“These are the tires your wife needs,” my trusted auto shop owner declared. “They are a fantastic tire. All-weather. Much better than the Michelins she has now, and much less expensive.”
“The Michelins are all-weather, and I have liked them,” I stated.
“No they are all-season, these are a relatively new product… all-weather. And they truly are. They do great in the summer, on dry pavement or wet. And really shine in snow, ice, slush.” He then talked about how his wife bought a new car a year ago as the winter snows began. It had snowed just a few inches. And there she was, stuck in her own driveway. She couldn’t get her car up the driveway with brand new Michelin all season tires. He took the car and put the all weather Nokian tires on and it zipped right up the snowy driveway. She loves them. Very close to having a dedicated snow tire, but they stay on all year long.
I trusted him, had him put them on.
He was right! Driving my wife to the airport a few weeks later, it was snowing hard. Some roads were treated, some not. The tires performed like champs.
Later I read about the differences between all weather and all season tires. They were developed in Europe where in many country’s motorists were forced to equip their vehicles during the winter with tires that could meet tough winter driving requirements. All season radials just couldn’t pass. So they were forced to maintain two sets of tires. One set of snow tires for winter. Another set of for the rest of the year.
Until finally, a new product was developed. A tire that could be used all year long, and still pass winter driving tests. They are now signified by the 3 peak snow flake.
I have never driven with dedicated snow tires. Decades of using all season radials. Occasionally getting stuck. Driving as if on ice skates at times. Really, just unsafe all these years. Like millions of other Americans. But now, I am a convert to all-weather tires. I just put them on my car too.