Every October the same question comes up in Sherwood Park driveways: do you really need a second set of tires for winter, or will one set of all weather tires do the job? The answer depends on where you drive, how you drive and how much winter you want to deal with. This guide walks through the real differences between winter, all weather and all season tires so you can make the call with confidence before the snow sticks.
Three types of tires, three different jobs
Before comparing, it helps to know what each tire is designed for.
- Winter tires use a soft rubber compound that stays flexible in deep cold, with deep tread and lots of small slits called sipes that bite into snow and ice. They are meant to go on in the fall and come off in the spring.
- All weather tires are a newer category. They carry the three peak mountain snowflake symbol, which means they passed a standard snow traction test, but they are built to stay on the vehicle all year.
- All season tires are what most vehicles come with from the factory. Despite the name, they are designed for mild conditions. Most do not carry the snowflake symbol.
That symbol is the quickest way to tell them apart. Look on the sidewall for a mountain with a snowflake inside it. If it is there, the tire is rated for severe snow. A tire marked only “M+S” (mud and snow) has not passed that same test.
Why all season tires struggle in Alberta
The rubber in all season tires starts to stiffen once the temperature drops to about 7°C. Stiff rubber does not conform to the road surface, so it grips less, and that matters most when you need to stop or turn on a cold morning. By the time you are driving on packed snow along Highway 16 or Baseline Road in January, an all season tire is working well outside its comfort zone.
That is why many drivers call all season tires “three season tires” here. They are fine from spring to fall. For an Alberta winter, you want either winter tires or all weather tires.
Winter tires: the most grip when it counts
Dedicated winter tires are still the strongest option on ice, packed snow and in deep cold. If any of these sound like you, they are usually the better pick:
- You drive rural Strathcona County roads or gravel range roads that are not cleared first
- You commute early in the morning, before the plows and sand trucks get through
- You drive the Anthony Henday or Highway 16 daily in all conditions
- You have new or nervous drivers in the house
- You want the shortest possible stopping distance on ice
The trade offs: you need a second set of tires, a place to store them and a changeover twice a year. Many drivers put their winter tires on a separate set of wheels, which makes each swap quicker and protects the tires from repeated mounting.
Winter tires also wear quickly if you leave them on into a hot summer, so take them off once spring temperatures settle.
All weather tires: one set, all year
All weather tires make sense for a different kind of driver. They suit you if:
- Most of your driving is on cleared city streets in Sherwood Park and Edmonton
- You can stay home or wait for the roads to clear on the worst storm days
- You do not have space to store a second set of tires
- You would rather skip the spring and fall changeover
The trade offs: all weather tires are a compromise. They grip much better than all season tires in winter, but not as well as dedicated winter tires on glare ice or in deep cold. In summer they can wear faster and feel a little softer than a good all season tire. You also lose the “reset” of switching sets, so one set of tires carries all the kilometres.
Side by side
| Winter tires | All weather tires | All season tires | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowflake symbol | Yes | Yes | Usually no |
| Grip on ice and snow | Best | Good | Poor when cold |
| Use all year | No | Yes | Not in winter |
| Changeover twice a year | Yes | No | No |
| Storage needed | Yes | No | No |
When to switch to winter tires
The common rule is to put winter tires on once daytime temperatures stay at or below about 7°C, which around Sherwood Park often means sometime in October. Do not wait for the first big snowfall. That is the week every tire shop in the region gets booked solid and you end up driving on all seasons through the worst of it.
In the spring, switch back once temperatures stay above 7°C and the risk of a late storm has passed.
Tips for any tire this winter
Whatever you choose, a few habits help your tires do their job:
- Check your tire pressure monthly. Pressure drops as the temperature falls, and underinflated tires wear unevenly and handle poorly. Use the pressure listed on the sticker inside your driver’s door, not the number on the sidewall.
- Install a full set of four. Mixing winter tires on one axle with all season tires on the other makes the vehicle unstable in a turn or under hard braking.
- Watch your tread. Winter tires lose a lot of their snow grip as the tread wears down. Have the depth checked at each changeover.
- Ask about rotation. Rotating your tires helps them wear evenly. Many drivers do it at the same visit as an oil change, and our guide on how often to change your oil in Alberta covers how to time that.
- Get an alignment check after a hard hit. Potholes, frozen ruts and curb strikes can knock your wheels out of alignment, which wears tires unevenly. If the car pulls to one side or the steering wheel sits off centre, look into a wheel alignment.
Winter also brings its own kind of damage, from rock chips to sliding into a snowbank. Our guide to winter driving damage in Alberta covers what to watch for.
What about insurance?
Alberta does not require winter tires by law. Some insurers offer a discount on your premium if you use winter tires, and some count all weather tires with the snowflake symbol too. The rules vary, so ask your insurer what qualifies before you buy.
Getting your changeover done in Sherwood Park
Fix Auto Sherwood North, the local shop we recommend, now has a full time journeyman technician on staff and handles winter tire changeovers and tire service in Sherwood Park in house, including rotation, balancing and replacement. The shop is at Unit 100, 167 Provincial Ave, just north of Millennium Place off Highway 16. Book ahead by calling (780) 416-3158, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Common questions
Are all weather tires as good as winter tires?
Not quite. All weather tires carry the three peak mountain snowflake symbol, so they meet a snow traction standard, but dedicated winter tires still grip better on ice, packed snow and in deep cold. All weather tires are a reasonable middle ground for drivers who mostly stay on cleared city roads and want one set all year.
What is the difference between all season and all weather tires?
All weather tires are built for winter and carry the three peak mountain snowflake symbol. Most all season tires do not. The rubber in all season tires stiffens once it gets cold, so they lose grip on snow and ice. In an Alberta winter, all season tires are really three season tires.
When should I put winter tires on in Sherwood Park?
A common rule is to switch once daytime temperatures stay at or below about 7°C. Around Sherwood Park and Edmonton that often happens in October, so booking your changeover early helps you beat the rush that comes with the first real snowfall.
Do I need four winter tires or just two?
Four. Putting winter tires on only one axle leaves the front and rear of the vehicle with very different grip, which can make the car spin or slide in a turn or under braking. Always install a matching set of four.
The bottom line
If you drive in all conditions, travel rural roads or want the most grip on ice, dedicated winter tires are still the best choice for an Alberta winter. If you mostly drive cleared city streets and want one set all year, all weather tires with the snowflake symbol are a solid middle ground. The one choice that does not hold up here is running all season tires through January.