The South Coast map and the Southern Interior map cover the highways a Chilliwack driver is likely to use in winter. Both are dated March 2021 and are still the versions the Province links. Those maps show:

Heading past Princeton or Kamloops, or into the Okanagan? Check the Southern Interior map for the whole trip. The dates change from one highway to the next, and a route that ends March 31 can connect to one that runs to April 30.

Why there's no route sign in town

Both maps carry the same note: the Ministry of Transportation doesn't install winter tire route signs on provincial highways inside municipal boundaries unless the municipality asks for them. Not seeing a sign on Highway 1 in Chilliwack tells you nothing about the highway past the city limits, where designated routes are marked with regulatory signs.

The Fraser Canyon runs to March 31

Some websites list the Fraser Canyon section of Highway 1 with an April 30 end date. The Ministry's South Coast map shows it as October 1 to March 31. The other two highways out of Hope, the Coquihalla and the Hope–Princeton, are the ones that run to April 30.

What counts as a legal winter tire in BC

Section 7.162 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations sets a tread depth, a performance standard and a sidewall marking. For a driver checking a tire, that comes down to two things:

• At least 3.5 mm of tread depth.
• A sidewall marking from the manufacturer: either the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol, or the letters M and S.

The Province's passenger vehicle tire requirements add two more points:

• Chains on summer tires are not an acceptable substitute for legal winter tires on signed highways.
• Studded tires are allowed only from October 1 to April 30, under section 19.03 of the same regulations. On tires made after August 2016, the studs can stick out no more than 2 mm. If the front tires are studded, the rear tires must be too.

Are all-season tires legal in winter?

An all-season tire counts as a legal winter tire only if its sidewall carries the M+S letters or the mountain/snowflake symbol and it still has at least 3.5 mm of tread. The regulation goes by the sidewall marking, not by what the tire is sold as.

The Province calls M+S the minimum legal requirement, and its 2017 Winter Tires in BC handout says the Ministry and the RCMP recommend mountain/snowflake tires for regular highway travellers. Winter tires vs all-weather tires covers which type suits how you drive, including the 7°C guideline.

How many winter tires does BC require?

Two matching winter tires on the primary drive axle is the legal floor, on a 4x4 too. The Province and Transport Canada both recommend a matched set of four.

3.5 mm isn't the general tread limit

The 3.5 mm figure is what a tire needs to count as a winter tire. The general BC minimum for passenger vehicle tires is 1.5 mm under section 7.161 of the same regulations. A tire can meet that general minimum in the valley and still not count as a winter tire on the Coquihalla. Wear limits, tire age and damage are separate reasons to replace a tire.

Transport Canada notes that a tire loses traction as it wears, so meeting a legal minimum isn't the same as having enough grip for rain, slush or snow. It advises against using tires worn close to 4 mm on snow-covered roads. A winter tire at 3.6 mm is still legal in BC and already past that point.

If your winter tires are on their own rims, Transport Canada notes the tire pressure monitoring system may not work properly unless the correct sensors are installed. A low tire and a system fault can both bring on a tire pressure warning, so have any warning after a seasonal tire change checked.

Not sure your set qualifies? A tire check before your first winter trip past Laidlaw covers the points above. West Yale's Wheels & Tires counter sells and installs tires, balances wheels, and handles TPMS diagnosis and sensor replacement.

Chilliwack's hillside rule

The City of Chilliwack requires winter-rated tires on hillside roads during a winter storm, when those roads are snow- or ice-covered. The City uses the same definition as the Province: at least 3.5 mm of tread and either M+S or the mountain/snowflake symbol.

• The requirement is posted on digital message boards at the roadside, on the roads where it's in effect.
• It's cancelled, and the boards are switched off, once the roads have been cleared and treated.
• A $300 penalty could be issued if a vehicle becomes stranded on a snow- or ice-covered hillside road because it was driven without appropriate tires.

The City's page doesn't name the roads, so if you live or work on the hillsides, watch for the message boards during snow events.

Fines, turn-backs and driving for conditions

Driving a passenger vehicle without winter tires on a designated route during its required dates can bring a $121 ticket under section 125 of the Motor Vehicle Act, according to the Province's enforcement page. The RCMP may also turn all vehicles away if they think conditions are unsafe, and the Ministry's route maps note that travel can be restricted at any time of year depending on road conditions.

When can winter tires come off?

Legally, it depends on the routes you'll drive:

• After March 31 if the only designated routes you use end March 31, such as Highway 1 through Hope and the Fraser Canyon.
• After April 30 if you'll use the Coquihalla, the Hope–Princeton or the Okanagan Connector.
• Studded tires are only allowed from October 1 to April 30, so they come off by the end of April no matter which routes you drive.

The end dates only tell you when the law stops requiring winter tires. Planning a spring trip over the Coquihalla? Check DriveBC and work through the mountain highway vehicle check while your winter tires are still on.

Common questions

Do I need winter tires in Chilliwack or elsewhere in the Fraser Valley?

Not on Highway 1 through Abbotsford and Chilliwack, or on Highway 7; neither is a designated route. The provincial requirement starts on Highway 1 near Laidlaw. Two things still apply in Chilliwack: the City's hillside rule during posted snow events, and the Province's position that you're responsible for equipping your vehicle for the conditions you drive in.

Does the rule apply to AWD and 4x4 vehicles?

Yes. The Province says the two-tire minimum on the primary drive axle applies even on a 4x4, and the 3.5 mm tread minimum applies to four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles as well.

Can I carry chains instead of buying winter tires?

Not on signed highways. The Province says chains on summer tires are not an acceptable substitute for legal winter tires. It recommends carrying chains in addition to mountain/snowflake tires for extreme conditions.