All-Season vs All-Weather vs Winter Tires
The Difference Between All Season, All Weather, and Winter Tires
Confused about tire options? In this post, we’ll break down the differences between all season vs all weather vs winter tires, highlighting their unique features, performance characteristics, and ideal conditions. This will help you make the best choice for your driving needs.
If you want to keep one set of tires year-round, it’s important to know the difference between all weather tires and all season tires. But if you need the best traction in winter, switching between winter and summer tires is the safer option.
The Cost Factor
Having separate summer and winter tires extends their lifespan, improves safety, and boosts performance. Storing your summer or all season tires during winter helps them last longer. Using all season tires year-round, however, can cause faster wear and more frequent replacements.
All Weather Tires
All weather tires carry the mountain snowflake symbol, meeting safety standards for winter conditions but aren’t designed for extreme cold or heavy snow.
Traction: They’re stiffer than winter tires and offer less grip on ice and snow, with tread patterns that provide about 10% better traction than summer tires.
Durability: Not ideal for hot climates — tread wears faster on hot pavement.
Bottom line: All weather tires deliver solid year-round performance but can fall short in harsh winter conditions.
Pros:
No need for seasonal tire swaps
Cheaper than buying dedicated winter tires
Better winter performance than all season tires
Good for areas with light snowfall
Cons:
Faster tread wear when used year-round
All Season Tires
All season tires are common on many vehicles and work well in spring, summer, and fall, but don’t match winter or all weather tires in cold, snowy conditions.
Performance: Provide a smooth ride and decent tread life depending on winter severity.
Winter Capability: Handle mild snow but less effective than winter or all weather tires.
Best for: Wet and dry conditions, mild snow, and temperatures above 0°C.
Winter Tires
Winter tires offer superior traction on snow, ice, and cold roads thanks to softer rubber and specialized tread designs.
Cold Performance: Stay flexible in low temps, ensuring better grip.
Tread Design: Aggressive patterns improve traction on slippery surfaces.
Considerations:
Require seasonal swapping each spring to avoid wear
Provide excellent safety and control in cold weather
Wear faster above 7°C
Choosing the Right Tires
Consider these factors when selecting tires:
Local weather and year-round conditions
Winter safety priorities
Budget and convenience of switching tires seasonally
Conclusion
All season tires work best in mild weather but aren’t suitable for harsh winters. If you face severe winter conditions, winter tires provide the safest and most reliable traction. If changing tires seasonally isn’t an option, all weather tires offer a good middle ground — better winter grip than all season tires while serving as year-round tires. For Canadian drivers, all weather tires balance convenience and performance but switching to winter tires below 7°C remains the best choice for safety and handling.
Want professional help? Find out more about our winter & all season tire replacement service.
Safe driving and all the best!