Are Mud And Snow Tires Enough For Winter Driving In Ontario?

“Are mud and snow tires enough for winter driving in Ontario?”

Mud and snow tires are not designed specifically for winter driving, but the answer to this question depends on a number of different factors.

Read on to learn more, or contact your local TIRECRAFT for a personalized tire talk.

What Are Mud And Snow Tires? Are They Enough For Winter Roads?

What’s in a name? When Shakespeare penned this famous line in Romeo and Juliet, he definitely wasn’t talking about tires, but his point stands.

Contrary to what their name suggests, mud and snow (M+S) tires aren’t actually designed for winter driving. Although they perform reasonably well in light snow, thanks to their deep ridges, siping, and water-evacuation grooves, mud and snow tires are part of the all-season tire class.

This means that mud and snow tires will not be enough for winter driving in Quebec, where dedicated winter tires are legally required, nor will they earn you any discounts from your insurance provider.

The mud and snow designation is something of a misnomer. Rather than telling consumers that they’re looking at a dedicated snow tire, the M+S symbol is used to designate tires whose treads:

• Have multiple pockets or slots in at least one tread edge that extend towards the tread center at least ½ inch from the footprint edge
• Have a minimum cross-sectional width of 1/16 inch, measured perpendicularly to the tread centerline
• Have edges of pockets or slots at angles between 35 and 90 degrees from the direction of travel
• Have a contact surface void area of at least 25% based on mold dimensions

Importantly, this definition makes no mention of mud and snow tires’ cold-weather rubber compounds, snow claws, hydroplaning reduction, or even tread depth. In fact, when temperatures drop below 7C, mud and snow tires stiffen up like any other all-season tire, reducing performance, whereas winter tire compounds are designed to stay pliable and grippy in extreme cold.

For these reasons, Transport Canada says mud and snow tires “may not always be suitable for severe snow conditions,” and we generally recommend that drivers invest in a set of winter tires for road safety and insurance savings.

Of course, if you live outside of the snow belt region, and you only have to deal with moderate snowfall and mild temperatures, mud and snow tires might suffice. Approximately 31% of Canadian drivers use mud and snow tires year-round, according to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada’s 2021 Canadian Consumer Winter Tire Study.

If you live somewhere without winter tire mandates, it’s ultimately up to you. Consider your local temperature, snowfall, and driving demands (e.g. do you drive all across the province for work, or are you blessed with a short commute?), then decide for yourself. If you need help, your friendly local TIRECRAFT technician is standing by.

Ask The Experts: Book A Mud And Snow Tire Consultation At TIRECRAFT

If you need more help assessing your winter driving needs, or you want to explore all of your different tire options under one roof, get in touch with your local TIRECRAFT.

We offer personalized tire picks, unbiased advice, and more ways to save than any other tire retailer, whether you choose to take advantage of our official tire rebates, free tire services, or our customer loyalty rewards. And every consultation is free, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

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