BC winter tire law: when you need winter tires (2026 rules)
The dates, the routes, the tire markings and the tread depth, explained by an Abbotsford tire shop.
In BC you need winter tires, or chains, on signed highways from October 1 to April 30. A few lower routes that do not cross mountain passes end on March 31. A legal winter tire is marked M+S or carries the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol, with at least 3.5 mm of tread. Abbotsford and the rest of the Lower Mainland are not signed, but the Coquihalla, Highway 3 and the Fraser Canyon all are.
In this article
Every October the same question comes in at the counter: "Do I actually need winter tires?" For most Abbotsford drivers the honest answer is "it depends where you drive." Here are the rules from the province, what they mean for the Fraser Valley, and what it costs to get legal.
BC winter tire dates for 2026
The rule applies on highways with the yellow winter tire sign, not everywhere. According to the BC government's winter tire and chain routes page:
- Most signed routes: October 1 to April 30. These are the mountain passes and high snowfall areas.
- Some lower routes: October 1 to March 31. Highways that do not cross mountain passes or high snowfall areas end a month earlier.
The dates on the sign at the start of each route are the ones that apply. Drivers who are not compliant on a signed route can be turned away and fined. Chains on summer tires are not an acceptable substitute.
Which highways near Abbotsford need winter tires?
From the South Coast map the province publishes, here is what matters if you are leaving the Fraser Valley:
| Route | Winter tires required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 1, Abbotsford to Hope | No signs | Lower Mainland, not a designated area |
| Highway 5, Coquihalla (Hope to Merritt) | October 1 to April 30 | Mountain pass; the most common trip from here |
| Highway 3, Hope to Princeton | October 1 to April 30 | Allison Pass, Manning Park |
| Highway 1, Fraser Canyon (north of Hope) | October 1 to March 31 | Lower route through the canyon |
| Highway 99, Sea to Sky | October 1 to March 31 | Squamish and Whistler |
One more detail from the map: the province does not post winter tire signs on highways inside city limits unless the city asks for them. That is why you will not see one in Abbotsford, Chilliwack or Langley.
You need legal winter tires from October 1 to April 30, even on a sunny day in Abbotsford. Conditions at the summit can change in an hour. Check DriveBC before you go.
What counts as a legal winter tire in BC?
The province's passenger vehicle tire page sets three conditions:
- The marking. Either the letters M+S (mud and snow), which is the legal minimum, or the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol. Many all-season tires carry M+S, which is why they are legal on signed routes.
- The tread. At least 3.5 mm of tread depth.
- Matching tires. At least two matching winter tires on the drive axle, even on a 4x4. The province recommends four, evenly matched in tread type and depth.
The province also recommends the mountain snowflake over M+S for real winter driving, because it means the tire passed a snow traction test. M+S does not. Summer tires are not allowed on signed routes during the winter dates at all.
| Tire | Marking | Legal on signed routes? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | None | No | Dry and warm roads only |
| All-season | Usually M+S | Yes, as the minimum | Mild winters in town |
| All-weather | Mountain snowflake | Yes | Year-round in the Fraser Valley, occasional snow |
| Winter | Mountain snowflake | Yes | Snow, ice and mountain passes |
Do you need winter tires in Abbotsford?
Not by law, if you only drive around town and down Highway 1 to Langley or Vancouver. The province says it plainly: because of the milder coastal climate, drivers are not required to use winter tires in many parts of the Lower Mainland, and many choose M+S tires year-round.
You should put them on if any of these are true:
- You drive the Coquihalla, Highway 3 or the Fraser Canyon between October and April, even once.
- You head to the Interior, the mountains or Whistler for holidays or ski trips.
- You live up a hill, such as on Sumas Mountain or in East Abbotsford, or leave early on frosty mornings.
- Your all-seasons are worn close to 3.5 mm, so they will not count as legal anyway.
If you are somewhere in between, an all-weather tire with the mountain snowflake is legal on every signed route and stays on all year. We compare the two in our guide to winter vs all-weather tires for the Fraser Valley.
When should you put winter tires on?
Before your first trip on a signed route after October 1, and in town once the temperature stays below about 7°C. That is the tire industry's rule of thumb: below it, an all-season compound hardens and loses grip, while a winter compound stays soft. In the Fraser Valley that is usually mid-October to early November.
Take them off after April 30 if you drive mountain routes, or once spring is clearly here if you only drive in town. Winter tires wear quickly on warm, dry pavement.
Studded tire rules in BC
- Studded tires are allowed on BC highways October 1 to April 30 only. Using them outside those dates can get you a fine.
- Studs should not stick out more than 2 mm from the tread.
- If you put studded tires on the front, they must go on the back as well. The province recommends all four for even traction.
- We don't stud tires at Kingdom. We can recommend studless winter tires with the mountain snowflake symbol, which are legal on every signed route with no stud date limits.
What winter tires cost in Abbotsford
Here is what getting legal costs at our shop, as of October 2026:
The out-the-door number is worked out the same way our online cart does it: four tires, mount and balance at $30 each, the $6.50 provincial levy per tire, then GST and PST on the tires and labour. You can see the full receipt, with today's cheapest size, on our winter tires page, or search your own size in the tire shop.
Getting winter tires on at Kingdom Auto & Detail
Search your size at /tires, add a set of four and tick installation in the cart. Pay online, or reserve and pay in the shop, then book a time. If your winter tires are already on their own rims, a changeover is $60 for all four, and we check tread depth while they are off so you know whether they still meet the 3.5 mm rule. Call (778) 666-6011 and ask about today. More on what we do is on our tire services page, and after new tires it is worth reading about wheel alignment.
- Signed BC highways: winter tires or chains from October 1. Most routes run to April 30; some lower ones end March 31.
- Legal winter tire: M+S or the mountain snowflake symbol, and at least 3.5 mm of tread.
- Abbotsford, Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley and the rest of the Lower Mainland are not signed. The signs start at Hope.
- Studded tires are allowed October 1 to April 30 only, and if they are on the front they must be on the back too.
- Winter tires at Kingdom start at $74.95 each, and our Winter Special puts 4 on from $499 out the door. See today's winter tire prices.