Best All-Season Tires in Canada

Tire shopping can be a daunting task. With so many brands making many various models, all with different tread patterns, ratings, sizes, and warranties – it can definitely result in information overload and lots of frustration.

Canadians looking for new all-season, also known as 3 season tires, should focus on a few key aspects: traction and treadwear ratings, tire age, and customer reviews about road noise, ride quality and fuel efficiency.

How we picked

We spent hours determining everything you need to look for to find the best all-season tires in Canada.

First, we made a list of tires reviewed and recommended by trusted publications including Canada Drives, The Car Guide and the Automobile Protection Association.

We then narrowed it down to tires with a good tire quality grades, from brands and model lines with a proven track record and highest rated by drivers across multiple retailers including Kal Tire, Canadian Tire, 1010 Tires, Blackcircles, and the Tire Rack.

For more, see our comparison table and buying advice.

Best all-season tires

• Best overall – Continental TrueContact Tour
• Best for high performance – Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
• Best for light trucks and SUVs – Michelin LTX M/S 2
• Best on a budget – General Tire AltiMAX RT43
• Best value – Michelin Defender
• Best for fuel efficiency – Michelin Energy Saver A/S
• Best for wet weather – Goodyear Assurance Triple Tred
• Best for winter driving – Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06

Best all-season tires comparison

Our pick for best overall – Continental TrueContact Tour

Editor’s Note: I purchased a set of these tires at the end of March 2021 to replace the ones that came with my Elantra as they were on sale for $104.99. I was concerned that the sale have been to get rid of older inventory, but the tires I received were manufactured in mid-2020 (less than 1 year old). I’ve driven them 15,000 km so far (January 2023) and am still happy with the purchase. There is a low but noticeable amount of road noise, but it greatly depends on the quality of the road you drive on. Ride quality is smooth and comfortable. They are a great buy if you can get them for a little over $100.

It turns out Canadian Tire has exclusive rights to sell them in Canada.

• Sizes Available (radius): 15-19”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 800 AA
• Warranty: 6 years, 128,000 km
• Price (per tire): $100-165
• Speed rating: H

Traction

The Continental TrueContact Tour provides solid traction across the board. A new generation of EcoPlus technology creates greater wet traction and shorter stopping distances. Additional traction grooves give the tire improved grip on snow covered roads.

Treadwear

Continental designed the TrueContact Tour to be a long-lasting all-season tire — and they certainly delivered. Based on the numerous positive reviews, and its 800 rating among UTQG scores, this tire is one of the longest-lasting all-season tires you can buy in Canada.

Road noise

When driving on TrueContact Tour tires, you won’t have to worry much about road noise. There is a quiet, hardly noticeable hum. It’s not the quietest tire available, but unless you have very sensitive ears, the noise from these tires won’t bother you.

Ride quality

Driving on the TrueContact Tour tires is a smooth, enjoyable experience. Comfort Ride technology helps to eliminate the little bumps and vibrations that you might encounter on the road. The difference in ride quality between these tires and a more expensive option is nearly negligible.

Fuel efficiency

The rubber compound, engineered with Continental’s unique EcoPlus Technology, creates a very low rolling resistance — meaning you get more kilometres out of every litre of gas.

Bang for your buck

Tire manufacturers often have to make sacrifices to certain aspects of a tire. For example, if a tire has above average traction and ride quality, the tread life and fuel efficiency might be lacking. Continental engineers deserve a ton of credit for designing an all-season tire that rates out above average in every major tire category.

Best high performance – Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+

• Sizes Available (radius): 16-22”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 500 AA
• Warranty: 6 years, 70,000 km
• Price (per tire): $185-250
• Speed ratings: H, V, W, Y

Traction

The Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is Michelin’s premium high performance all-season tire, and it performs as such. These tires have tremendous grip on dry surfaces, especially in and out of turns. When these tires get onto wet roads, they hold up just as well. Like most all-season tires, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ isn’t a high performer on snow, but they can get the job done.

Treadwear 

What you gain in traction and ride quality, you lose a little bit in tread life. These tires are designed for high performance, and as such they are not built to last many years like some of the other tires on this list.

Road noise

When driving on these tires, you’ll notice very little road noise. A slight sound of friction might be heard but it’s not a problem compared to other cheaper tires.

Ride quality

Known as one of the best all-season tires available in Canada, these high performance Michelins deliver a super smooth and confident ride. It’s no wonder these tires are often the first choice for Canadians who drive luxury or sports cars.

