All-season or winter tires: which should you choose?
All-season tires marked M+S or with the mountain snowflake count as winter equipment in North Macedonia, as long as the tread is at least 4 mm. They are a good choice for city driving and mild winters without changing tires twice a year. For mountain roads and frequent snow, true winter tires grip better.
What all-season tires are
All-season tires are a compromise between a summer and a winter tire: the compound stays soft enough in the cold, and the tread has sipes for snow and grooves for water. You drive on them all year, with no seasonal change.
Are they legal in winter
The law treats tires marked M+S, MS, M&S or with the mountain snowflake as winter tires. Most all-season tires carry at least the M+S marking, and the better ones the snowflake too. Check the sidewall before you buy. The tread must be at least 4 mm (6 mm for 4×4 vehicles and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes). The details are in the guide Winter equipment in North Macedonia.
When all-season tires are a good choice
- you drive mostly in the city, on cleared roads;
- you do not often drive in the mountains or on snow;
- you do not want to change and store a second set of tires.
When two sets are better
- you often drive on mountain roads or on snow and ice: winter tires grip better and stop shorter on snow;
- you drive a lot of kilometers or at higher speeds in summer: summer tires are firmer and brake better on hot asphalt.
What it means for costs
With two sets you pay for a change twice a year and, if you have no room, for storing the tires. Those prices are in the guide How much does a tire change cost in Skopje. With all-season tires those costs disappear, but the tires wear all year round.
See our all-season tires or winter tires with prices including VAT.
Frequently asked questions
Do all all-season tires have the M+S marking?
Most do, but not all. The marking is on the sidewall; without it the tire does not count as winter equipment.
Which marking is better for snow?
The mountain snowflake (3PMSF), because it is only awarded after passing a snow test. M+S refers to the tread design.
Do all-season tires need changing in summer?
No. You drive on them all year; they are replaced when the tread wears out or the tire gets too old.
More guides
- Winter equipment in North Macedonia: when it is mandatory and what the law requires - In North Macedonia winter equipment is mandatory from 15 November to 15 March. Passenger cars up to 3.5 tonnes need winter tires on all four wheels with at least 4 mm of tread, or summer tires with at least 4 mm of tread plus chains for the drive wheels. The fine is the denar equivalent of 45 euros. This season it starts on 15 November 2026.
- How much does a tire change cost in Skopje? - At Ceres, fitting and removing one 15 or 16-inch tire costs 150 MKD and balancing 200 MKD, 1,400 MKD in total for four tires. For 13 and 14-inch tires the four cost 1,000 MKD, for 17 and 18-inch 1,800 MKD. Prices are per tire, from the October 2026 price list.
- M+S or 3PMSF: winter tire markings explained - M+S (mud and snow) means the tread is designed for mud and snow, but no test is required for the marking. A tire only gets the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) if it passes a standard snow test. In North Macedonia both markings count as winter tires.
- How to read a tire size (e.g. 205/55 R16 91V) - The marking 205/55 R16 91V means: a tire 205 mm wide, with a sidewall 55% as high as the width, radial, for a 16-inch rim, with load index 91 (up to 615 kg per tire) and a top speed of 240 km/h (V). It is printed on the sidewall of the tire.