Winter tire rules take effect on B.C. highways as snow flies in the northeast

Snow blanketed parts of northeastern B.C. Saturday morning,the same day thatdrivers are required to use snow tires when driving on certainB.C. highways.

Manyhighways in the province require passenger vehicles to be equipped with winter tires between Oct. 1 and March 31. Trucks travelling these routes are also required to carry chains.

"Drivers who travel on high mountain passes and designated routes where weather can suddenly change need to make sure their vehicles are winter ready," Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone said in a news release earlier this week.

"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."

Look for the snowflake or M+S

Winter tires sometimes called alpine or snow tires are marked with a symbol of a snowflake inside a three-peaked mountain placedon the sidewall of the tire.

Mud and snow tires, marked with an M+S symbol, also qualify as winter tires, though the ministry notes they are less effective than dedicated alpine snow tires.

The ministry requires winter tires to have at least 3.5 millimetres of tread remaining. It requires at least two matching winter tires on the vehicle's drive axle, but recommends a matching set on all wheels.

Most major highways in the B.C. Interior and northern regionsrequire winter tires in winter months.

Winter tires are not required on highways in the Lower Mainland highways, but are required on much of the Sea-to-Sky, as well as routes north and east of Hope.

A full list of routes requiring winter tires can be found on the ministry's website.