Has this ever happened to you? You take your car in for an oil change and while you’re there, the mechanic mentions that you should get some new tires. He mentions they stock both all-season and all-weather tires but depending on how long it’s been since your last new set and rotation, you might be stumped on which kind to get.
For those in Canada during the winter months, this choice is especially important. Here we’ll go over the differences between these two types, the pros and cons of each, and the best of each category so you can get the complete run down on which will be right for you.
The Difference Between All-Season and All-Weather Tires
Although these sound pretty similar, there’s one main difference between the two. All-season tires aren’t considered winter tires by the Rubber Association of Canada, due to their reduced performance at temperatures below 7 Celsius.
For those driving in warmer climates or not at all during the colder months, this isn’t an issue. But for those who are, it’s vital to keep in mind.
For those who live in Quebec and British Columbia, some laws drivers to use winter tires. Designated with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol (3PMS), these qualify under the law, and in British Columbia, this extends to tires marked as M+S, aka all-season tires.
All-weather tires, by contrast, are designed to work in, you guessed it, all weather conditions. Although they have their downsides as well, they outshine the all-seasons by far.
Pros of All-Weather Tires
All-weather tires work year-round, barring heavier conditions. They also don’t need switching out in favor of dedicated winter tires depending on the location and climate you’ll be driving in.
Other pros include:
- An asymmetric tread pattern that increases handling and makes them suitable for both dry and wet conditions
- Better braking performance
Cons of All-Weather Tires
Everything has its faults. So while all-weather tires can be great for those who don’t have to deal with many harsher weather conditions on the road, they won’t stand up to dedicated winter tires.
Some of their other downsides are:
- Because of their ability to handle snowier conditions, they lack some grip and traction quality in the warmer months
- All-weather tires aren’t as durable, meaning you’ll have to replace them more often than all-season tires
Pros of All-Season Tires
All-Season tires are better suited for the warmer months and can provide a very solid driving experience for motorists with nearly any type of vehicle. Other advantages of these tires are:
- They’re generally more affordable than winter tires
- They can handle wet conditions, reducing the risk of hydroplaning
Cons of All-Season Tires
- Tend to have directional tread patterns which hamper grip and traction in snow and other less than ideal weather conditions
- Should be switched out as the weather gets colder which requires you to buy a dedicated set of winter tires
Best All-Weather Tires
Deciding which tire to buy doesn’t stop at all-weather vs all-season. You should also consider which brand and type of tire, whether passenger, touring, or all-terrain, depending on your vehicle and driving conditions.
Firestone
Firestone is an auto care company that has been in business since 1926. They sell a variety of tire options including their brand line’s Weathergrips. These have snow traction claw technology, designed to help you stay on the road and fully in control in the snow.
With open shoulder slots that help evacuate water from the contact patch in rain, there should be a spot on your list for this one. Suited for most passenger vehicles excluding trucks, these come in sizes from 15” to 18” with a limited warranty range of about 104,600 km or 65,000 miles.
Nokian
If you’re looking for the cream of the crop all-weather tires, look no further than the Nokian WR G4s. As a company with an emphasis on testing and proving their innovations are changing the tire industry, this is proof of it.
The WR G4s Blade Grooves route rain, snow, and slush away from the contact surface, and the tire is designed with sipes that are staggered at different angles to aid with grip. This makes them one of the best all-weather tires for snow.
With their Coanda technology, Nokian has mastered the prevention of hydroplaning. These also come with a dual performance compound that makes this one of the most durable all-weather tires. Coming in rim sizes of 14” to 20” these come with a 96,500 km or 60,000-mile limited tread warranty.
Radar
Radar’s Dimax 4 Seasons have earned the 3PMS designation with their high-density sipes. Coupled with an asymmetric tread pattern, this improves grip in rain, slush, and snow.
Dual compound technology keeps this tire flexible in both warmer and colder temperatures, allowing it to deliver high-performance handling. And its casing profile and pitch sequence ensure a quiet drive. Radar manufacturers these in 14” to 20” sizes.
General
You might be more of an off-roading type, ready for adventure. For those looking for all-terrain Canada tires, you can’t go wrong with the Grabber A/TXs. General designs with reliability, durability, and control in mind, letting you drive comfortably and safely.
