The Best All-Season Tires for Snow in 2022

All-season tires are unquestionably the most popular tire type on the market. The reasons are pretty straightforward—car owners don’t want to pay for two sets of tires when they can use one, and it’s the widely used OEM tire type by vehicle manufacturers.

However, not all all-season tires are created equal. Not every all-season tire will work in all road and weather conditions. For example, while some can handle light snow, others cannot be used anywhere near snow or ice. 

So, what are the best all-season tires for snow? We have compiled a list of the best all-season tires you can consider for snow. We’ll also go over how all-season tires differ, why and who can use them, and give you a guide on choosing the best ones for snow. So, without further ado, let’s get started! 

The Best All-Season Tires for Snow: Understanding All-Season Tires

All-season tires have a tread compound designed to remain flexible in cold weather while not wearing out too quickly in hot weather. They are known colloquially as “jacks of all trades and masters of none” because they perform well in various conditions but do not excel in any of them.

They are distinguished by the M+S symbol, which stands for “mud plus snow.” 

All-season tires perform best in temperatures above 6° C. However, they begin to harden as the temperature drops below that, providing less traction. 

An all-season tire set should suffice if you want to save money on tires and live in areas with moderate snowfall. Otherwise, get dedicated winter or all-season tires. Learn more about why you need winter tires here.

Why Should You Consider Using Snow Tires? 

Affordability 

A good set of all-season tires costs between $350 and $500, depending on wheel size and tire brand. On the other hand, winter tires can cost anywhere from $600 to $1000. Additionally, you won’t need season tire changeovers with all-season tires.

They are a more cost-effective option for someone on a tight budget. 

Better handling

Because all-season tires are designed for various weather conditions, they provide better handling than their winter counterparts when the weather isn’t too severe.

Ideal in medium climate

All-season tires are your best bet if you live in areas with little difference between seasons. They perform admirably in light and even heavy snow—nothing less than winter tires.

Best All-Season Tires for Snow: Our Top 5 Picks

We still recommend that you get dedicated winter tires for extreme winter conditions. That said, all-season tires can still handle a bit of snow. So if you don’t live in those parts of Canada that have fierce winters, here are some of the best all-season tires for snow to consider:

Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus

The ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus is Continental’s ultra-high performance all-season tire built for sports coupes, performance sedans, and SUVs. The tire is designed to deliver confident handling and high-speed capability with increased confidence for inclement weather, including light snow.

It has high angles and circumferential grooves that aid in evacuating water from the contact patch, resulting in increased hydroplaning resistance.

Additionally, 3D sipes improve wet traction by increasing the number of biting edges, while X-sipes improve lateral and longitudinal grip in inclement weather.

Traction grooves within the circumferential channels enhance winter weather traction by improving snow-to-snow traction. 

This tire can increase traction on slick and damp surfaces thanks to SportPlus technology and an updated performance-tuned all-season tread moulded into an asymmetric design. As a result, the handling becomes more precise, and the tread life extends.

Pros

• Excellent steering precision and responsiveness
• Boosted tread longevity
• High traction on damp and snowy roads

Cons

• Noisy 

General AltiMAX RT43 

The General AltiMAX RT43 is one of the best-rated all-season tires today, designed to provide exceptional consumer value through even treadwear and long tread life. It’s a low-cost option that still meets users’ needs: a quiet, comfortable ride with all-season traction, even in light snow.

The AltiMAX RT43 offers good ice braking performance, snow traction, and impressive hydroplaning resistance capabilities. 

In particular, the model has a commendable anti-slip design for handling various terrains. The AltiMAX RT43’s many biting edges ensure a good grip on wet roads and work well on slippery snow-covered roads.

Despite the relatively low price, General Tire has equipped this AltiMAX RT43 with LSA Technology, which helps prevent high temperatures from wearing down tires, improving their durability. 

The only downside with this cost-effective tire is the slight difficulty when cornering at high-speed.

Pros

• Long-lasting
• Great braking abilities
• Budget-friendly
• Impressive grip.

Cons

• Cornering can be difficult at high speeds.

Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus

The Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus is a tire that has all the advantages you’d find in an all-season tire: year-round performance, comfort, and durability. 

Its on-road silence is one of its key selling qualities. Whether cruising along rough concrete roads or travelling at highway speeds, you will hardly hear any noise or experience discomfort. This is made possible by the steel seat belts and Conti’s Comfort Ride Technology, which reduces cabin noise.

Additionally, the performance on slick surfaces is awe-inspiring. Despite the long stopping distances, the tire can claw for extra traction. This is due to the EcoPlus technology and the cutting-edge polymer substances Tg-F and Silane.

Furthermore, five asymmetrical ribs with deep grooves ensure grip in various weather conditions.

Despite having good handling in light snow (less than 3 inches deep), the Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus suffers in heavy snow. If you reside in a location that experiences severe winters, you might want to think about getting winter tires to ensure traction and grip.

However, if you prioritize comfort, good handling, and traction in moderate snow, the ControlContact Tour A/S is still worth considering.

Pros

• Superior touring performance
• Superb dry grip
• Good wet-weather traction
• Comfortable and quiet ride

Cons

• Not the ideal choice for severe winters

Goodyear Assurance All-Season

If you are looking for a suitable all-season tire that isn’t shy of snow, the Goodyear Assurance All-Season is the one for you. This Goodyear representative is an affordable passenger-car tire that delivers sufficient traction and relatively short braking distances even on light snow. It may suffer a bit on icy roads, but this is common among all-season tires.

It features stable shoulder blocks and broad circumferential grooves that direct water away from the contact patch, making driving safer in the rain and inclement weather.

Another impressive feature of the Assurance All-Season is the multiple angular sipes that make up the shields for enhanced traction on wet and snowy roads. The shields also offer short stopping distances, giving you the security you constantly seek in a passenger car tire.

Pros

• Very safe handling on dry roads
• The responsive and direct steering
• Quiet on the highway
• Good snow traction and braking

Cons

• Not ideal for off-road running.

Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3

The Scorpion AS Plus 3 is a fantastic illustration of a tire that performs better than most of its rivals who have the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol despite not having one itself.

Pirelli seems to have figured out how to get shockingly good traction from a rather traditional-looking tread pattern. The tread pattern is specifically designed to accommodate the added weight of large trucks and SUVs while serving as a practical all-season highway tire.

The classic tread compound undoubtedly greatly influences the increased traction and grip on packed snow and ice.

Pros 

• Comfortable, smooth, and quiet ride
• Durable tire backed by a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
• Dependable grip, traction, and hydroplaning resistance
• All-year-round performance, even in severe snow conditions

Cons

• Expensive

Best All-Season Tires for Snow: A Buying Guide

How do you pick the best tire for your SUV or car when so many alternatives are available? Here is our advice for choosing the best all-season snow tires:

Tread Compound

A tire’s compound is a mixture of components that affects its performance in different road conditions.

A good all-season tire for snow should contain a lot of silica to maintain flexibility even at low temperatures. It should also be durable enough to withstand summer temperatures.

Shock Absorption

Shock absorption can significantly affect tire life despite not being directly related to snow handling. 

A tire model that cannot handle a collision will quickly become worn and damaged. Additionally, potholes and ledges may be present even when driving on snow. This is how potholes damage your tires.

Therefore, you should choose tires that can absorb inevitable bumps even if you don’t go off-road often.

Treadwear Warranty

The treadwear warranty can indirectly determine the life and longevity of the tire. Given that an all-season tire is intended for year-round use, you should consider its tread life. All-season tires often come with at least a 50,000-mile warranty. Other manufacturers, like Michelin, can be extended up to 90,000 miles.

Conclusion 

So, those are the best all-season snow tires to consider: there should be at least one tire that meets your needs and performs admirably on snow from the list.

Remember that no all-season tire can compete with winter tires when it comes to snow and ice traction. Extreme winter driving conditions will necessitate the purchase of winter tires to ensure safety.

If you are looking for the best tires for your vehicle and driving habits, feel free to contact a service advisor at your local Trail Tire or shop online today.