Understanding and dealing with the weather conditions when driving in Canada is essential, as is learning to properly maneuver through them. It is a plus if you have the perfect set of tires. All-weather tires not only provide superior handling and stability in the summer but also give you the confidence to drive in the winter.
What exactly is an all-weather tire?
The all-weather tire is a hybrid tire that offers the best of both worlds by protecting you in both mild and non-extreme winter conditions. They have an outstanding tread pattern that provides excellent stability and traction, and its unique rubber is adaptable in a range of circumstances. They offer a great wear resistance, making them a long-term alternative for any driver in all four seasons.
They’re designed for driving in mild winter circumstances, such as light rains, snowfall, and slush, as well as in cities. All-weather tires combine the advantages of all-season and winter tires to provide outstanding winter traction while yet allowing for sensitive handling in warmer conditions.
“With 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake certified performance, all-weather tires are a confident choice for a cost-effective all-year-round tire.” Bridgestone America’s Product Planner, Daniel Kelly
All-weather tires are the best year-round tires for folks who dislike the trouble of changing tires every other season and don’t have adequate storage room to keep a spare set of tires.
What makes all-weather tires a year round choice?
All-weather tires have several features that make them ideal for both summer and winter use. These features include:
- An aggressive- sipping tread design
All-weather tires come in asymmetrical or directional tread designs, each with its own set of features to address winter grip, wet and dry handling, and low noise levels, as well as even tire wear over time.
Due to their multi-wave sipes, they also offer minimal regular wear and excellent braking capabilities on dry, rainy, and snowy conditions.
- Build to last
They are made with a rubber compound designed to flex, grip and perform at temperatures above and below 70 C. The compound is made to protect against premature wear in cold and warm weather alike.
- Grooves for slush
Snow and water are pushed off the road by the muddy all-weather tire edges and polished grooves, resulting in greater grip. The grooves also help to drain slush and boost traction when driving in the snow.
Snow and ice performance of all-weather tires
The three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) designation is given to all-season tires, indicating their capacity to perform better on icy winter roads. To manage frigid temperatures and provide a safe wet grip, they have modified compounds and unique tread patterns.
In extreme winter conditions, they are insufficient substitutes for dedicated winter tires since they do not give optimum snow traction or ice breaking, but they are an ideal choice for mild winter conditions because they provide dry braking, wet braking, handling, and tread life.
Choosing the right tire type: Who are all-weather tires meant for?
All-weather tires do not match the individual performance of summer and winter tires, and the choice of which tire to use is based on the following factors:
- Severity of Winter conditions in your area; while all-weather tires perform admirably in snow and ice, winter tires outperform them in terms of traction and grip in harsh winters.
- Your yearly mileage
- Your driving habits; are perfect for anyone who uses their vehicle occasionally or stays indoors when the conditions get dangerous.
If you reside in an area where actual winter conditions exist and you need a sturdy set of tires, the all-weather is a great option because it has been tested for winter performance. For people who reside in places where winters are harsh and feature significant snowfall and slush, winter tires are the favored alternative. Anyone who lives in a mild environment will benefit from all-season tires.
All weather tires and tire changeover
When compared to seasonal tires, which require two wheel sets and two tire sets, using an all-weather tire is less expensive since one requires one set of wheels. However, considering that all-weather tires have a shorter tread life- because of higher rates of wear and tear compared to their counterparts, tire replacement may be required more often making tire changeover a more expensive approach in the long run.
Best all-weather tires in 2021
The ideal all weather tire brand is determined solely by an individual’s budget, driving habits, and local weather conditions. A consultation with a ROUNDTIRES expert can assist you in determining the best option for you. These all-season tires are endorsed by Consumer Reports;
- Toyo Celsius CUV all-weather tire for passenger cars
To provide great year-round performance, the Toyo Celcius CUV utilizes a variety of designs and rubber technologies. They’re perfect for commuting in the city, meet the Tires and Rubber Association of Canada’s safety standards and wear the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake emblem. The tread life of the Toyo Celcius is guaranteed for 100,000 kilometers.
- Wrangler DuraTrac for pickup trucks and SUVs by Goodyear
They have excellent traction in snow, great handling, and are a great value for money. They provide excellent traction in mud, snow, and dry pavements. This tire is ideal for highway, city, and rural driving. It has a 80,000 kilometres warranty as well as a standard Goodyear warranty on workmanship or materials.
- Firestone WeatherGrip for coupes, sedans and station wagons
On slick and snowy roads, chamfered shoulder blocks, snow vices, and Firestone’s traction technology on the center and shoulder ribs provide safety, reliability, and long-term durability. The tire has a warranty of 105, 000 kilometers.
- Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tire for SUVs and Sedans
Even in the most severe weather conditions, Goodyear’s Assurance WeatherReady tire delivers excellent all-weather traction. Asymmetric tire pattern with sweeping traction grooves help drain water and provide good wet traction. The tire is covered by a 60,000-mile tread life warranty.
- Michelin Cross Climate + tire
Because of the extreme silica tread compound and special rigid and bevel-edged tread blocks, this tire provides optimized braking and excellent grip on wet summer and winter roads. It comes with a 50,000-mile warranty.
- Vredestein Quatrac Pro tires
The Quatrac Pro is Vredestein’s Grand Touring All-weather tire, designed for sedan, coupe, crossover, and SUV drivers looking for a refined tire that combines luxurious comfort with high-performance grip and handling in dry and wet conditions, as well as premium light snow traction at an affordable price.
The peaks of using all-weather tires
- Safeguards against unpredictable weather conditions.
- There will be no more winter tire change appointments.
- It will save you money. Changing tires every season is a cost that many people avoid, and all-weather tires eliminate this need.
- Tread life is excellent, with most of these tires having tread warranties ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 kilometers.
- Environmentalists favor them because of their low rolling resistance, which results in lower CO2 emissions and fuel savings.
- Storage issues for who? You only need one tire set to take you all year round.
The only downside
They are not as long-lasting as winters and all-seasons. Because they aren’t changed every other season, they are prone to accumulating more wear and tear over the course of a year. As a result, their tread life warranties are shorter than those of the others.
All-weather tires are also not build for operating in weathers extreme such as excessive high temperatures and heavy snowfalls. High heat accelerates their wear and tear beyond average while snowy weather conditions cause excessive hardening which reduces their traction capabilities.
All-weather tires FAQS
How can I tell if my car has all-weather tires?
The three-peak mountain snowflake ‘Alpine’ symbol appears on the sidewalls of all-weather tires. Their tread design is also a cross between all-season and winter tires, with a straight and blocky pattern.
Who are all-weather tires intended for?
People who live in mild winter climates, those who drive only occasionally, and those who live in snow-free urban areas.
Do all-weather tires wear out first?
Yes, because they are a one-year-round tire that does not need to be changed, their tread life is shorter than that of winter or all-season tires.
When should I install all-weather tires?
All-Weather tires perform significantly better in the winter than all-season tires, and significantly better in the summer than winter tires. Drivers who want to use the same set of tires all year round should consider this option.
To sum it up
While all-weather tires cannot match with dedicated snow and summer tire performance, they are a great all-year tire selection that performs well in both heat and snow and is a safer alternative to all-season tires.