Winter vs All-Weather vs All-Season Tires: Which Do You Need in Ontario and Quebec?
How winter, all-weather and all-season tires differ, what Quebec law and Ontario insurers require, and a simple way to choose for how and where you drive.
Every driver in Ontario and Quebec faces the same choice each fall: keep one set of tires all year, or switch to winter tires. The answer depends on where you drive, how much, and whether Quebec law applies to you. Here is how the three types differ and how to pick.
The short answer
- Winter tires give the most grip on ice, packed snow and slush. Choose them if you drive in heavy snow, on rural or hilly roads, or before the plows have been through.
- All-weather tires carry the same three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol as winter tires but stay on all year. Choose them for mostly city and highway driving if you want one set and no seasonal changeover.
- All-season tires are built for spring, summer and fall. In Quebec they are not legal from December 1 to March 15. In Ontario they are legal year-round, but they are a poor choice for real winter conditions.
Why the rubber matters more than the tread
Below about 7 °C, the rubber in all-season and ssummer tiresstarts to stiffen and loses grip, even on dry pavement. Winter tires use a softer compound that stays flexible in the cold, plus deep tread and thousands of small slits (sipes) that bite into snow and ice. All-weather tires sit in between: a compound that works in the cold without wearing out too quickly in the summer heat.
What the law says
Quebec: from December 1 to March 15, passenger vehicles registered in Quebec, including taxis and rentals, must have winter tires on all four wheels. Since 2019 the rule is specific: the tires must carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. A tire marked only M+S (mud and snow) no longer counts. All-weather tires with the 3PMSF symbol meet the law.
Ontario: winter tires are not mandatory, but since 2016 insurers must offer a discount to drivers who use them. Most insurers ask for tires with the 3PMSF symbol, and some accept all-weather tires; check with yours.
Side by side
| Winter | All-weather | All-season | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3PMSF symbol | Yes | Yes | No (usually M+S only) |
| Legal in Quebec Dec 1–Mar 15 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ice and packed snow | Best | Good | Poor |
| Summer heat and tread life | Wears quickly; take them off in spring | Good | Best |
| Seasonal changeover | Twice a year | None | Twice a year if you also own winters |
How to choose
- Do you live or drive in Quebec in winter? Then you need 3PMSF tires from December 1 to March 15: winter or all-weather.
- Do you often drive in heavy snow, on unplowed or rural roads, or up and down hills? Winter tires are the safer choice. Studdable winter tires add grip on glare ice where studs are allowed.
- Mostly plowed city streets and highways, and you would rather not swap tires? All-weather tires are a sensible single set.
- Do you already own winter tires? Then all-season (or summer) tires for the rest of the year will wear more slowly and ride more quietly than all-weathers.
What about cost?
Two sets cost more up front, but each set only wears for half the year, so they last about twice as long. Many drivers mount winter tires on a second set of wheels, which makes the changeover quicker and cheaper and protects the good wheels from salt. One set of all-weather tires costs less up front and saves the changeover, but it wears all year round.
Every price on our site shows the tire and the $5 Ontario Tire Stewardship fee per tire separately, and delivery is free in Ontario and Quebec.
Find tires for your car
Shop winter tires, all-weather tires or all-season tires, or look up your vehicle under tires by vehicle to see your factory sizes and the winter tires we have in stock for it.
Frequently asked questions
Are all-weather tires legal as winter tires in Quebec?
Yes, if they carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. Quebec requires 3PMSF tires on all four wheels from December 1 to March 15, and all-weather tires with the symbol meet that rule.
Are winter tires mandatory in Ontario?
No. Ontario does not require winter tires, but insurers must offer a discount to drivers who use them. Most ask for tires with the 3PMSF symbol.
When should I put winter tires on?
Once daytime temperatures stay below about 7 °C, usually from late October or November in Ontario and Quebec. In Quebec they must be on by December 1.
Can I leave winter tires on all year?
You can, but the soft rubber wears quickly in summer heat and grips less well on hot, dry roads. Swap them for all-season or summer tires in spring, or choose all-weather tires if you want one set.