Pre-Road-Trip Tire Checklist for the Rockies (Banff, Kananaskis, and Jasper)
Summer in Calgary means one thing for a lot of us: loading up the car and pointing it west. Banff, Kananaskis, Lake Louise, Jasper — some of the best road trips in the country are on our doorstep. But mountain highways ask more of your tires than a city commute does: long climbs, steep descents, sharp temperature swings, and gravel pull-offs.
Before you leave town, ten minutes in the driveway can save you a blown afternoon on the shoulder of Highway 93. Here's the pre-trip tire check worth running before you go.
The short version
- Check tread depth — you want comfortably more than the legal minimum before a mountain trip.
- Set tire pressure cold, to the number on your door jamb, with the load you'll actually carry.
- Look for cracks, bulges, and embedded objects, and check the tire's age.
- Make sure your spare is there and holding air.
- Check road conditions before mountain passes, even in summer.
1. Check your tread depth
Tread is what channels water away on a wet pass and grips on a gravel pull-off. The quick home check is the toonie test: slide a toonie into the tread. If the rubber reaches the bear's paws, you have lots of life left; if it only reaches the polar bear's nose, you're near the end. For a long mountain trip with descents in the rain, you want comfortably more than the 1.5 mm legal minimum.
2. Set your pressure for the trip
Tire pressure shifts with temperature and load. A car packed with people, coolers, and camping gear needs the pressure listed on the door-jamb sticker, not a guess. Check it cold, before you drive, and remember that cooler mountain mornings and the climb in elevation will move it. Our guide on checking tire pressure walks through it. Underinflated tires run hot on long climbs, and heat is what kills tires.
3. Inspect for damage and age
Walk around the car and look at each tire. You're checking for sidewall cracks, bulges or blisters, and anything stuck in the tread. A bulge means the tire can fail — replace it before you leave, not on the way. Also check the tire's age: rubber hardens over time, and a tire that's eight or ten years old can be past it even with tread left. Here's how to read the DOT date. If you find a slow leak, get it looked at before the trip.
4. Don't forget the spare
The one tire people never check is the spare. Make sure it's actually there, holding air, and that you have the jack and wrench. A donut spare is speed- and distance-limited — fine to get you to the next town, not to keep cruising to Jasper. Here's the rundown on spares.
5. Match your tires to the drive
In summer, a good all-season or all-weather tire handles the mountain parks fine. The thing that catches people out is weather: passes like the Icefields Parkway can see snow in any month. Check conditions before you go — Alberta 511 posts live highway and mountain-pass conditions. For tire picks, our guides on highway and road-trip tires and SUV tires for the Calgary-to-Banff run go deeper.
The 10-minute pre-trip checklist
- Tread: toonie test on all four tires.
- Pressure: set cold to the door-jamb number, loaded.
- Sidewalls: check for cracks and bulges.
- Tread: pull out any stones or screws.
- Age: check the DOT date code.
- Spare: present, inflated, with tools.
- Conditions: check Alberta 511 for your route.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need winter tires for Banff in the summer?
No. In summer an all-season or all-weather tire is fine for the mountain parks. High passes can see snow in any month, so check conditions before you go, but you don't switch to winter tires for a July trip.
What tire pressure should I use for a loaded road trip?
Use the number on your driver's door-jamb sticker, set cold, and never exceed the maximum printed on the sidewall. A fully loaded vehicle should be at the door-jamb spec, not below it.
How do I know if my tires are too old for a road trip?
Check the DOT date code on the sidewall. Many makers suggest replacing tires at six to ten years regardless of tread, and visible cracking is a sign the rubber is aging.
Is a donut spare okay for a mountain trip?
It will get you to the nearest shop, but a donut is usually limited to about 80 km/h and short distances. Don't plan to drive the whole trip on it.
Where can I get my tires checked before a trip in Calgary?
Any tire shop can do a quick pre-trip inspection. We'll check tread, pressure, and overall condition — book a visit or call (403) 452-4283.
Planning a mountain trip this summer? Swing by before you head out for a free tire check, or book a time online. Prince Tires · 111 42 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2G 0A4 · (403) 452-4283.
Posted by the Prince Tires team. Calgary tire specialists since 2021. Last updated: June 2026.
Sources: Alberta 511, Transport Canada.
