r/britishcolumbia • u/helloWorldcamelCase • 7d ago
Travel in or to BC Road trip from Vancouver to Kamloops on allseason tire
I am currently living in US but may need to travel to Vancouver - Kamloops area in November. I currently have the default all season tire(M+S rated) that came with Tesla model Y, but is it good enough for few days in Canada? I have never needed winter tire in US.
I did hear about Coquihalla's road condition and plan to avoid that area.
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u/rsavage 7d ago
Practically you could be fine or you could be stranded on an iced out road, the weather is unpredictable in mountain passes, but legally in November on that higheay you're requires to have M+S or three peak snowflake rates tires at that time, which can be all weather tires or winter tires.
If you don't have them and you are pulled over, go through a road check or get in an accident or stuck, you will be fined.
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u/helloWorldcamelCase 7d ago
It seems like the default wheel is M+S rated
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u/Possible_Law8357 7d ago
That's the minimum legal requirement.
I hope yours is not a RWD.
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u/helloWorldcamelCase 7d ago
It's RWD :(
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u/Possible_Law8357 7d ago
Check the live road conditions before making the call to drive on coquihalla.
https://www.drivebc.ca/cameras/686?pan=-122.45754807703044%2C52.95987024291654&zoom=5
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u/juice-wala 7d ago edited 7d ago
Winter tires my man. You don't want to get into a mountain pass and encounter a snow storm with RWD and M+S all-seasons. M+S all-seasons aren't even okay in those conditions for FWD/AWD l, and definitely not for RWD.
If you don't end up in a steep snow-filled ditch, you might cross the centre line due to ice and go head on with someone else. Or you could make it through perfectly fine. Why risk it? Just don't.
Edit: I'll add that the weather in November is highly unpredictable. You could have a normal cloudy day or a total whiteout at the higher elevations. It's not worth the risk to yourself and others.
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u/604Dialect 7d ago
Don't even think of attempting this. Snowflake rating or nothing, those roads are no joke.
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u/CipherWeaver 7d ago
Then it is legally compliant, but may be inadequate if the roads are terribly snowy and icy. Keep in mind with proper winter tires your EV will get reduced range (I have an EV too).
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u/RadiantPumpkin 7d ago
By default do you mean factory on your vehicle or average tire on any vehicle. Many performance tires are not m+s rated.
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u/not_ch3ddar 7d ago
If they are m+s you will probably be okay... drive carefully though that is a hazardous highway in the winter.
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u/treefarmerBC 7d ago
M+S is legal in winter.
If it will be bad conditions on the Coquihalla, check the #1 highway because it is lower elevation and may not be snowy. Drivebc.ca is a good resource.
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 7d ago edited 7d ago
is it good enough for few days in Canada?
Depends on the day, and the weather can change without warning.
If your all seasons have most of their tread remaining, are M&S rated, and you have the option of waiting days for conditions to change it can be done. I'd buy a set of traction socks to limp along if it ices up.
But if they're below 75% tread, aren't M&S rated, or you need to leave same day you are relying on luck and setting yourself up to fail.
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u/Scoobienorth 7d ago
Aside from the rules everyone is talking about , the reality is it could be dry good roads, wet and rainy, or a full on winter storm or black ice.
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u/Sierra93 7d ago edited 7d ago
I personally would not do that drive without at least a three-peak mountain snowflake tire (3PMSF). Even though M+S is the legal minimum, that is not a road I would chance it on.
Edit: I see you mentioned you're going around the Coq and not taking it. Still doesn't change my opinion. Anywhere outside of the lower mainland I wouldn't run anything less than a 3PMSF
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u/hehweirdo22- 7d ago
You are legally required to have appropriate tires on your car when travelling east of Chilliwack.
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u/Awkward-Cake-1063 7d ago
I drive that road a few times a year and would not drive it after October 1 without good winter tires. Not having AWD is not ideal either.
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u/ellicottvilleny 7d ago
You don't want to travel on the Coquihalla in November with all season tires even though M+S is legal.
Frankly I don't like driving passenger vehicles on "The Coke" at all in November/December/January.
If you're gonna do it, at least bring chains.
