What are All-season tyres?

All-season tyres, also known as all-weather tyres, are made for countries with moderate weather patterns throughout the year. They’re particularly targeted at drivers in places such as the United Kingdom where they endure cold, mild and wet conditions with some snow and ice.

All-season tyres are designed with the best characteristics of both summer and winter tyres combined for the best possible overall performance. This gives drivers much needed peace of mind knowing their vehicle is better equipped to handle whatever the weather throws in its way.

How Do All-Weather Tyres Work?

The tread pattern of these all-season tyres is designed to reduce the risk of aquaplaning. This intermediate rubber compound provides adequate traction on warm, dry roads without hardening as much as summer tyres would in the cold. They also have unique grooves to limit aquaplaning, as well as high-density sipes that provide interlocking grip when driving on icy roads.

Are All-Season Tyres As Good As Winter Or Summer Tyres?

This is a good question and one we get asked quite often. The truth is, all-season car tyres probably won’t match the performance of specialist summer tyres in summer or winter tyres during the colder months but they do offer a good all-round level of performance.

As such, all-weather tyres are the only tyres that you can safely use all year round but there is one downside. Considering it’s designed for all seasons, the trade-off is that you won’t get best-in-class performance as the best summer tyres and the best winter tyres will always outperform all-weather tyres in their respective seasons.

Why Should I Fit All-Weather Tyres? What Are The Benefits?

Anyone living in a country with a cold to moderately mild climate with frequent changes will greatly benefit from all-season tyres. The UK is a prime example as we often experience all four seasons in one day with some snow and ice. Here are some of the benefits of all-season tyres and why they are ideal for the UK climate.

Save time and money by not changing between summer and winter tyres

Purchasing a set of winter and summer tyres is expensive, especially when you consider the increased cost of new car tyres and the time it takes to install them. All-season tyres remove the headache of maintaining and storing several sets of tyres as they may be used all year.

Better performance in winter than fitting Summer Tyres

All-weather tyres provide better grip than summer tyres during the winter months, thanks to their distinct compound and special tread pattern.

Better performance in summer than with Winter Tyres

When compared to winter tyres, all-weather tyres have a specifically designed tread block which means they function better and provide superior handling on dry, warm roads.

Ideally suited for the climate in the UK

When compared to certain central European nations, ice and snow are relatively rare in the UK. This makes all-season tyres an excellent choice since they’re made to endure the milder British weather while also providing a good amount of grip when it rains.

What Are The Symbols On All-Season Tyres?

Understanding tyre labels or markings will help you find the best tyres for your car which will improve your driving experience, performance and safety.

All-season tyres will have one or two markings indicating their ability to perform in winter. The first is the M+S (Mud + Snow) marking which shows that it performs well on both surfaces while the second marking is the Alpine symbol (3PMSF – “3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake”).

This implies that the tyre has been tested and certified for winter usage, allowing it to be legally used in European countries where it is required to use all-season tyres during specific months of the year.

Can You Fit A Combination of Summer and All-Season Tyres?

The simple answer is no. Regardless of the type of tyre, we never recommended mixing your tyres as the tread patterns and performance levels are different. If you have winter or all-season tyres fitted to your vehicle, make sure you replace all 4 together. This is not only safer but it also ensures better driving performance and even tyre wear. Speaking of tyre wear, remember to rotate your tyres every few months to make them last a little longer.

Why Are Winter Tyres Louder Than Summer Tyres Or All-Season Tyres?

If you fitted winter tyres and noticed more road-noise, this is completely normal and there is no need for concern. The reason why it’s louder is that winter tyres are made for maximum safety so manufacturers make certain concessions during production to ensure it meets the objective. If you are using the same tyre and notice an increase in the rolling noise, contact your nearest Elite Garages for a free tyre check.

What Is The Legal Limit For Tyre Tread?

The legal limit for tyre tread, including all-season tyres is 1.6mm but many experts recommend replacing tyres when the tread reaches 3mm. As good as all-weather tyres a, you still need to keep a close eye on the tread and tyre condition. Depending on how often you drive, check your tyre tread at least once a month and always make sure you have the right tyre pressure.

Tyre Deals At Elite Garages

With so many different tyre brands on the market, it’s often a daunting task to find the right ones for your car and your specific driving needs. At Elite Garages, we offer a complete range of summer, winter and all-season tyres from the leading tyre manufacturers.

Elite Garages provide our customers with high performance, reliable tyres at affordable prices. We also offer expert car maintenance from full servicing of all makes and models, tyre maintenance, wheel alignment, suspension, batteries and cambelt replacement among others.