Can I Use The Same Set of Tires All Year Round?
In Alberta, only all-season tires that display the three peak mountain snowflake symbol are suitable to drive all year around. If a tire does not display this symbol – even if it’s all-season, all-terrain or mud-terrain – the rubber compound will freeze in cold temperatures and traction will be lost. Conversely, tires designed specifically for winter cannot be used in the summer as their soft rubber compound will degrade quickly and be liable for blow-outs in higher temperatures.
Can I Use All-Season Tires In Winter In Alberta?
In Alberta, an all-season tire should be used in winter only if it displays the three peaks mountain snowflake symbol. An all-season tire which displays this symbol are known as all-weather tires and will perform adequately in snowy conditions. All-season tires without this symbol – even those M+S (mud and snow) certified – will not provide adequate performance in extreme cold conditions. Ideally, winter tires should be used in place of all-weather or all-season tires.