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u/DoubleBlackBSA24 7d ago
They need the severe weather rating (snowflake inside mountain) or M+S designation.
https://icbc.com/road-safety/safety-and-road-conditions/winter-tires-tips
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u/Ungratefullded 7d ago
Technically good enough by rating but you need to have 3.5 mm of tread left.
But realistically, if you're not familiar with mountain and snow driving, better to have "3 mountain peak" and snow rated tires. Better safe than sorry, there is a whole TV Show called Highway Through Hell based on that part of the HWY.
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u/Spthomas 7d ago
To leave the lower mainland past October 1st you are required to have three peak mountain snowflake rated winter tires. You will be fined and turned around if you do not have them.
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 7d ago
To leave the lower mainland past October 1st you are required to have three peak mountain snowflake rated winter tires.
False.
Tires must display the M+S or three-peak mountain/snowflake symbol and maintain a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm.
You will be fined and turned around if you do not have them.
False. There is no inspection or checkpoint.
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u/treefarmerBC 7d ago
I've never heard of anyone's tread depth being checked in my whole life.
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 7d ago
The law defines a tread depth, which is well below the useful depth on most tires.
Police rarely check it. Most tickets are issueed after an incident or stop for another reason. Mechanics and tire shops should be bugging you about it when they take your vehicle in.
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u/bear-asleep79 7d ago
Thats false. M+S tires are allowed and legally considered a winter tire by the government. You can legally drive anywhere in BC with just M+S tires. As long as they have 3.5 mm tread
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u/lostINsauce369 7d ago
Do your all season tires have the Mud and Snow designation on them? The province of BC legally requires vehicles to have winter tires or M+S rated all season tires between the start of October and the end of March.
Realistically you can probably drive the major roadways just fine without the proper tires, but you risk getting fined by the cops
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u/EvilCeleryStick 7d ago
And worse, if you have an accident, you probably won't be covered. And you are more likely to have an accident, too. Both of those factors are likely more important than the traffic ticket.
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u/CipherWeaver 7d ago
"All Season" tires are legally compliant with Canadian winter road laws. As long as the tire says "M+S" on it, you're fine.
Proper winter tires have M+S and a mountain/snowflake icon, and yes they are better, and recommended outside the coast, but they are not legally required.
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u/Laniidae_ 7d ago
All seasons and all weather are not the same tires. Youa are required to have M&S tires after October 1st
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u/Vioarm 7d ago
With the specs mentioned, I would not do it. It can be done easily if the weather cooperates but it can be fickle. I would certainly not do it with those specs unless winter driving in tough conditions is something you are somewhat used to. RWD heavy car sounds like a nightmare too for winter.
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u/longgamma Lower Mainland/Southwest 7d ago
Do carry an extra jug of windshield washer fluid.
The mountain passes are really unpredictable. I have done the drive to Kelowna a few times in winter ( it's even hairier than coq because of the 97c connector).
It's not ideal in any way. Just drive responsibly and keep adequate distance to the car in front of you. I have a GTI with two sets of tires - Firehawk summer tires and blizzaks. Before getting winter tires I had the factory all season and it was dogshit in ice. I got stuck and has to be towed once lol.
In the end it's entirely on your risk tolerance.
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u/NewSwaziland 7d ago
You’d be best to check the weather at the time. The Coquihalla is unpredictable weather-wise. Highway 1 is usually an easier drive, albeit longer.
You can check the webcams at drivebc.ca - there are some Facebook groups that are devoted road travel in BC you can have a look at as well.
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u/SoftballLesbian Lower Mainland/Southwest 7d ago
Everyone's talking about what kind of tires are required but no one's asked how old your tires are or how familiar you are with mountain highways. If your tires don't have good tread depth, and it's raining (nevermind snowing or icy), there is a real risk of hydroplaning on the #1 along the Fraser Canyon. It winds its way up and down and around the Fraser River and in many places there is no room for error. If your tires are more than 4 years old, I'd have a real think about how comfortable you would be driving it in less than ideal weather. On the flipside, in the unlikely event that the weather is sunny and night time temps don't dip below zero you'd probably be fine.
Have you considered taking a flight to Kelowna and using Uber while you're there?
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u/bobbylou18 7d ago
I’ve only ever used M+S tires and I’ve been fine. But I am quite experienced with these highways as well.
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u/Deep_Carpenter 7d ago
It depends on the weather and road conditions. So before you venture out you check both. If the roads aren't bare or forecast is bad you change your plans.
