Your Winter Tires May Be Legal In Canmore, But Not Down The Road

Bow Valley drivers heading west or south can cross into a mandatory winter-tire zone without changing highways.

The rules depend on the province and route. For drivers leaving the Bow Valley, that means the tires that are legal at the start of a trip may not meet the requirements farther down the highway.

Highway 1 toward Golden and Revelstoke

If you’re heading west from the Bow Valley, the winter tire rules kick in as soon as you cross into B.C.

Winter tires or chains are required on Highway 1 through Yoho National Park from Oct. 1 to April 30, according to the Government of B.C.

Drivers leaving Lake Louise reach the Oct. 1 requirement when they cross the Alberta-B.C. boundary into Yoho.

Parks Canada’s Glacier National Park page says tires marked M+S or with the mountain-and-snowflake symbol are required from Oct. 1 to March 31 through the park, including Rogers Pass.

Outside Glacier National Park on the Golden-to-Revelstoke corridor, drivers should follow the dates on B.C.’s posted regulatory signs.

Highway 93 South toward Radium and Invermere

Heading south toward Radium or Invermere is a little trickier because the dates change partway through the drive.

On the Alberta portion of Highway 93 South in Banff National Park, snow tires or chains are required from Nov. 1 to March 31. They are also mandatory outside those dates whenever the highway is covered with snow or ice.

Once drivers cross the Continental Divide into B.C. and Kootenay National Park, the requirement runs from Oct. 1 to April 30.

Drivers continuing toward Radium and Invermere should follow the dates on B.C.’s posted regulatory signs.

Highway 93 North, the Icefields Parkway

Heading north toward Jasper, the winter tire rules start a little later.

Snow tires or chains are mandatory on the Icefields Parkway from Nov. 1 to March 31.

They are also required at any other time the highway is covered with snow or ice, which matters on a high-elevation route where winter can arrive well before November and last into spring.

Where the seasonal rules do not apply

Alberta does not have a general seasonal winter-tire requirement for passenger vehicles. Alberta Transportation does, however, recommend using four winter or all-weather tires marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol when driving in severe winter conditions.

Winter tires are not generally mandatory on Highway 1 through Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise, Highway 1 east toward Calgary or provincial highways in Kananaskis, though they are strongly recommended in winter.

The B.C. requirement starts at the provincial boundary and does not extend east into Alberta. The Icefields Parkway and the Alberta portion of Highway 93 South are exceptions because federal regulations apply on those national park routes.

What qualifies as a winter tire?

Drivers should check the markings on the tire sidewall.

B.C. accepts tires marked M+S, meaning mud and snow, as well as tires with the three-peak mountain-and-snowflake symbol. Tires must also have at least 3.5 millimetres of tread.

Both markings satisfy B.C.’s legal requirement, but they do not represent the same level of winter performance.

M+S tires meet the legal minimum but are not required to pass the same snow-traction test as tires carrying the mountain-and-snowflake symbol.

Parks Canada and B.C. transportation officials recommend mountain-and-snowflake tires for mountain highways because they provide better traction in severe snow conditions.

What happens if a driver does not comply?

B.C. says enforcement officers may turn non-compliant motorists away from designated routes. Drivers can also receive a $121 fine.

Federal regulations apply on specified highways in the national parks. The federal contraventions schedule lists a $75 fine for driving without adequate snow tires or chains on a snow- or ice-covered park highway.

Drivers should check their tires and the requirements for the entire route before leaving. A vehicle can comply with the rules at the start of a Bow Valley trip and no longer comply after crossing a provincial or national park boundary.