Fuel efficiency

The Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires are made from a rubber compound that’s generally firmer than most tires. The firmness of the rubber gives the tires a nice, easy roll on the roads, which saves you money at the pump.

Bang for your buck

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ are a great option for Canadians who want a premium performance all-season tire. Perhaps the only factor keeping this tire from being our choice for best overall, is the fact that the price tag on these tires can get a little hefty. But if you’re not afraid to shell out upwards of $800 for an ultra high performance tire, you will not be disappointed with the Pilot Sport A/S 3+.

Best for light trucks and SUVs – Michelin LTX M/S 2

• Sizes Available (radius): 17, 18, 20”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 720 AA
• Warranty: 6 years, 115,000 km
• Price (per tire): $240-275
• Speed ratings: R, S, T, H

Traction

Michelin’s MaxTouch Construction technology ensures the tire grips the road evenly when accelerating, braking, and going around corners. The tread design features multiple channels, grooves, sipes and slots that create confident traction on both dry and wet surfaces.

Treadwear

Perhaps the most impressive feature about these all-season tires for small trucks and SUVs is the treadwear performance. The LTX M/S 2 tires are built with a special silica-enhanced compound that makes these tires go the distance.

Road noise

Noise is not an issue for those who choose the Michelin LTX M/S 2. While these tires have a fairly aggressive tread pattern, they are nearly silent as you cruise down the highway.

Ride quality

“As smooth as a hot knife through butter.” That’s how one reviewer described the quality of the ride with LTX M/S 2s on his truck. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better feeling all-season tire for your truck or SUV.

Fuel efficiency

Fuel efficiency definitely wouldn’t be the number bone reason to buy Michelin LTX M/S 2 tires. However, while they aren’t the most efficient tires available, they are at least above average.

Bang for your buck

Because of the great traction, ride quality and tread life, these tires are a great choice for Canadian truck or SUV drivers who want to get the most out of their money. Don’t expect these tires to perform well on snow or ice, but you can feel confident driving on these tires in almost every other condition. 275/55R20 113H SL originate in Canada.

Best on a budget – General Tire AltiMAX RT43

• Sizes Available (radius): 14-20”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 700 AA
• Warranty: 120,000 km
• Price (per tire): $90-110
• Speed rating: T

Traction

The AltiMAX RT43 provides adequate traction in most weather conditions. While it’s not the most grippy all-season tire out there for Canadians, it does give enough grip to make you feel safe on the roads. General Tire’s Anti-Slip Sipe Design Technology increases traction by biting down the edges of the tire on slippery surfaces.

Treadwear

The Twin Cushion Silica Tread Compound that’s used on the outside of the AltiMAX RT43 gives drivers the long-lasting tread life that they require. These tires won’t last forever, but they also won’t wear down too quickly either.

Road noise

If road noise is something that bothers you, then you might want to consider a different tire. The AltiMAX RT43 is a fairly quiet tire initially, but the noise when driving gets a bit louder as the tread wears down.

Ride quality

The tire has the ability to absorb and smooth out vibrations from the road by using a low-density internal foundation compound. Taking corners with these tires might not be as responsive as high performance tires, but overall they provide a polished ride.

Fuel efficiency

As far as fuel economy goes, these all-season tires are average to above-average. There are more efficient tires out there but you won’t find them at this price.

Bang for your buck

Any tire that you can find with solid performance across the board, at a price point around $100, is certainly worthy of consideration.

Best Value – Michelin Defender T + H

• Sizes Available (radius): 14-18”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 820 AB
• Warranty: 6 years, 145,000 km
• Price (per tire): $120-170
• Speed rating: H

Traction

The Michelin Defender was designed to be a safe, economical option for everyday vehicles, and it does just that. The asymmetric tread design features Michelin’s IntelliSipe Technology which keeps the tire rigid and biting down on the road. This tire does very well on dry roads, but is mediocre on wet or snow covered surfaces.

Treadwear

Although this tire comes with one of the best warranties available, the tread life is about average when compared to other tires in its class. 

Road noise

Michelin Defenders produce a small amount of noise on the road. Inside the cabin of your car, you might hear a very faint hum.

Ride quality

When driving on Defender tires, you’ll feel a comfortable and smooth ride, comparable to some of the more expensive performance all-season tires. 

