Winter tires will be required on some Vancouver Island highways starting Oct. 1.
Road Safety at Work is launching its winter driving safety campaign and asking drivers to look beyond the minimum legal standards when choosing tires.
It says both M+S and three-peaked mountain and snowflake tires comply with B.C. law, but they are not the same.
“Winter tires aren’t just for snow,” said Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work. “They give you more grip and control when temperatures drop below 7C, which can happen long before the first snowfall.”
He encourages drivers to consider the temperatures and conditions they will encounter when choosing tires.
Road Safety at Work recommends tires with the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol because they are engineered to provide stronger grip in cold temperatures.
“Tires with the M+S (mud and snow) marking also meet the minimum legal requirement. But they’re intended for milder conditions such as rain, slush, or snow that melts quickly. And when temperatures drop below 7C, they can lose grip and traction,” the organization said in a news release.
Winter tires are required from Oct. 1 to March 31 on designated sections of Highway 19 north of Campbell River, highways 28, 4, 18 and 14, and the Trans-Canada Highway over the Malahat.
