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April, 2025

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How bad is the highway from Whistler to Banff? Do you need 4wd?

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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4884 - Karma: -719
I will be travelling back and forth between Vancouver and Calgary early Feb and skiing these places. I can get a great deal on a rental car that isn't 4wd. Will I be OK or should I spend more. Thanks!
10 years ago
24 27
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sleepyhollow
Posts: 139 - Karma: 188
Well the big thing is snow tires ....without snow tires 4wd doesn't do shit and a 2wd without snow tires is even worse. Pretty sure most rental cars don't have snow tires so your screwed either way
10 years ago
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sleepyhollow
Posts: 139 - Karma: 188
Your best bet for renting a car with snow tires is Fort mcmurray I just googled for you
10 years ago
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photomoto
Posts: 1 - Karma: 11
I drove that stretch on a sunny day less than a week ago. You don't need 4x4 but like others have said: You're definitely going to want winter tires. When leaving Banff and heading to Whistler the road for a good 2 hours was just bumpy hard pack snow, which gets slick. You'll want good tires for that stuff. Drive safe and shred on.

Oh definitely hit Revy and on your way by.
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
the couple times I've crossed BC in the winter it was pavement the entire way and winter tires weren't even necessary. Mind you we didn't hit any snow storms. but having winter tires would definitely be nice, or at least some chains to keep in the trunk.

4x4 is not necessary.
10 years ago
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4884 - Karma: -719
Snow tires are not needed all new tires are good in snow these days. Rentals don't have old bald ass tires.

Its 190 for fulll size car or 440 for the SUV.
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
PeppermillRenoSnow tires are not needed all new tires are good in snow these days. Rentals don't have old bald ass tires.

Its 190 for fulll size car or 440 for the SUV.


nah this isn't right, it's not just about the tread that makes winter tires better in snow, it's also that they're a rubber that's softer in the cold. All season or summer tires are a harder rubber that in winter time when it's cold gets really hard and doesn't grip as well.

a good pair of winter tires really makes a world of difference on snow or ice.
10 years ago
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Elg
Posts: 2998 - Karma: 3,881
PeppermillRenoSnow tires are not needed all new tires are good in snow these days.


Probably the stupidest thing i've heard all day.
10 years ago
8 1
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4884 - Karma: -719
Well, thanks for the help.

I do know that snow tires are safer in principal I just know that 4x4 is what keeps you from getting stuck completely.
10 years ago
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807
maybe you should just take the bus.
10 years ago
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kenevil
Posts: 1309 - Karma: 31
Unless you're taking duffy lake rd (back way to whis, pemberton to lillooet to kamloops) you won't need 4wd.
10 years ago
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AhrenStein
Posts: 1941 - Karma: 177
you can get a ticket for driving the coq with out snow tires, same for rogers pass I think...
10 years ago
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paige.
Posts: 1932 - Karma: 926
AhrenSteinyou can get a ticket for driving the coq with out snow tires, same for rogers pass I think...


Yeah you're required to have snow tires or chains for the Sea to Sky as well.

Also it's important to check when the avy closures are on the highway, the coq will often be shut down early morning for blasting.
10 years ago
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haggis_hunter
Posts: 399 - Karma: 207
PeppermillRenoSnow tires are not needed all new tires are good in snow these days. Rentals don't have old bald ass tires.

Its 190 for fulll size car or 440 for the SUV.


Not really, a lot of people don't understand how snow tires actually work.

1st, Compound: snow tires and winters use a different mixture of rubber to a summer or all season, they have a softer compound allowing the tread blocks to move and heat up with greater ease. Most summer tyres compound does not work when the temps drop below 8c, in Europe most countries mandate winter tyre use for this reason in law. In Germany for instance you must always have the correct tyres fitted for the conditions.

2nd, Tread: snow tires have a slightly different tread pattern cut to allow them to deal with greater amounts of snow / water, they also have more tread depth than a normal road tyre, normal is about 8mm, R compound high performances have 6mm and winter / snow have 10+.

3rd, 4wd vs AWD vs 2WD: Theres also a distinct difference in drive trains that people often don't understand, most 4WD vehicles are 2WD until the front diff is engaged (most trucks), you then have permenant 4WD which is that but with all four always engaged but with the ability to isolate diffs and lock diffs such on Landrovers, you then have AWD which is what you would find on Subarus, Quattro Audis the like which is usually a system of 60/40 front to rear which is controlled by the car without your input.

My Subaru has a low range box too and with its 60/40 AWD its never struggled in snow as it also has all seasons on it. Was it faster than my FWD Cooper S on snow tires, no not even close.
10 years ago
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4884 - Karma: -719
ShredMasterPlusmaybe you should just take the bus.



Nah I want to stay as flexible as I can for which resort I ski at each day I wanna hit the good snow. Rental car prices are too good and Ill be in the big cities certain days for hockey games which I'll need a car for. The first Sat Im there I have a room that I can cancel in Pemberton so Im covered in case I wanna do Whistler that weekend so that and the game nights are all I will book in advance.



