Winter tire laws in Canada, province by province

Winter tires or chains are required on most highways in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30. The routes are marked with regulatory signs on the highway; on select highways that do not go through mountain passes, the requirement ends on March 31. The Coquihalla, the Trans-Canada through Rogers Pass and the Sea-to-Sky are all signed routes.

What counts as a winter tire in BC

• The letters M+S (mud and snow), or the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol.
• At least 3.5 mm of tread depth.
• Studded tires may be used on BC highways only from October 1 to April 30, with studs that should not protrude more than 2 mm.

Commercial vehicles

Outside Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria, vehicles from 5,000 to 11,794 kg must carry chains or traction devices unless they have winter-rated tires, and vehicles of 11,794 kg and over must carry steel chains on most major highways.

A driver without the right tires may be turned away and fined. The province does not state the amount on its winter tire pages, so we do not either.

From December 1 to March 15, every motor vehicle registered in Québec, rental cars included, must have winter tires. The fine is $200 to $300.

• The tire must carry the three-peaked mountain and snowflake pictogram, or be studded. M+S alone does not meet Québec's rule.
• The grooves must be at least 1.6 mm deep.
• Studded tires are allowed from October 15 to May 1 on passenger vehicles, taxis and commercial vehicles up to 3,000 kg.

Parks Canada sets its own requirement on the park highways, for every driver, with the snowflake or the M+S symbol, or chains where the park says so:

• Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North, Banff and Jasper) and Highway 93 South in Banff: November 1 to March 31.
• Rogers Pass (Highway 1 in Glacier National Park): October 1 to April 30.
• Highway 1 in Yoho and Highway 93 South in Kootenay: October 1 to April 30.

Rogers Pass also closes for avalanche control several times each winter; the pass page shows whether it is closed right now.

Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Atlantic provinces and the territories do not require winter tires province-wide. Some help pay for them:

Manitoba: financing through MPI

Manitoba Public Insurance's Winter Tire Program finances up to $2,000 per vehicle at prime plus 2%, over one to four years. From October 1, 2026, only tires marketed solely for winter driving qualify: all-weather and all-season tires no longer do, even with the snowflake symbol.

Ontario: an insurance discount, and studs in the north only

Ontario recommends four winter tires and says you could get a discount on your auto insurance: ask your insurance provider. Studded tires are not allowed in Southern Ontario; they are allowed from September 1 to May 31 for residents of Northern Ontario, and for visitors from outside Ontario for up to 30 days.

Studded tires in the Atlantic provinces

• Nova Scotia: October 15 to May 31.
• Prince Edward Island: October 1 to May 31.
• Newfoundland and Labrador: November 1 to April 30; extended to May 15 in spring 2026.