By now most people are aware that winter tires are far superior in ice and snow than all season tires. New technology, rubber compounds and tread patterns help these tires cut through snow and stick to ice when the roads turn treacherous.

Investing in snow tires is a commitment, however. You need to have two sets of tires, you need a place to store them and you need to switch them on and off every spring and fall.

Now there are "All Weather Tires" and these are very different from "All Season." All weather tires come with the snowflake in the mountain symbol which means they are a true winter tire, but you can leave them on your car all year long.

"All weather tires are a great option for someone who wants to have more traction in ice and snow, but does want to have to buy and store an extra set of tires," said Bill Hume with Hankook Tire Canada.

All weather tires generally cost more then all season tires, but less than winter tires.

In a test on an ice rink I drove one car with Hankook all season tires and one car with Hankook all weather tires. The car outfitted with the all weather (snow tire) gripped the ice and was able to stop within 20 feet when I hit the brakes while traveling at a speed of 20 kilometers an hour.

When I drove the car with the regular all season tires it took almost an additional 20 feet to come to a full stop travelling at the same speed. Also, the test driver (not me) accidentally hit the boards with the car with the all season tires while he was driving around the rink!

Hume says: "All weather tires offer traction that is comparable to dedicated winter tires and are a great option for Canadian drivers."

I have personally tested tires designed for winter driving on ice rinks three times now, and I can say there is a huge difference when it comes to traction and grip. I now use winter tires on both my vehicles.

Key Points:

• For those living in climates that rarely drop below freezing temperatures, all-season tires are suitable
• In colder areas where temperatures regularly drop below freezing, snow and ice create dangerous driving conditions and snow tires are recommended
• All-weather tires have been used in Europe and are now becoming more popular in Canada
• Snow tires and all-weather tires are made from softer compounds than all-season tires
• These compounds remain flexible in cold climates and this allows for greater traction and control
• Quebec is the only province in the country that requires that every car be equipped with four winter tires between December 15 and March 15
• The Canada Safety Council warns that, contrary to popular belief, winter tires should be installed on all four of a car's wheels and that all four tires should have the same tread patterns