I guess I'll rent the SUV and make a point about all season tires. Thanks for the help.


Wednesday Feb 11- Sat Feb 21 is when Im looking at travelling. Which is the US school vacation week so it won't be that in Canada right you do it a different week?
10 years ago
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paige.
Posts: 1932 - Karma: 926
PeppermillRenoNah I want to stay as flexible as I can for which resort I ski at each day I wanna hit the good snow. Rental car prices are too good and Ill be in the big cities certain days for hockey games which I'll need a car for. The first Sat Im there I have a room that I can cancel in Pemberton so Im covered in case I wanna do Whistler that weekend so that and the game nights are all I will book in advance.



I guess I'll rent the SUV and make a point about all season tires. Thanks for the help.


Wednesday Feb 11- Sat Feb 21 is when Im looking at travelling. Which is the US school vacation week so it won't be that in Canada right you do it a different week?


Different Canadian schools have a different week sometimes but UBC is the 16-21st.
10 years ago
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403MEDIA
Posts: 272 - Karma: 4,803
Definitely need winter tires. If road conditions are bad, take the Vancouver route instead of north through lillouet.
10 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
All seasons are not winters. Get chains if you can't find a car with winter tires. Don't drive too fast with chains on.
10 years ago
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annex_
Posts: 1659 - Karma: 1,499
paige.Different Canadian schools have a different week sometimes but UBC is the 16-21st.


same with UofC
10 years ago
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Lucas
Posts: 4882 - Karma: 1,597
PeppermillRenoSnow tires are not needed all new tires are good in snow these days. Rentals don't have old bald ass tires.

Its 190 for fulll size car or 440 for the SUV.


Honestly one of the stupidest members of NS
10 years ago
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Vino
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 1,117
sleepyhollowWell the big thing is snow tires ....without snow tires 4wd doesn't do shit and a 2wd without snow tires is even worse. Pretty sure most rental cars don't have snow tires so your screwed either way


Went from Calgary to Revelstoke two years ago with a rental car... I don't get how you are not forced to have winter tires un the West (hère un QC you have to have them on Dec 15th.)

We almost died a few times.
10 years ago
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paige.
Posts: 1932 - Karma: 926
VinoWent from Calgary to Revelstoke two years ago with a rental car... I don't get how you are not forced to have winter tires un the West (hère un QC you have to have them on Dec 15th.)

We almost died a few times.


In a lot of places you are, as is mentioned earlier in this thread. But it's pretty rare that they have checkpoints set up.
10 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
VinoWent from Calgary to Revelstoke two years ago with a rental car... I don't get how you are not forced to have winter tires un the West (hère un QC you have to have them on Dec 15th.)

We almost died a few times.


You are forced. You need winter tires or chains when going over the mountain pass's in BC. You get a ticket for a couple hundred bucks if you are caught without winter tires or chains.

If you are renting a car and can't get winter tires you need to buy yourself some chains.
10 years ago
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Vino
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 1,117
DrailYou are forced. You need winter tires or chains when going over the mountain pass's in BC. You get a ticket for a couple hundred bucks if you are caught without winter tires or chains.

If you are renting a car and can't get winter tires you need to buy yourself some chains.


From what we saw it was only required for the trucks. But for our safety, let's say that next time we will get some chains if we don't have winter tires...
10 years ago
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minihef
Posts: 827 - Karma: 931
PeppermillRenoWell, thanks for the help.

I do know that snow tires are safer in principal I just know that 4x4 is what keeps you from getting stuck completely.


Why start a thread asking for advice and then ignore all the advice that's given by people who know more than you do about driving in these areas.

Having good winter tires is much more important than anything else when travelling through places like Rogers Pass & Kicking Horse Pass in winter.
10 years ago
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minihef
Posts: 827 - Karma: 931
PeppermillRenoWell, thanks for the help.

I do know that snow tires are safer in principal I just know that 4x4 is what keeps you from getting stuck completely.


Why start a thread asking for advice and then ignore all the advice that's given by people who know more than you do about driving in these areas.

Having good winter tires is much more important than anything else when travelling through places like Rogers Pass & Kicking Horse Pass in winter.
10 years ago
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ankhou
Posts: 505 - Karma: 238
To echo the point because it might save your life, you absolutely need winter tyres or chains if you're driving any of the high mountain passes (Coquihalla, Duffy, or Rogers) during winter. Road conditions can be extremely variable. Watch out for semis too, it's been a bad early season for accidents. I've lived in Revelstoke for the past 4 years and I wouldn't be driving the highways in either direction if I didn't have winter tyres.
10 years ago
1 0
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haggis_hunter
Posts: 399 - Karma: 207
Also a decent winter pack for the car; some food, Arctic sleep bag or at a minimum survival blanket, metal shovel as if you get stuck in somewhere pack snow is pretty fucking hard to shift otherwise, and a decent set of water proof work gloves for fitting and removing chains. I can tell you OP from personal exp its a lot easier to get chains on or off when your hands aren't freezing to them.
10 years ago
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