All-Season Tyres Guide

All-season tyres have become an increasingly popular choice over the past decade - as motorists look for a versatile and reliable option that lasts throughout the year.

A tyre that is able to tackle various weather conditions. From the summer heat to the icy grip of winter. 

What Are All-Season Tyres?

All-season tyres have been designed to deliver a reliable performance in a range of weather conditions and temperatures. Throughout the year. 

What sets all season tyres apart from summer tyres and winter tyres, is their unique construction and use of materials.

All season tyres incorporate an intermediate rubber compound in the tyre’s tread. This ensures they are able to remain supple when temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius.

This flexibility allows the tyre to adapt to road surfaces. This is pivotal in maintaining optimal grip and braking capabilities - enhancing safety in what can be challenging conditions.

Are All Season Tyres Suitable for the UK?

Given that UK experiences changeable and moderate winter weather, all season tyres can prove to be an excellent choice for British roads.

Winter in the UK consists of a range of winter conditions – within a week we can experience anything from severe ice and snow to milder slush and rain.

All-season car tyres are adept at handling these variations, making them well-suited for UK roads.

Can all-season tyres be used year round?

The short answer to this is yes, all season tyres are suitable for use all year. In fact they were developed for this very purpose. If you choose to buy all-season tyres, the need to swap tyres with the seasons becomes a moot point.

Swapping between winter and summer tyres each year can prove to be a costly task. This helps to make the use of all-season tyres an economical choice. As well as a practical one.

Their versatility in various weather conditions, ensures consistent performance throughout the year.

Summer Tyres vs. All-Season Tyres

Determining whether to opt for summer or all-season tyres largely depends on your specific needs and circumstances.

Summer tyres perform best in warmer conditions. Thanks to their tread elasticity and stiffer compounds, which help to provide vehicles with precise handling, reliable grip, and shorter braking distances. When temperatures exceed 7°C.

However, when winter arrives, the performance gap becomes evident. In the past you may have looked to switch to winter tyres for optimal performance below this temperature threshold. But, with all season tyres, this is no longer such a concern.

In winter conditions which cause a summer tyre to falter and lose performance, an all season tyre will carry on delivering good handling, braking and durability. 

Winter Tyres vs. All Season

Conversely, the same is true when it comes to the differences in performance between all season tyres vs winter tyres. 

The makeup of a winter tyre has been created in such a way to deliver a stellar performance during winter conditions. They often tend to have a design with increased sipes (which work to 'bite' into snow and ice), as well as an increased tread size. Their compounds are softer, with higher levels of silica, which means they remain flexible in freezing temperatures.

All these things which work in their favour during winter months, affects their performance in the warmer summer weather. With increased rolling resistance and a much faster and uneven wear rate of the softer compounds.

All season tyres on the other hand, tread the line between winter and summer conditions superbly. Their unique compounds and tread patterns allow them to deliver a consistent performance in all 4 seasons. 

So rather than switching tyres when you go from winter into the warmer weather, you can rely on one set of all season tyres.

What are the Benefits of All-Season Tyres?

All-season tyres combine the strengths of both summer and winter tyres into a single, versatile package. To deliver consistent performance throughout the year.

If you live in an area which encounters mild winters, with minimal snow and frost, then the fitment of all-season tyres is a great option.

It is true that summer tyres will, in most cases, outperform all season tyres throughout the warmer months and winter tyres excel in cold conditions.

However, all season tyres provide a reliable and steady year-round performance. Regardless of weather or temperature.

• The most significant advantage of all-season tyres is their convenience. You don't need to swap tyres as the seasons change, saving you time and money.
• All-season tyres are designed to perform well in a variety of weather conditions, including dry and wet roads, light snow, and moderate winter conditions. 
• While all-season tyres may have a higher initial cost than summer or winter tyres, they are cost-effective in the long run.
• All-season tyres typically provide a comfortable and quiet ride, making them a popular choice for daily commuting and motorway driving.

What is the Disadvantage of All Season tyres?

It would be remiss to sell the idea of all season tyres as the silver bullet that suits every single motorist. There are still some things which can be considered to be disadvantages of an all season tyre.

