In the beginning, there was but one tire, a strip of rubber wrapped around a solid steel wheel. It was harsh but less harsh than steel wheel on cobblestone. This was good.
Since then, manufacturers have presented drivers with the all-season tire: a jack of all trades and a master of none. In the summer, it has less traction than a dedicated summer tire. In the winter, it has less traction than a winter tire.
Oft referred to as a no-season tire, an all-season tire does not pass the Transport Canada medium-packed snow test to earn the Alpine pictograph designating it as a winter tire. Lettering like M & S (mud & snow) on the sidewall is meaningless, as there is no test to pass and manufacturers can put them on any tire they like.
What is an all-weather tire?
The all-weather tire is an all-season tire that grew up, went to university, studied traction, and then aced the Transport Canada snow test. It is essentially a winter tire that can be left on the car all year. Goodbye, tire changeovers.
The reason we need winter tires is that normal tire rubber hardens as temperatures drop below 7 C. Tire rubber must be flexible to grip the road. At that temperature, an all-season and a winter tire have about the same traction. As the thermometer drops, the winter tire gains grip and the all-season loses it.
The all-weather tire also gains grip; it uses rubber compounds similar to the winter tire but is made of sturdier stuff so that it can also withstand the summer heat of highway driving.
Part of this scheme is very strong construction. All-weather tires usually are speed-rated H and above. This tire stiffness and more open-tread pattern results in a noisier and slightly stiffer ride in the summer than a comparable all-season.
Put to the test
Recently 19 different tires (nine all-seasons, seven winters, and three all-weathers) were tested for braking distance on ice. In aggregate numbers, the all-weather tires stopped 20.7 per cent shorter than the all-season group.
The dedicated winter tires as a group stopped 15.3 per cent shorter than the all-weather group.
On wet and dry freezing pavement, the all-weather tire is more stable and stops surer than a winter tire. In heavy slush both tires work well.
Are all-weather tires the answer for everyone in the winter? No. But for most urban drivers who deal mostly with roads that are plowed, yes they do work and work very well.
The options
There are four brands of all-weather tires available for cars. The Nokian WR G3 and Nokian Nordman are sold exclusively by Kal Tire, Canadian Tire Corporation has the rights to the Hankook Optimo 4S, and the Vredestein Quatrac 3 is available at independent tire shops.
Nokian WR G3
The WR G3 is the leading premium tire in this class. Nokian invented the all-weather tire and this is now its third generation. It is an environmentally-friendly tire which uses Canola to reduce mineral oil content. Its low rolling resistance helps save gas. It features innovative polished grooves for faster slush elimination.
Sizes: 14 to 19 inch wheels.
Prices start at $129.
Sold exclusively by Kal Tire in Canada: https://www.kaltire.com
Nokian Nordman
The Nordman line looks very similar to the WR line of all-weathers because it is the previous generation of the WR G3. It is the G2 by another name, but at a budget-friendly price. It is noisier at highway speeds than the G3. The Nordman is studdable for severe northern use. Considered a green tire, tread wear indicators are built in.
Sizes: 13 to 17 inch wheels.
Prices start at $108.
Sold exclusively by Kal Tire in Canada: https://www.kaltire.com
Hankook Optima 4S
This tire has been very popular in Europe and is sold only there and in Canada due to manufacturing capacity limitations. It won a winter tire test in Germany just after its regional introduction. Hankook makes high quality tires at a budget price.
Sizes: 14 to 17 inch wheels.
Prices start at $81.
The Hankook Optimo 4S is sold exclusively at Canadian Tire.
Vredestein Quatrac
This Dutch company started out making bicycle tires in the early 20th century. Their tire designs started out with unusual tread patterns, sometimes more stylish than practical. Vredestein once produced a tire designed by Italian design company Giugiaro. The Quatrac has a unique summer and winter side: optimized performance in all four seasons. It is a Green EU tire with low rolling resistance.
Sizes: 16 to 17 inch sizes
Prices start at $137.
Vredestein tires are available through independent tire dealers.
