Nice comparisons between types of tires. Note the reference to curling during one of the test. Par for the course for a Canadian video, eh?
"Winter tires VS All Season Tires. Proof that you need WINTER TIRES!!"

 

pretty interesting video. I guess I would have liked to see them go side-by-side though. if that's the case why don't tire manufacturers make the All Seasons siped and softer compound? obviously most manufacturers will make all seasons and winter tires. It's almost as if they exactly want us to buy two sets LOL.

 

Gotta say, having driven my Falken Wildpeak A/T3Ws through an insane once every few decades snow storm to get to New Mexico last month, I'm convinced that these tires are perfectly adequate for those conditions.

 

I think the reason they do not make tires like you suggest is that such a tire would wear down faster; i.e. there is a trade-off between wear rate and softness/grippiness.

 

So do they assume you'll actually take your winter tires off and swap them in Spring for firmer 3-seasons? Do most winter-tire-buying customers actually do this? Does this mean I am forever destined to have a stack of tires mounted sitting in my garage LOL?

 

Yes it is a pretty common practice here in Idaho to have a set of summer and a set of winter tires. In my case I just make the wife switch vehicles. The charger for summer and her Tahoe in the winter.

 

Around here, if the cop notices you dont have winter tires and not all season, you could get fined, as well as you save money on insurance if you tell them you have winter tires...

 

Over here in Europe in the Alpine Countries of France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria if not running winter or at least all season tires in snow and an accident happens the insurance companies cut down on what they pay.

I do change tires in late autumn. As I can change them myself quickly I usually wait until temperatures are down to around 5 deg. C (45 - 50 F). In snow there is a remarkable difference between M+S "all season" like in the video vs. the real "winter tires". And yes, most people have a second set of rims with tires in their garage. LOL

About 15 years ago we have been testing that on my Blazer and a friends normal FIAT car when we once got snow a Saturday evening.
Both cars could still perform "just o.k." with the M+S tires for acceleration, cornering and braking.
On a huge parking lot we set up a couple of tracks to take measurements. Pretty much the same as the guy on the video. Just so, that we hit the brakes at the same speed at a defined stop line and measured distances.
For acceleration we took the time.

Then back home, swapping tires, and onto the parking lot again.
20 to 30 % better acceleration. Stopping distances down by about the same amount.

Yes I do "real" winter tires for the cold season. The last couple of years on the Blazer I have NOKIAN M+S and NOKIAN winter tires. The difference is not so pronounced as in the video. This would be pretty much what I used to drive for "summer" tires (PIRELLI Scorpion). These summer M+S are made for road use and durability with limited use in snow. They are o.k. on a 4x4 when driving over a pass in spring or autumn and get some slush and snow at high altitudes. They will take you through that with adequate safety and careful driving.
The NOKIAN M+S on the other hand do not last as long but it's obvious that it's a Finnish tire designed more like a winter tire than a summer road tire.

Direct comparison of the same brand tires as M+S and full winter tires still pending...
...due to lack of snow - global warming and such.

 

In Canada many people have 2 sets of tires for their vehicles. Last stat I saw showed more than 50% of Canadian drivers changed to winter tires with the cold seasons, and in some provinces it is actually mandatory. I'll also agree that in my experience the winter tires make a very noticeable improvement over 3 season tires in winter driving conditions.