Tread Talk: What To Expect From The “Best All-Weather Tires For Snow”

The best all-weather tires for snow come equipped with aggressive siping, deep treads, and specialized cold-weather compounds. Together, these winter-focused features are enough to earn them the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada’s Severe Snow Service certification—the same standard by which winter tires are measured.

But while the best all-weather tires for snow might bear the same winter driving designation, they’re not exactly the same as dedicated winter tires.

To help you understand the differences and make the right decision for your ride, today’s article explains how the best all-weather tires for snow stack up against the two most popular alternatives: all-seasons and dedicated winter tires.

Read on to learn what to expect from your all-weather set, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to speak directly with an all-weather tire expert in your area.

Tread Testing: The Best All-Weather Tires For Snow Vs. All-Seasons

Earlier this winter, Mark Richardson, winner of the 2021 Business Writing Award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, conducted a series of winter driving tests to compare the performance of all-season and all-weather options.

The tests involved a nighttime highway drive from Cobourg to Mississauga while a snow storm raged.

“The dark, three-lane highway was covered in snow, visibility was poor and traffic reports on the radio kept talking of jack-knifed tractor-trailers and vehicles in ditches,” Richardson (2022) recalled.

With his all-weather tires equipped, Richardson completed the commute without incident, although he did report some minor slipping and sliding while moving through deep, wet snow to enter the right lane.

The all-seasons, on the other hand, struggled on the same stretches of road, displaying much longer stopping distances, poor cornering, and frequent loss of traction. In fact, during braking tests, the best all-weather tires for snow stopped in 43 metres, compared to 50 metres for the best all-seasons for snow—that’s nearly 23 feet, or one-and-a-half car lengths!

Based on the results of these tests, we can see the term “all-season” is something of a misnomer; unless you live somewhere with extremely mild winters, “all-seasons” really only work in summer, spring, and fall.

If you’re looking to stay safe and save on both initial tire costs (i.e. 1 set of tires and rims) and running costs (i.e. swapping and storing fees), all-weathers are the true four-season solution.

How Do The Best All-Weather Tires For Snow Compare To Dedicated Winter Tires?

While all-weather tires perform well in winter and bear the Severe Snow Service designation, when it comes to snow performance, nothing beats dedicated snow tires. Multiple studies bear this out, and tire experts agree.

For example, track testing by Nokian tire manufacturers found that their best winter tires stopped 5 meters or about 16-feet sooner than their best all-weather tires for snow.

“All-weather tires are a compromise,” explains Steve Bourassa, Nokian’s director of products and pricing for North America (Richardson, 2022). “It’s not a miracle product. If you’ve been driving with winter tires, you’re going to see a drop in performance in extreme conditions of deep snow and really slippery ice.”

Ultimately, only you can decide what’s best for you, but our tire experts can help, and every consultation is free.

Browse All The Best All-Weather Tires For Snow: Contact TIRECRAFT

To book a free consultation and get personalized tire recommendations from a local tire experts, get in touch with your local TIRECRAFT.

References

Richardson, M. (2022, December 9). How all-weather tires stack up against all-season and winter tires in a snow storm. The Globe and Mail.

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