Fuel efficiency

Michelin Defenders are widely known to be very eco-friendly, and they live up to that reputation. Michelin’s version of fuel saving tech is known as Green X Technology, which is what powers the Defender tire to a low rolling resistance.

Bang for your buck

Great fuel efficiency, above average ride quality, and great dry surface traction all for a competitive price? It’s no wonder these tires are so popular amongst Canadians.

Best fuel efficiency – Michelin Energy Saver A/S

• Sizes Available (radius): 15-18”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 480 AA
• Warranty: 6 years, 105,000 km
• Price (per tire): $150-200
• Speed rating: H, T, S

Traction

Like any automotive tire that emphasizes fuel economy, the Michelin Energy Saver A/S is made of a hard silica-based rubber compound. Hard rubber is not the ideal material for traction on wet, or coldy, snowy roads. Although, on warm, dry roads, this tire provides competent performance.

Treadwear

Once again, anytime a tire manufacturer focuses on the most fuel efficient model that they can make, other desirable aspects take a hit. The treadwear on these tires is average at best.

Road noise

Road noise seems to be a bit of an issue as well, although if you only care about saving money at the fuel pumps, then this shouldn’t bother you.

Ride quality

Michelin Energy Saver tires actually produce quite a refined ride — mostly due to the hard rubber they’re made of. The internal structure of the tire also plays a part in making the ride smoother, as Michelin built in its Comfort Control Technology.

Fuel efficiency

Michelin claims their Energy Saver A/S tires are up to 8% more fuel efficient than standard tires. While some customer reviews argue this exact number, it seems safe to say that these tires are in fact more fuel efficient than the average all-season tire. Michelin’s Green X Technology seems very effective for fuel economy.

Bang for your buck

It’s difficult to quantify just how much value these tires bring to the average Canadian consumer. Energy Saver A/S tires are not cheap to purchase, but they do make a noticeable difference in fuel economy over the long run.

Best for wet weather – Goodyear Assurance TripleTred

• Sizes Available (radius): 15-18”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 740 AB
• Warranty: 130,000 km
• Price (per tire): $140-220
• Speed ratings: T, H

Traction

Drivers looking to feel ultimate confidence on both dry, and wet roads, should consider purchasing Goodyear Assurance TripleTred tires. Traction around corners, as well as up and down inclines is pristine and provides a sense of safety.

The directional tread uses three distinct zones — one for dry roads, one for wet roads, and one for snow and ice. While these tires work admirably in light snow, they’re only mediocre on ice.

Treadwear

Overall, these tires hold up alright after many thousands of kilometres of driving in Canada. There are some mixed reviews, stating the TripleTreds lose quite a bit of grip prowess after a couple of years, but that should be expected for any tire.

Road noise

The Goodyear Assurance TripleTreds are louder than typical all-season tires. Due to the tackiness of the 3-zone tread, you will notice these tires emitting a hum on the road.

Ride quality

These tires certainly are not the most comfortable to drive on. With Goodyear focusing primarily on road grip, they lose some points for the way these tires feel when driving.

Fuel efficiency

The fuel economy with Assurance TripleTreds is about average when compared to other all-season tires.

Bang for your buck

Canadians are used to adverse road conditions — which means we know how much we value peace of mind when it comes to the safety of being out on the roads. It’s too bad these tires don’t provide a more comfortable, quiet ride, or else they might be considered one of the best tires you can buy.

Best for winter driving – Continental ExtremeContact DWS06

• Sizes Available (radius): 16-22”
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading: 560 AA
• Warranty: 6 years, 80,000 km
• Price (per tire): $150-250
• Speed rating: W

Traction

The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 combines premium high performance ride quality with superb traction in almost every weather condition. Featuring SportPlus Technology, these tires combine chamfered edges with traction grooves, x-sipes and criss-cross grooves to give drivers confidence that they will remain glued to the road.

Treadwear

An average tread life for an above average high performance all-season tire.

Road noise

The ExtremeContact DWS 06 tires have minimal road noise.

Ride quality

Is it possible to make a tire that not only provides great traction in every season, but also gives drivers the characteristics of a ultra high performance tire? Continental did just that when they designed the internal structure of this tire. Spirally wound jointless nylon cap plies reinforce the twin steel belts, resulting in less vibrations and more stability.

Fuel efficiency

You won’t be buying these tires for the savings on gas. You buy these tires for the smooth, year-round safety that they provide.

