Although winter tires are not mandatory in B.C., ICBC recommends their use in winter conditions particularly if you live in an area where you would normally expect a lot of snow. In snowy conditions, driving without proper winter tires may not be the wisest or safest decision, but it does not affect a customer’s insurance coverage or eligibility to make a claim.
Drivers are always responsible for ensuring their vehicles are properly equipped for road conditions, just like making sure your wipers and headlamps are working well on dark and rainy nights. Driving without winter tires will not void your insurance in the event of a claim or mean that you are automatically at-fault for a crash. However, if you get in a crash where winter tires could have helped it may be a deciding factor in determining whether or how much you are at-fault.
Full story: icbc.com - What B.C. drivers need to know about winter tires and insurance