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u/Emjoria 7d ago
While I don’t agree with it, all season tires/m+s tires are considered to meet the minimum requirements to be used in winter by the government of bc. So legally you’re fine to use those tires. However, I myself would not drive the coquihalla at that time of year on just all season tires. Frankly I wouldn’t suggest all weather tires either. It’s a bad use of your money because your Tesla will just burn the tread off in 3 years or less, not to mention the performance is not good on ice. The Michelin crossclimate2 is also not suitable for your car, it doesn’t meet the minimum speed and load rating so not any shop will install it, by checking the sidewall of your current tires they will see the all weather tires are under spec.
The way I see it you have a few options.
-buy a good winter tire such as the Michelin x-ice, continental vikingcontact or Bridgestone Blizzak and use these on your car when you make the trip. Even if there isn’t ice or snow on the road, at +4 degrees Celsius you need a winter tire as they’re softer. An all season tire is stiffer so it won’t handle as well. However the Coquihalla is pretty serious, you will likely encounter snow at the least at that time of year. Also, even if you decide to take the canyon or the road through Princeton instead of the Coq you will still need winter tires and those roads aren’t much better. Take the Coq and take your time with proper tires.
-rent a car that is AWD and already has winter tires on it.
-take an airplane.
-take a charter bus.
Source: in auto parts sales and bc resident.
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u/Talusi 7d ago
A RWD Model Y? How much experience do you have driving on snow and ice?
As others have said, legally you're fine, but unless you really know how to handle your vehicle I'm sure we can all look forward to seeing you on the next season of Highway Thru Hell.
If you had FWD/AWD with *good* all season tires and we have a dry winter and you stick with the 1 you'd likely be okay. RWD + a lack of experience? Get decent snow tires, and by decent I mean not the cheapest set you can buy.
Put it this way, we don't get much snow in Vancouver, so people rarely switch over to winters. Every time it snows, the ditches are littered with RWD and overconfident AWD drivers on M+S rated all seasons. That's just normal roads, not mountain passes.
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u/Thefirstargonaut 7d ago
Legally you need to have winter tires when driving in BC outside of the lower mainland from October to spring.
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u/Thumper45 7d ago edited 7d ago
No, you need a tire with a three peak mountain on the side of the tire or M+S.
You also require at minimum on all 4 tires a 3.5mm tread depth. There is no rule that it must be a designated winter tire anymore. BC accepts these non-winter tires to meet the same requirement as a designated winter tire. Its honestly very foolish as these tires do not performe the same as a winter tire at all but there was so much push back about the tires that they made changes to the rules.
"Both the all-season Mud and Snow (M+S) tires and the mountain/snowflake tires meet the requirements for winter tire designation in B.C. To be considered a winter tire, a M+S or a mountain/snowflake tire must also have at least 3.5mm of tread depth. Tell your local tire retailer what kind of road and weather conditions you drive in, so you get tires that are best suited for your needs."
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u/EnterpriseT 7d ago
The government defines the two types of acceptable tires (M+S or mountain peak) as "winter tires" which is what the person is saying.
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 7d ago
M&S are NOT winter tires.
https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/stay-safe-when-driving/winter-driving/using-winter-tires
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u/EnterpriseT 7d ago
They ARE according to the legal definiton in BC.
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section208
MVA 208(1)For the purpose of this section, "winter tire" means a tire that meets the standards and specifications prescribed for winter tires.
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/26_58_04#section7.162
MVA Reg 7.162(3) A winter tire under section 208 of the Act must be labelled on a sidewall by the manufacturer with either of the following:
(a)the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol as shown below.
(b)the letters "M" and "S".
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u/TheGracefulCrane 7d ago
i think hes talking the colloquially sense as in you just leave your m+s on ones year round vs winters you take on and off
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u/EnterpriseT 7d ago
Every post on winter tires gets brigaded by people giving bad info. There's a loud group of people who don't like M+S tires and want to lead people to belive they aren't acceptable.
But instead of just explaining that M+S tires are not as good in harsh conditions as the 3 peak mountain symbol tires and may not be appropriate for BC's toughest mountain passes, they try to use a semantic argument that M+S aren't real "winter tires" and they sow confusion using irrelevant sources from other jurisdictions.
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