Bang for your buck

While these tires are expensive, we think they’re quite worth the hefty price tag. Getting year-round safety and performance without sacrificing much tread life or fuel economy is a feat that not many other all-season tires can claim.

How to buy all-season tires

• Know the tire size and speed rating
• Consider the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
• Check the age of the tire before buying

Know the tire size and speed rating

Consider the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)

The UTQG is a set of standards developed by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help consumers become more informed before purchasing tires. When tires are designed and built, they go through standardized tests to measure their durability, traction, and the heat resistance. 

The UTQG can be found on the side of the tire, or on the manufacturer’s website, and is listed as a three digit number followed by two letters:

Treadwear grade (durability)

The three numbers (eg. 800) denotes the durability of the tire (treadwear rating). The higher this number, the longer the tread will last.

The grade is determined by comparing the wear rate of a tire relative to the wear of Course Monitoring Tires (CMT) sold by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) when under controlled conditions.

A convoy of vehicles that have the tires being graded and the CMTs are driven on a 400 mile government course for 7200 miles and tread groove depths are measured, tires rotated, air pressure checked and wheels aligned every 800 miles.

A tire graded 400 would last 4 times as long on the government course as a tire graded 100. However, actual performance of tires depends heavily on real-world conditions including personal driving habits, maintenance performed (wheel alignment, tire rotation & balancing) and road characteristics and climate.

Traction grade (safety)

The two letters that follow are the grades given to the tire’s traction and heat resistance (temperature) respectively.

The traction grade is the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. It does not take ABS braking systems, acceleration, cornering or stopping on a dry surface into account.

Traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C.

Temperature grade (heat resistance)

The temperature grade is the tire’s ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. High temperatures can cause a tire to deteriorate faster and extreme temperatures can cause sudden tire failure.

C is the minimum acceptable grade required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Temperature grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B and C.

For example, a tire with a traction and temperature rating of “AB” would mean it tested as the best possible ‘A’ traction rating and the second best possible ‘B’ temperature rating.

Check the age of the tire before buying

Retailers can legally sell tires that are several years old as new without disclosing when they were manufactured and unless they were stored correctly, may have lost some of their useful life. Some difference between manufacture date and time of sale is to be expected and is acceptable – especially for less popular sizes or specialized versions.

There is a 4 number code that indicates the week and the year it was manufactured (e.g. 2118 means the 21st week of 2018).

Plant codes of Canadian-made tires include:

• 0X – Minto, NB
• 4B – Napanee, ON
• 9B, XY, VN – Joliette, QC
• AU – Kitchener, ON
• B3 – Bridgewater, NS
• BH – Kitchener, ON
• DC – Whitby, ON
• D3 – Cobourg, ON
• D9 – Etobicoke, ON
• HN – New Glasgow, NS
• LV – Barrie, ON
• M5 – Kentville, NS
• PC – Medicine Hat, AB

FAQs

How much do all-season tires cost?

All-season tires for a typical passenger car cost from $100 to $130 per tire based on a tire size of 195/65R15 which is suitable recent years’ Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic. Prices increase with size (width, diameter) and performance which is split roughly into the following levels:

Increasing the speed rating, for example from T to H and temperature rating from B to A will cost around $1 more per tire. Eco or energy saving versions will cost $10 to $20 more per tire.

Discount brands that are made in Asia such as Ironman (China), Goodride/Westlake (China, Vietnam), Minerva (China), Laufenn, Giti (Indonesia) typically cost less than $100 per tire and are only recommended as a last resort. Kal Tire recommends that you buy the best tire that you can afford that fits your needs.

When should I change to all-season tires?

When temperatures rise above 7°C in the spring in Canada, it is time to switch back to all-season tires.

Winter tires are not designed for summer temperatures anymore than summer tires are made for cold winters. Above or below 7°C the compounds used in winter and summer tires began to lose the ability to do what they were designed to do, so swap them when temperatures hit that mark.

Does all-season really mean all-season? Can I use these tires during winter?

The answer depends on the environment in which you live and drive your vehicle. As Canadians, most of us encounter a cold, snowy, and icy winter that lasts many months every year. For us, it’s best to use all-season tires for the spring, summer, and fall, and then use a dedicated winter tire for the harsh winter months. 

If you live in a part of the country where winter weather doesn’t hit you as hard, you should be okay using an all-season tire that has good snow and ice traction capabilities. Note: Residents in Quebec are required by law to drive on winter tires from December 1st to March 15th of every winter.