Although they are a very suitable option throughout the year, they do not provide the same performance abiliteis in specific conditions compared to a tyre designed for those criteria. 

An all season tyre although good in winter weather, will not perform as highly as a winter tyre in the winter. And a summer tyre will outperform an all season tyre during warm summer months. 

For the conveniece of all year round tyres, you are trading off slightly on performance against specialist tyres created for specific weather conditions.

The disadvantage of all season tyres can be summed up as the following:

• All-season tyres are a compromise. While they perform reasonably well in various conditions, they are not optimised for extreme weather.
• They may not deliver the same level of performance as dedicated summer or winter tyres. In extreme heat or cold, their performance can be suboptimal.
• While all-season tyres have improved snow traction compared to summer tyres, they are not as effective as dedicated winter tyres in heavy snow or icy conditions.
• They are a trade-off between performance in different conditions. While they offer convenience, they do not excel in any single area.

Winter Compliant All Season Tyres

If you're seeking an all-season tyre that is certified to be suitable for winter conditions, look for the EU sanctioned 3PMSF marking.

This proves the tyre has passed the ‘Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake’ compliance.

This marking is used to signify that a tyre has passed rigorous tests. Demonstrating their winter performance capabilities.

In essence, it's a symbol that confirms a tyre's suitability for winter driving.

So if you are wondering 'are all season tyres good in snow?' this is the mark you should be looking for. As tyres with this accolade have proven their performance abilities in various winter conditions, including in snow.

What is the Best Tyre for All Seasons?

Since the first all season tyre was introduced by Goodyear in 1971, many of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers have developed their own tyre ranges for this market.

At present there are a number of good options for drivers looking for a tyre that can perform all year round.

Michelin All Season Tyres

CrossClimate+

The Michelin CrossClimate+ delivers excellent traction and long-lasting tread life. Its unique tread design ensures superior performance in both summer heat and winter cold.

CrossClimate 2

The Michelin CrossClimate 2 offers best-in-class wet and dry braking, providing confidence in all weather conditions. This tyre is designed for enhanced fuel efficiency and longevity, making it a versatile option for all-season driving.

CrossClimate SUV

Michelin’s CrossClimate SUV is crafted to handle the rigours of SUV driving while offering all-season versatility. With superior grip on wet, dry, and snow-covered roads, it ensures safe handling and comfort throughout the year.

Agilis CrossClimate

The Michelin Agilis CrossClimate is built for vans mainly. Its robust construction ensures longevity, while offering excellent traction across varied terrains and conditions.

Goodyear All-Season Tyres

Vector 4Seasons Gen-3

Goodyear’s Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 delivers superior all-weather grip, with enhanced wet, dry, and winter performance. Its advanced tread technology provides a smooth and safe driving experience across all seasons.

Continental All-Season Tyres

AllSeasonContact

The Continental AllSeasonContact delivers balanced performance for both winter and summer conditions, ensuring reliable grip on wet, dry, and snow-covered roads. It also boasts excellent fuel efficiency and a long lifespan.

Bridgestone All-Season Tyres

WeatherControl A005 EVO

The Bridgestone WeatherControl A005 EVO offers exceptional performance in both wet and dry conditions, designed for year-round reliability. Its excellent handling performance throuought the year makes it a popular choice for all-season driving.

Dueler H/P Sport All Season

The Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport All Season is tailored for SUVs and 4x4s, providing optimal performance in both urban and off-road environments. It delivers a smooth, responsive ride, no matter the season.

Pirelli All-Season Tyres

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season

The Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season offers excellent fuel efficiency and long tread life. The use of advanced technology ensures reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions.

Kumho All-Season Tyres

Solus 4S HA32

The Kumho Solus 4S HA32 offers balanced all weather performance, ensuring excellent grip in rain, snow, and dry conditions.

Yokohama All Season Tyres

BluEarth-4S AW21

The Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 delivers exceptional all weather performance, providing excellent grip and safety in both wet and dry conditions.

BluEarth-Van All Season

The Yokohama BluEarth-Van All Season is designed for vans. Its construction ensures superior traction and comfort, even when carrying heavy loads.

Please note: this list is not exhaustive and there are many other tyre manufacturers that produce all-season tyres.

However, these are some of the most popular and well-respected brands in the industry.