Best All Season Tires for Winter: Top-4 Performance Features You Need

How do I find the best all-season tires for winter?

The answer is different for everyone depending on driving habits, tire budget and location. For some people, using all-season tires for winter is a safe and cost-effective option; for others, it’s downright dangerous.

Cut the guesswork and pinpoint the perfect all-season tires for winter by reading today’s post or contacting a TIRECRAFT dealer near you.

Do I need winter tires or all-season tires?

According to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada’s (TRAC) 2019 Winter Tire Report, approximately 75% of Canadian motorists used winter tires last year. Unlike closed-tread all-season tires, winter tires have open tread patterns that effectively push away ice and snow, which leads to better performance in freezing conditions and lesser chance of hydroplaning. Winter tires also use sipes, which are small slits or grooves cut into the tread to create hundreds of small biting edges. At the end of the day, if you want to maximize safety and traction this winter, snow tires can’t be beat.

But that doesn’t mean winter tires are a must for everyone.

For those who live and drive in warmer parts of the country, with light flurries and minimal ice, using all season tires for winter driving can be both safe and cost-effective.

How do I find the best all season tires for winter?

Not every set of all-season tires is created equal. In fact, performance features vary quite widely from one manufacturer to the next, and there’s a wide range of all-season tire types suited to different drivers.

So how do you find the best all-season tires for winter in your locality—and for your unique driving habits?

TIRECRAFT is here to help. What follows is an overview of the top-4 performance features of the best all-season tires for winter driving. Use these general guidelines to get you started, or find a TIRECRAFT near you to speak directly with a representative and get personalized recommendations.

Tread carefully: Top-4 performance features for all-season tires in winter

Whatever brand you choose, make sure they offer these following four winter performance features (or something comparable):

1. Wear-reduction technology—The best all-season tires are designed to last a long time. For example, the wide tread footprint on the Firestone FR710 ensures longer and more even wear, while also increasing ride comfort.
2. Slush-fighting tread design—The best all-season tires for winter will have tread specially designed to push away water, slush, and light snow. For example, the Hankook Optimo H724 all-season tire comes with variable lateral groove design and multiple circumferential chutes.
3. Tire stress mitigation features—Tires take on all kinds of stress in the winter months, so it’s important that yours are built to withstand whatever comes your way. Look for durability-boosting features that spread out tire stresses, like the Firestone FR710’s continuous ribs.
4. Better grip in wet conditions—Certain all-season tires come with modern rubber compounds that resist wear and contain silicate for added flexibility and grip in winter conditions, like the Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02.

TIRECRAFT: Your one-stop shop for quality winter tires

No matter what top all-season tire brands you’re looking for, we carry them all at your local TIRECRAFT—and every consultation is 100% free. Learn more about our extensive selection and special warranties by finding a TIRECRAFT near you.

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