Neil White
You would think that choosing which tyres to put on your car would be a simple matter, but the market is full of tyres from a lot of different companies that each want to get your dollar. What complicates the matter even further is that besides having to choose a tyre from a certain company, each company offers different types of tyres for your car. You might even have to run a tyre size comparison because they all perform differently. The amount of choice can be astounding, but this article will aim to help you settle between the two main tyre types. We’re going to be discussing the pros and cons of using all season tyres against their seasonal brethren.
What Are All Season Tyres?
All season tyres are designed to be used throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions on the road. The chemical composition of their rubber is fundamentally different to regular tyres and are made to provide good all-around performance all year long. Their primary rivals to sit on your car’s rims are Winter and Summer (or performance) tyres. Of which are each designed in different ways to perform optimally in the season they’re named after. Before you continue reading, you should definitely check if you’re even legally allowed to use all season tyres. Country and state laws vary dramatically on this issue, and failure to have a set of Winter tyres on your car when legally mandated to do so can result in a fine.
Pro: No Swapping
The primary advantage that all season tyres have over other types is that you don’t have to swap them during the year to match the weather. This represents massive savings in time and possibly money. Depending on your situation, you might not be able to easily store your Winter tyres to take with you to the mechanic. Some mechanics do offer to store your Winter tyres during the year for a fee, but then you’re paying your mechanic to store something you don’t use most of the year.
Con: Not Truly All-Powerful
Besides the matter of legality, depending on where you live, all season tyres may be entirely useless for you. If during the year local weather drops to below 7oC, or you experience snowfall regularly, then all-season tyres lose their grip. Additionally, if you live in an area that experiences a lot of rain and roads are frequently wet, all season tyres may not suit your needs since they’re more vulnerable to hydroplaning. Investing in all season tyres if you live in rainy or cold areas is not recommended.
Pro: Quiet Rides
Typically, all-season tires tend to be quieter on the road. The chemical composition of the rubber means that the tires are less grippy and that creates less friction on the road which passes through into the cabin of the car as noise. Additionally, all season tires tend to provide a better ride for passengers because they’re designed softer and more flexible to adapt to more road surfaces. Depending on the type of driving you do, this could be extremely important. If you’re a luxury limo driver and clients expect a quiet and smooth ride, then all-season tires are the way to go.
Con: Less Performance
As stated previously, all season tyres are less grippy and are designed to be more flexible to adapt to a greater variety of road surfaces. This reduction in grip and the flexible nature of all season tires means that they perform less well than their ‘specialized’ counterparts. Winter and Summer tyres grip the road better and are much better at responding to changes in direction and handling curves and turns in the road. Additionally, all season tyres brake worse than Winter and Summer tires. If you’re looking for raw performance, invest in Summer and Winter tyres.
Pro: Save Money!
As discussed earlier, all season tyres provide savings in time and money because you don’t need to swap or store them. All season tires also have an extra advantage: They’re usually cheaper to purchase up front. Because all season tyres are less specialized, this means that they can sell for cheaper due to being made from cheaper materials.
Con: Lose Money!
While seasonal tyres are typically cheaper, they do have one disadvantage in savings compared to season tires. Depending on where you live and the car you drive, auto-insurance companies can potentially lower your premium if you’re using season tires. This is due to the better performance that season tires give, and as a result, the better safety rating.
Pro: Peace of Mind
If you find that you live in a climate that is all season tire friendly, we recommend you go for the ass season tyres. This is because the peace of mind that comes with not having to worry about your car’s performance and whether you have to go to the mechanic for a swap is excellent. Additionally, we’re not all race car drivers that are looking for the absolute best grip from our tyres all the time. We’re regular people that just want to be able to get from point A to point B and all seasonal tires will do that. Modern tyres are safer and more reliable than anything we had in the past and as long as you’re buying from a reputable dealer, you should have nothing to worry about.
In conclusion, the decision about whether to run all season or Winter and Summer on your tyres truly depends on the conditions that you most frequently find yourself driving in. If you live in a part of the world that experiences drastic changes in climate between seasons, you should definitely get your hands on a Winter and Summer set of tyres. But if you’re lucky to live in a milder area of the world, then all-season tires will do you just fine. Don’t forget the peace of mind and savings that you can expect from all season tyres.
