All Season Tires: Pros & Cons

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By Aren Mirzaian
Last updated on March 04, 2026

4 minute read

MyChoice follows a strict content review process designed to ensure reliable and unbiased information.

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All-Season Tires at a Glance

  • All-season tires are designed to provide balanced performance in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, but they do not perform as well as dedicated winter tires in cold temperatures, snow, or ice.
  • Winter tires provide significantly better traction when temperatures drop below about 7 °C, particularly on snow, ice, and cold pavement.
  • All-season tire prices vary widely depending on brand and size, but many passenger tires typically range from about $90 to over $200 per tire in Canada
  • Tire lifespan varies depending on usage and driving conditions, but many tires are rated to last between roughly 60,000 and 100,000 kilometres.
Pros and Cons of winter and all season tire

Who Should Get All-Season Tires?

These tires are ideal if you live in a region with mild winters and occasional snowfall, like British Columbia. You won’t need to change these tires all year. However, as you know, winters in Canada can be far from mild, depending on where you live. Hence, many people prefer the well-known option of winter tires to stay on a safer side.

Are All-Season Tires Good for Canadian Winters?

All-seasons can work in cities like Toronto most days, but they are a gamble the moment it gets cold and slick, because the rubber hardens below about 7°C and stopping grip drops fast, especially with slush/black ice.

If you can avoid driving in winter storms, you might get by, but if you commute no matter what, get proper winter tires (or at least 3-Peak all-weather as a one-set compromise).

Main Difference Between Winter Tires and All-Season Tires

Canadian winters are usually intense, with lots of snow and ice, which means drivers need to take extra steps to drive safely during the winter months. Winter tires will help your car grip the road while driving on snow and ice, and perhaps most importantly, they greatly reduce the chance of you sliding and losing control of your car. 

Winter tires provide significantly better traction when temperatures drop below about 7 °C, particularly on snow, ice, and cold pavement. These tires have a slightly different rubber composition that does not cause them to “harden” at low temperatures and still provides a good grip.

What Are the Pros of All-Season Tires?

Cheaper in the short-term

All-season tires are an economical way to maintain your car. Winter tires are not mandatory in most of Canada, but they are required by law in Quebec during the winter months. You can use the same tires all year round without having to change them when the seasons change.

All-season tire prices vary widely depending on brand and size, but many passenger tires typically range from about $90 to over $200 per tire in Canada.

Smoother Driving

Since they are meant for various weather conditions, all-season tires can offer better handling compared to winter tires when the weather is not so extreme. They also tend to be quite fuel-efficient, but it’s worth noting that they can lose some of their handling ease when driving at high speeds. 

Best for a Not so Extreme Climate

In areas where the difference between summer and winter is not so extreme, all-season tires are the best fit in regions with milder winters or lower snowfall. Moreover, if it’s more likely you’ll see more rain than snow in the colder months, you’ll want to choose all-performance tires. They are designed to perform in both wet and dry conditions, and they will offer about the same protection against aquaplaning or hydroplaning.

What Are the Disadvantages of All-Season Tires?

They Wear Out Sooner 

Although this disadvantage will vary based on the use that each driver gives them, its important to bear in mind that these tires are less resistant than those specific for summer or winter, so they may wear out sooner.

They Are Not Suitable for Extreme Weather Conditions

The traction and braking of all-season tires are very satisfactory and can be good for places with moderate winters. However, in Eastern Canada, where winters are very cold, these tires do not provide the same safety as winter tires do in very low temperatures.

Top 5 Best All-Season Tires

The new Extensa also has a non-directional tread design that makes tire rotations easier, ensuring even wear and extending the life of all four tires.

The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is a good example of a tire at the more premium end of all-season tires. Its longer treadwear warranty and higher speed rating also come with a heftier price, which is often the way with higher-performing tires. The average price for a 205/60HR16 tire is $119.

The Kumho Solus line offers quite a bit of variety, with all-weather Solus HA versions as well as the Solus TA11 all-season as well. The Solus TA31, however, is the entry-level tire into the Solus line, with sizes ranging from tiny 13-inch, 175mm-wide tires, up to 235/65R18s. The average price for one 205/60HR16 tire is $125.

Another entry within the higher end of the all-season tire market is the Continental PureContact LS, the German tire manufacturer is the priciest of this group here, though it (and many tiremakers) often offer rebates and deals that change constantly, so are not reflected here. The average price for one 205/60VR16 tire is $161.

Though now a division of Bridgestone, and often regarded as a less expensive sub-brand of the Japanese tire giant, Firestone, as a brand, was independent up until 1998, with many fans of the American brand remaining. Firestone’s efficiency-focused Fuel Fighter line of low rolling resistance tires falls into this price range, with Firestone claiming better fuel efficiency than its Affinity all-season tires, though not specifying by how much. The average price for one 205/60HR16 tire is $128.

When is the Best Time to Change to Winter Tires?

If you choose to change your all-season tires when winter comes, keep in mind that the weather is increasingly unpredictable and winters vary widely from year to year.

As a rule of thumb, to avoid ending up in a dangerous situation, remember to change your tires when the temperature drops below 7 °C. You can also switch to winter tires with the fall time change.

Remember that as temperatures drop to 7°C, summer tires will become less efficient. Another thing worth mentioning is the winter tire discounts that some car insurance providers offer. 

Key Advice from MyChoice

  • Consider winter tires if you drive regularly during Canadian winters. They provide better grip when temperatures fall below 7°C, especially on snow, ice, and slushy roads.
  • If you want to use one set of tires year-round, look for all-weather tires with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol. They perform better in winter conditions than standard all-season tires.
  • Compare insurance discounts before buying tires. Many insurers offer winter tire discounts (often around 5%), which can help offset the cost.
  • Think about how and where you drive. If you commute daily or drive on highways in winter, winter tires provide much more safety and control than all-season tires.
By Aren Mirzaian

With over a decade in Canada’s insurance sector, Aren is a leading voice in the industry, providing thought leadership on auto insurance, underwriting innovation, and how technology is reshaping insurance.

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