"All-season" and "all-weather" sound like the same thing. In Alberta they are very different tires, and buying the wrong one is the most common tire mistake we see.
All-season tires: three seasons, really
An all-season tire is built for spring, summer and fall, with enough grip to get through a light, occasional snowfall. Its rubber is designed for mild temperatures, so it hardens as it gets cold. Below about 7°C it grips noticeably less, and in a real Edmonton January it is working well outside what it was built for.
All-weather tires: built to stay flexible in the cold
An all-weather tire uses a compound that stays flexible in the cold and a tread with far more siping to bite into slush and packed snow — much closer to a winter tire, but tough enough to run through summer. Most all-weather tires also carry the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall, the snow-traction mark that all-season tires lack. Always check the sidewall of the exact tire you are buying.
Side by side
| All-season | All-weather | |
|---|---|---|
| Cold-weather rubber | Hardens below about 7°C | Stays flexible in the cold |
| Snow and slush | Light, occasional snow | Regular winter driving |
| Snowflake mark | Usually not | Usually yes — check the sidewall |
| Swap twice a year? | Yes, if you run winters | No — one set year-round |
Which one should you buy?
If you already run a set of winter tires from October to April, an all-season is the sensible choice for the rest of the year. If you want one set of tires on the vehicle all year, with no changeover appointments and no second set of rims, an all-weather tire is the one to buy.
Our all-weather tire is the Mileking MK625, stocked in Edmonton in eighteen passenger and SUV sizes. For the harshest winters — lots of highway driving outside the city, or you simply want the most grip — a dedicated winter tire still wins: see all-weather vs winter tires.
Quick answers
What is the difference between all-weather and all-season tires?
All-weather tires use rubber that stays flexible in the cold and extra siping for snow, and most carry the three-peak snowflake mark. All-season tires harden below about 7°C and are made for mild weather with occasional snow.
Can I use all-season tires in an Alberta winter?
You can, but they are working outside what they were built for once temperatures drop well below freezing. Pair them with winter tires, or choose an all-weather tire.
Do all-weather tires need to be swapped?
No. An all-weather tire is designed to stay on year-round, so there is no seasonal changeover and no second set of rims.