Ready or not, winter tire season starts this week in British Columbia. Provincial law requires vehicles to have winter tires when travelling on most highways from Oct. 1 through March 31. “The best thing is to watch those signs, they’ll say how long the winter tire mandate is in effect.”Safety experts say it’s also important to check your tires’ condition before installing them. “Worn or damaged tires can be just as dangerous as no winter tires at all,” said Acres. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) notes that if you get in a crash where winter tires could have helped, not having them may affect whether, or how much, you are at fault.