They balance a comfortable and quiet ride with stone bumpers between the shoulder blocks that help to eject rocks and debris, and Sidewall Protection Lugs that protect from sidewall punctures.
For durability, these tires utilize the company’s DuraGen technology that keeps these tires lasting through the years. These are available in sizes 14” through 20” and with a warranty of up to 96,560 km or 60,000 miles.
Best All-Season Tires
Toyo
Toyo has a variety of high-performance, passenger, touring, off-road, and commercial grade all-weather tires. As a manufacturer, they’ve been around for over 75 years, and are most popular with SUV, truck, and crossover owners.
As for their all-season options, they sport the Extensa A/S II for trucks, SUVs, and crossovers as well as minivans and sedans. With its special silica compound that stands out in wet conditions and improves fuel efficiency, it takes the best aspects of all-season tires and enhances them. These come in sizes 14” to 20”, complete with a warranty of up to 120,700 km 75,000 miles.
They also have the Extensa HP II, which is their high-performance version of the regular A/S II. Capitalizing on the latest tire technologies, it boasts a quieter drive and top-tier wet and dry handling. HP IIs are available in a range of sizes from 15” to 22” and include a warranty up to 72,420 km/45,000 miles.
Michelin
Founded in 1889, the world’s top-selling tire brand has plenty of all-season tires tailored toward performance, luxury, and all types of vehicles. One of which is the Defender LTX M/S with Evertread, which has 10% more longevity in harsh conditions compared to the LTX M/S2.
They can save motorists fuel with their MaxTouch Construction and have excellent wet and snow traction. The LTX M/S comes in an array of sizes from 15” to 22” and warranties up to 120,700 km/75,000 miles.
Another option is the Premier A/S, complete with EverGrip technology that uses silica in the tread compound to provide a high level of wet grip. It has emerging grooves that open as the tire wears, so well into the tire’s life, the handling and stopping power isn’t compromised.
In Canada, tires like this can’t go unnoticed. The size range is a bit smaller for this one, with only 15” through 18” available, and they qualify for an up to a 96,500 km/60,000-mile warranty.
Hankook
Hankook as a company is dedicated to innovation, and technological leadership, and provides tires to over 160 countries around the world. For all-season tires, the picks are the Kinergy PT and the Ventus V2 concept2, both complete with an M+S rating.
The Kinergy PT has stiff tread blocks that lead to heightened durability and tread uniformity, both improving mileage, and handling. They’re also designed with wide lateral grooves that ensure hydroplaning resistance.
With belt edge tape folding that helps increase durability, plus a profile design that improves the wear on the tire and braking ability, this is a solid choice. Available in 15” to 19” rim sizes, Hankook has your back with a warranty of up to 144,840 km/90,000 miles.
The Ventus V2 concept2 is a performance aimed tire, complete with a reinforced belt structure that maintains contact pressure when cornering and a noise care block so you’ll feel comfortable and in control in all situations. As for sizes, these go up to 20”, the smallest being 15”.
Bridgestone
A global leader in innovative tire technologies founded in 1931, Bridgestone has a wide inventory of high-quality products. Their all-season lines are the Ecopia, Dueler, Turanza, and DriveGuards, designed for passenger cars, touring, and light/medium trucks respectively.
Bridgestone’s Turanza Quiettracks excel in providing not only a smoother, quieter driving experience but above standard snow traction. Along with this, they have open shoulder slots to expel water under rainy conditions.
This makes them one of the best tires for all seasons. These are made in 15” to 20” rim sizes and come with a limited mileage warranty of 128,740 km/80,000 miles.
The Dueler product line’s stand out is the H/L Alenza for light and medium trucks, which have 3D sipes that enhance dry performance all the while maintaining traction in rainy, icy, and snowy conditions. They also have a variable block wall angle that reduces noise. These have a much smaller size range since they’re dedicated truck tires only in 18”, 20′,’ and 22”.
Should You Buy All-Weather or All-Season Tires?
Ultimately, the choice of which tires to buy depends on your vehicle, the type of terrain and conditions you’ll be driving in, and your budget. But if you’re looking for a set of tires that will last throughout the year without having to change them out or worry about harsh weather conditions, all-weather tires should be at the top of your list.
If you’re in the market for a car to put your new all-weather or all-season tires on and you’re looking to get a loan, think CarsFast. They work with a variety of banking and lender companies to get you the best possible interest rate and lowest monthly payment.