How can I make my all-season tires last longer?

Check tire pressure

All tires lose air over time – typically 1 PSI per month due to permeation. In addition, tires gain pressure as temperatures rise in the warmer months due to ambient air temperature (about 1 psi for every 10°F).

Keeping your tires at the right pressure is important so that the tire performs properly, ensuring your safety, and so that the tires wear out evenly – maximizing lifespan. An over-inflated tire will wear faster in the middle of the tread, while an under-inflated tire will wear faster on the outside of the tread. Uneven wear can lead to vibration and flat tires.

Check the pressure once a month. Be sure to check the pressure when your tires are cold (ie. before you drive your car), since pressure increases after driving. A variety of easy-to-use tire gauges and tire inflators are available at auto parts stores including Canadian Tire and Amazon.

The manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure is listed on the sidewall of the tire or on their website. Keeping your tires at the recommended air pressure not only optimizes your fuel economy and ride quality, but it prevents the tread from wearing down too quickly or unevenly.

Rotate tires

Tires should be rotated when installed each season or every 10,000 to 13,000 km, which is another way to make sure treadwear is evenly distributed over time.

If storing your own, or changing them yourself, be sure to use a tire pen or marker to mark where they were on the car (FR for Front Right, RR for Rear Right, etc.), before you store them away for the season so you’ll know where to put them next time.

Store them in proper conditions

Check remaining tread depth

Most tires have indicators in the grooves and you can also use a tread depth gauge for more precision.

You can also measure tread by placing a toonie into the bottom of the groove where the tread is most shallow. If it doesn’t reach at least halfway up the letters around the silver ring, it’s time to think about new tires.

Inspect the tread of each tire at the end of every season to see if needs to be replaced. Every time you fill up your gas tank, walk around your vehicle and look for any damage, objects stuck in the tread, or uneven wear.

Where to buy winter tires

In Canada, the most popular brick-and-mortar retailers are:

• Canadian Tire
• Costco
• Kal Tire

The most popular online retailers are:

• 1010Tires
• Canada Wheels
• 4tires.ca
• Black Circles
• Quattro Tires

What to consider when looking for all-season tires?

Traction

Traction is tire’s ability to maintain contact, and friction with the road. Poor traction not only lowers the performance of the vehicle, but can also be a safety concern.

Tread pattern, tread depth, and tread compounds (which kind of rubber is used) differ from tire to tire, which means while one tire might have good grip on dry roads and poor grip on wet roads, another tire might be best on wet roads.

Treadwear

Treadwear is the rate of which the tread of a tire wears down. As the tread wears down, the tire’s safety, ride quality, and even fuel economy also drops. That’s why it’s important to look for tires that not only have long-lasting tread, but tread that wears down evenly as well. Tire tread tends to wear down quicker for tires that emphasize other characteristics such as superior traction or high fuel efficiency.

Road noise

Some models of tires can be noticeably loud to the point of making the driver or passengers uncomfortable. The sound emitted is often a low, tacky-sounding hum which is caused by the openness of the tire tread, the firmness of the rubber compound, or the tire’s lack of vibration protection.

Ride quality

Ride quality can be defined by the smoothness of the ride, or how comfortable the ride feels. The tire’s ability to absorb bumps and take corners with speed are just a couple of the factors that make up the quality of the ride. High performance tires typically score high in this section because they’re made with a soft outer rubber combined with a vibration-resistant inner structure. 

Fuel efficiency

A tire’s fuel economy can be measured by the rolling resistance – how much effort is needed to keep the tire rolling. A tire with a high-rolling resistance means the driver will have to press down on the gas pedal more often than if the tire had a low-rolling resistance.

To achieve a low rolling resistance, tire manufacturers build their eco-friendly tires with a harder rubber compound, and a reduction in tread depth. So while these tires may save drivers money on gas (anywhere from 3-10%), they will also reduce the traction, tread life, and possibly the quality of the ride.

Bang for your buck

Relative to the price of the tire, how much value is the consumer getting? A set of all-season tires can cost anywhere from $400 to upwards of $1000. But if the cheapest option can provide 80% of the benefits of the most expensive option, then it should be worth considering, right?

Over to you

What kind of tires does your vehicle have? How long have you had them and what do you think about the handling, traction, noise and fuel efficiency? Is there a tire that was left off this list that you think should’ve made the cut? Let me know by leaving a comment below!