All Weather Tires In Canada: Pros And Cons For Winter Driving

Considering using all-weather tires in Canada? You’re not alone. Although 76% of Canadians currently use winter tires, many drivers are now thinking about making the switch (TRAC, 2021).

Read on to learn 4 pros and cons to using all-weather tires in Canada, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to speak directly with a tire expert near you.

Pros: 4 Reasons To Consider All-Weather Tires In Canada

1. All-weather tires are the best option for Canada’s four seasons. If you have to choose one tire to get you through all four seasons, all-weather tires stand head-and-shoulders above the competition. Despite what their name suggests, all-season tires are not designed for use in heavy snow and ice. For this reason, most all-season tire users switch to snow tires when winter sets in.

But all-weather tires are different. Not only do they perform well on wet and dry roads in the summer, but they also provide exceptional grip and braking power in the snow, thanks to their increased sipe density, snow claws, slush grooves, and unique rubber compounds containing silica. In fact, they even outperformed some dedicated snow tires in Consumer Reports’ snow track tests.

2. All-weather tires simplify tire storage. Your tires stay on your vehicle all year long, you save time, money, and space that would otherwise go to your off-season tires.

3. All-weather tires save hundreds on seasonal services. No tire changeovers means no changeover fees, ever, until your tires reach retirement. Many all-weather tires are backed by lengthy Limited Manufacturer’s warranties, like the Firestone WeatherGrip at 105,000km, so you can expect your tires to last for years and really rack up the service savings.

4. All-weather tires are held to clear performance standards. “There is no realistic requirement to be all-season,” says Joe Maher, product manager at Continental Tire (Manges, 2021). “You can have an all-season tire that would virtually be a summer tire. The reason I think all-weather has benefits is that it really sets a minimum standard for snow capability.”

The all-season tire category is too broad to really know what you’re getting with serious research, but you know every all-weather tire meets the Tire and Rubber Association’s minimum winter driving standards, thanks to the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake designation found on their sidewall.

Cons: 4 Reasons All-Weather Tires Might Not Be Right For You

1. All-weather tires do not provide optimal performance in any weather. In order to work all year-round, all-weather tires need to be balanced, so they’ll never truly outperform competitors from the specialist categories. While all-weather tires have performed well in snow track tests, the best winter performance comes from winter tires. Likewise, while all-weather tires perform well in the summer, the best summer performance requires specialty summer tires. If you want the very best, and you’re willing to pay more and commit to storage and seasonal service to get it, all-weather tires probably aren’t for you.

2. All-weather tires might not get you any insurance breaks. In Ontario, insurers typically provide discounts to drivers using winter tires, but not all-weathers.

3. All-weather tires will not satisfy legal winter tire requirements. For drivers living in Quebec or any other area mandating the use of snow tires in the winter, all-weather tires won’t be the right fit.

4. All-weather tires cut out your built-in service reminders. As a sort of silver lining, seasonal tire changes create built-in reminders for tire rotations, inspections, and other important services. But when you use all-weather tires, you’ll need to remember to schedule these on your own—although your local TIRECRAFT can help with handy service reminders!

Shop All-Weather Tires In Canada: Contact TIRECRAFT

Ultimately, only you can decide whether all-weather tires are a good fit, but your local TIRECRAFT can help. We carry all the most popular all-weather tires, along with a comprehensive catalog of winter tire and all-season tire alternatives, and our tire specialists are standing by to give advice and recommendations as needed.

To start a personalized tire consultation and find out whether all-weather tires are right for you, contact your local TIRECRAFT.

References

Manges, M. (2021, September 28). Continental jumps into the all-weather segment. Modern Tire Dealer.

TRAC. (2022). 2021 Winter Tire Report. Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.

Back