If you look at the most recent Consumer Reports tests on all-season and winter tires, you will notice that some of the all-season tires are excellent in snow and some are not. While all winter tires are fine in snow, they are not so fine on dry or wet pavement without snow, making noise and not handling well on curves or braking. ...The caution that is stated is "all-season tires aren’t the best in the wake of a severe winter storm, especially if you must be on road before the highway crews" while winter tires probably do not grip as well on cleared roads and must be removed in the summer.
In short, you don't value your life if you drive with all season tires in the snow. CR says they are ok if there is snow on the grass but not on the roads
Quebec requires snow tires so all cars will have it or tattle on them
See
http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/pag...on_pneus_hiver It says "This also applies to passenger vehicles for rent in Québec."
Between now and 2014, the regulations are a little lax with some, but not all, all-season tires passing the requirements but by 12/15/2014,
all season tires will be banned during the winter. That suggests that all seasons are junk in snow.