What Are All Weather Tires, And Why Do Some Drivers Prefer Them?

By Tire Agent Staff

January 18, 2023

The different types of tire options for your vehicle can seem confusing. After all, there are a lot of factors you need to consider when purchasing tires for your vehicle. If you live in an area that gets cold winters, you’ve probably had to consider tires that handle driving in snow, ice and slush.

In this article, we’ll be discussing all-weather tires as a possible option for your car.

All-weather tires are tires that are meant to be used in almost any weather condition (assuming that it’s still safe to drive your car in that condition!). In terms of tire build, this means that an all-weather tire will have tread blocks built to handle ice, slush, and snow. All-weather tires are unique in that they usually have a rubber compound that can withstand cold and warm conditions. You probably won’t have to switch them out between summer and winter as you would with winter tires.

What is the Difference Between All-Weather and All-Season Tires?

All season tires vs all weather tires: These two similarly named tire types are often confused because of their similar terminology. You would think that all season and all weather essentially mean the same thing, right? After all, "all" means "all"!

No! In fact, all-season tires are generally not recommended to be driven in snow. They’re designed for ride comfort in dry weather and the mildest conditions of any season. In heavy snow or rain, all-season tires won't have the traction needed to drive in extreme weather conditions. You’ll likely need to switch your all-season tires out for snow or winter tires.

All-weather tires, on the other hand, are designed for year-round performance. Keep in mind that while you’ll be able to drive through snow and slush, you should still be cautious as your tires won’t have studs or chains to handle the heaviest snowy conditions.

It’s also worth noting that all-season tires generally offer a more comfortable year-round ride than all-weather tires. All-weather tires have thicker tread blocks which can lead to a noisier and slightly bumpier ride than all-season tires. Therefore, all-weather tires aren’t as useful for areas that experience light or no snowfall.

What About All-Weather vs. Winter Tires?

All weather vs winter tires: We mentioned winter tires earlier. These tires are specifically designed for winter use only. They will have a flexible tire material that stays soft in low temperatures and deep grooves to provide better traction on uneven surfaces. Some winter tires will even have permanent studs for even better traction in deep snow.

Winter tires are optimized for the best possible performance on snow and ice. However, you will need to switch them out during the summer.

Winter tires will be uncomfortable and wear down quickly while driving on dry, flat surfaces. Additionally, snow tires that have permanent studs are not street-legal year-round in most states.

In situations where you experience lighter winters, all-weather tires take the cake as the best option for you. If you expect to go off-road or on roads that aren’t plowed during the winter, you should be safe and look into winter tires as an option.

What’s the Best Tire for Rain?

All weather vs the rain: Rain, on the other hand, is a unique case. Trying to drive through water risks hydroplaning, which is where your car tires slide, skid, or even lose contact with the road’s surface.

If you live in an area that experiences a lot of annual rainfall, or in an area where the excess rain builds up and floods, you’ll need a tire with circumferential grooves and extra sipes that will let water travel through the wheel and be expelled out the sides. It’s also good if your tire has a tread compound that’s designed for better traction on flat surfaces so you maintain contact with the road.

All-weather tires with the above-mentioned features will do well in rainy conditions. However, even summer tires can potentially be suitable for driving in rain if they have the right material and tread design.

Be smart: If your local highway patrol or department of transportation advises you to stay off the roads during heavy rain, listen to this advice. Even with the best all-weather tires, you're safer staying off the roads during torrential rain.

What Are Some All Weather Tire Brands?

Several of the top tire brands carry all weather tires. All-weather tires may be categorized as all-season, but they will usually mention having a specific “weather grip” or have ratings for snow and rain. Here are a few examples: