Sure but it's always an economic question. If Metro Vancouver or Greater Victoria gets at most 7 snow days a year, out of 365, you can live with just one set of year-round tires. The rest of BC, you can't live without winter tires.
I suspect if it wasn't for the fact that 3/4 of BC's population lives in relatively snow-free areas, we'd have laws like in Quebec which make it mandatory to have winter tires for every vehicle.
I've driven around here with nothing but all-seasons (not even all-weathers) and front-wheel drive, and had few problems, if any.
However, I'd like to know why Translink can't get some buses that are snow-capable for SFU. I know very little about buses and why snow totally fucks them, but surely such buses must exist somewhere. They're now planning to build an SFU gondola, rather than get stymied by that hill for a few days each year.
