The strengths of winter or All-Season tyres are defined by brand, tread pattern and development technology. Choosing one or the other will greatly depend on a number of aspects, driving requirements and applications, even the weather plays a huge part.

Vehicle owners can generally choose one of three options:

• Summer tyres are designed for the warmer seasons
• Winter tyres are ideal for colder climates and icy road surfaces
• All-Season tyres offer a balance of safety and economy year-round

For most drivers, summer tyres are the obvious choice but they are not ideal in icy or snowy conditions. With weather in many parts of the UK not severe enough to warrant the exclusive use of winter tyres, many drivers feel that All-Season tyres may be the best option.

Each type of tyre has unique characteristics and drivers should understand their parameters in terms of specific driving environments. While summer tyres perform really well in warmer weather, winter tyres are best for winter driving in icy and snowy road conditions. All-season tyres seem the universal choice as they are adaptable to both summer and winter weather conditions, albeit with some limitations. Let’s take a closer look at winter and all-season tyres.

Winter Tyres

In the UK, drivers must plan for all sorts of weather conditions as winter approaches. When temperatures drop below 7°C, it’s time to rest your summer tyres because the road is cold, wet and slippery. Rubber reacts differently to changes in temperature so braking distances and overall performance are affected in icy, slushy or wet conditions.

If you spend a lot of time on the road for work, school runs or leisure weekend drives, pay close attention to weather forecasts. For the most part, forecasts are accurate enough to predict either snow, ice, rain or dry spells. To safely manage the mix bag of road conditions, we strongly recommend using winter tyres. They offer much better grip in cold weather than summer tyres. For maximum performance and safety, drivers should change to winter tyres from before the start of the cold season.

All-Season Tyres

Although quality all-season tyres are available, we highly recommend that drivers use the appropriate tyre for each season. Where possible, fit your vehicle with summer tyres for spring and summer while changing to winter tyres during autumn and winter. This will offer maximum road safety, economy and efficiency, including fuel economy. Using all-season tyres means benefiting from their superiority in terms of tyre compound, tread and groove.

Tread patterns of all season tyres provide a functional balance. They are very effective at high and low temperatures, on sunny or rainy days, on wet and dry roads alike. While the tread pattern design performs in all conditions, they don’t match the performance level of summer and winter tyres in their respective extreme conditions.

Tread patterns of all season tyres provide a functional balance. They are very effective at high and low temperatures, on sunny or rainy days, on wet and dry roads alike. While the tread pattern design performs in all conditions, they don’t match the performance level of summer and winter tyres in their respective extreme conditions.

Characteristics Of All-Season Tyres

• Better rolling resistance in winter (tyre shape is slightly larger and more squared)
• Greater versatility with improved performance guaranteed in all weather conditions
• All-season tyres have better traction at temperatures above 7°C
• Reduced tyre noise and more comfortable driving experience
• Brakes also work well on icy roads
• If looked after, the tread will last longer than summer or winter tyres

All-season tyres are versatile and durable but not always perfect in all conditions. In fact, according to Goodyear research, these tyres should not be used in temperatures below -5°C. At this point, drivers should fit winter tyres instead to ensure optimal performance.  All-season tyres are not impervious to damage and drivers should always follow the ideal tyre size and pressure. Everything should match the car manufacturer’s specifications.

The Final Verdict

The main benefit when only choosing one or the other is saving on costs by only fitting one set instead of two. While vehicle owners can use all season tyres throughout the year, they will not get the maximum performance and safety so the argument is questionable to say to the least.

If the budget is really tight or there is no extra space in your garage, all season tyres will work but in various conditions. That said, in extreme weather conditions, we strongly recommend fitting winter tyres instead. Besides, that is what they are designed to do; provide more safety and reliability in severe conditions.

It would help to keep track of the average temperatures throughout the year to determine exactly which tyres you require. If it doesn’t get too cold, you can use all season tyres all year round but if you are likely to regularly encounter severe weather conditions, winter tyres are better suited.

While it may seem expensive to buy different sets of tyres, you can’t put a price on the safety of you, your family and fellow road users. If you have any concerns over the condition of your tyres, please book a free tyre safety check for added peace of mind.

Elite Garages offer a wide range of services on all makes and models. These include MOTs, services, brakes, exhaust, clutch, wheel alignment and batteries among others. If you’re looking for a professional, trustworthy and honest service centre, contact your local Elite branch to discuss your winter tyre requirements.