Should You Be Driving On All-Season Tires or Summer Tires?

There are so many types of tires out there, so it can be pretty easy to get mixed up in all the confusion of definitions and recommendations. Summer tires are for driving in summer and winter tires for driving in winter, right? If all-season tires are best for all seasons, as it seems to say on the tin, would this mean that all-season tires are for snow as well? In terms of all-weather tires vs all-season tires, are these just synonyms for the same tires, and if not, which tires are best, and why? These are all common questions, just like which tires go best with AWD or off-roading? The answers to each are more nuanced than you may think, so taking a closer look is definitely advisable.

But first, let's get a few definitions out of the way:

• Summer tires. What are summer tires? Also referred to as performance tires, these are made for top performance, braking, and traction during the warmer months. They are the best tires for rain, wet roads, and dry, sunny conditions alike - all common factors in the summer. A summer tire's temperature range is typically above 45 degrees Fahrenheit, hence their name and why you should not use summer tires in winter. They are not meant for freezing temperatures or snowy surfaces. They usually also have a relatively shallow groove pattern, a solid rib, and the highest speed ratings of all tires. These are the tires on which performance cars are rated to reach their true top speeds, whereas a vehicle's speed may be restricted on other types. A fast new sports car such as a Porsche 911 Turbo will have the best summer performance tires fitted as standard from a top-end brand like Michelin. Many performance summer tires are directional, giving you limited tire rotation options. Lastly, remember that summer tires in snow offer almost no grip, despite them being touted as the best wet-weather tires. These are actually completely different road conditions.
• 一个ll-season tires. So what are all-season tires? They are among the best high-mileage tires, though they have poorer traction when compared to summer tires. Theoretically, they should be able to get you through the entire year if you only experience light snow conditions, hence their name. They do not provide the dry-road traction of summer tires, but have a deep groove pattern, maintaining flexibility down to around freezing - but not lower - to give a fair compromise in light snow. They are also quite affordable.
• 一个ll-weather tires. This is a fairly new category that is characterized by it's slightly better winter capabilities in comparison to all-season tires. Although not marketed as winter tires, all-weather tires usually have the little icon on them showing a three-peak mountain with a snowflake - indicating that it is made up of rubber compounds that work better in cold weather than all-season tires. They're a compromise between all-season and winter tires.
• 冬天的雪地轮胎。冬天一个之间的区别nd summer tires is night and day. True winter or snow tires are specially designed for use on ice and snow and are not made for dry roads or summer conditions. They also have the three-mountain-peak symbol, but their tread design has bigger gaps than all-weather tires and they are specifically designed and formulated to work best at temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Some may even feature studs to aid snow traction. If you use snow tires in summer, they will wear far more quickly and not function effectively.

Following on from all these tires' differences, one has to ask the question of whether the seemingly magical 'all-season tires' are false marketing, because winter is a season - and they're not meant for winter and snow. However, if your area only gets sporadic snowfall and you rarely have to drive in snow, then an all-season tire might indeed be 'all-season' to you. If you suspect you're on the borderline, with temperatures regularly dropping below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, all-weather tires are probably the best.

To summarize, their main advantages over summer tires are:

• Longer service life
• Good traction on light snow
• Flexibility in cold weather
• Symmetrical design means they can usually be rotated

Some people who live where snow is rare think that they can get away with summer tires all-year round, as long as they drive an AWD or 4WD car. In fact, many independent tests over the years have shown this to be untrue and that a 2WD car with winter tires has better traction and safer handling in snow than an AWD car with summer tires. Don't take chances with your safety in bad weather, rather ensure you have the right tires. If you get light snowfall and you don't want to change tires, rather opt for good tires of the all-season variety. They don't grip quite as well in dry summer heat as summer tires do, but they last longer.Read our guide for driving safelyonicy roadsfor more information.

It really depends on what weather you experience. If you get deep snow in winter and you experience dry, warm summers, there is no way you can get away with one set of tires all year around. For the other weather combinations, have a chat with your tire specialist and look at what other people in your region fit to their cars. If you're undecided and it comes down to a choice between summer tires vs all-season tires, you're better off with the latter for light snow in winter. Combined with all-wheel drive, you should be happy and safe all year round if you never want tochange tires. But don't skimp just to save money; protect yourself on the road with good-quality tires.