All-Season vs. Winter Tyres: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing the right tyres for your vehicle is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a driver – after all, your tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road.

In fact, your tyres can be the difference between a safe journey and a potential accident, so it’s crucial to ensure that you’re always driving with tyres that are suitable for the weather conditions you intend to travel in.

The best way to make sure your tyres are always up to scratch is to opt for seasonal tyres, but all season tyres can be a great way to maintain consistent performance in milder climates. Let’s learn about the differences between all-season and winter tyres.

What are all-season tyres?

All-season tyres are designed to work optimally in different types of weather conditions: wet, dry, snow, and ice. This makes them an ideal choice for drivers who live in cities or towns with a moderate climate.

What are the pros and cons of using all-season tyres, you ask?

Pros of using all-season tyres

First and foremost, all-season tyres are a versatile tyre for use all year round. They’re designed to work effectively in temperatures down to -10°C and as high as 30°C. So, if you live in an area with a moderate climate like the UK, you’ll usually be fine to use all-season tyres throughout the year. They perform well in light snow and mild winter conditions, so you don’t need to purchase specialist winter tyres if it’s not necessary.

Cons of using all-season tyres

The downside of all-season tyres is that they are not optimised for severe weather conditions. Due to its tread pattern, this tyre type is less effective in heavy snow and ice in comparison to winter tyres – so, if you live somewhere that’s prone to extreme weathers, these types of tyres are probably not for you. The other downside is the comparatively low “maximum temperature”. While the UK doesn’t often get much higher than 30°C, the occasional hot spell in the summer will see your tyres perform less effectively. That said, they’ll still be safe in hot weather, they’ll tend to just have worse fuel economy and might wear faster.

What are winter tyres?

Winter tyres have a significantly deeper tread depth and are made from rubber compounds that are designed to work effectively at temperatures below 7°C, which makes them perfect for travel in near-freezing temperatures, in snow, and in ice.

Winter tyres are not suitable for all weather conditions though. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using them:

Pros of using winter tyres

Winter tyres have a superior grip in snow, ice, and freezing weather conditions in comparison to summer and all-season tyres. This makes them the go-to choice for drivers frequently travelling in the colder winter months or in climates like those of Northern Europe that often stay well below 7°C for months at a time.

Due to winter tyres’ deeper treads and more effective sipes, you’ll also notice better braking performance when using winter tyres on icy or snowy roads.

Cons of using winter tyres

Because winter tyres are specially designed for winter conditions, they are not suitable for use in warm weather. If you use winter tyres when the temperature is warmer than 7°C, you will notice your tyres will wear out quickly and you will need to spend more money replacing them.

If you use winter tyres you’ll also need to change your tyres seasonally, which will add additional costs.

Key differences between all-season and winter tyres

Now you know what the pros and cons of all-season and winter tyres are, let’s summarise the key differences between the two types of tyres.

They are:

• Rubber compounds: all-season tyres are made from harder rubber compounds to account for softening in hot weather – but this makes them overly harden and become less flexible in cold weather, whereas winter tyres are made from softer compounds so they remain flexible in freezing temperatures.
• Tread patterns: winter tyres have a deeper tread pattern than all-season tyres which allows them to work more effectively in snowy, icy, or freezing conditions.
• Performance: as mentioned before, all-season tyres perform well in moderate weather conditions, while winter tyres are specially designed for extreme cold and snowy conditions.

Which tyres are right for your vehicle?

When choosing the right tyres for your vehicle, it’s important to consider the weather, driving conditions, and your budget.

The type of weather conditions and roads you encounter on a regular basis will determine which tyres will work best for you. A crucial downside to opting for seasonal tyres is that you’ll have to change your tyres seasonally to account for optimum summer or winter performance – so you’ll also need to account for this within your budget.

In simple terms, if your winter season is normally mild and you don’t intend to travel on icy or heavy snowy roads, all-season tyres are your best option. If, however, you are likely to travel regularly in severe weather and you want to ensure you stay safe on the road, we recommend getting winter tyres fitted on your vehicle.

Get your next set of tyres fitted at Tyre Pros

Now you know which types of tyres will work best for your car, make sure to get your next set of tyres fitted at Tyre Pros. Whether you need all-season or winter tyres, our experts will get you back on the road in no time.

Find your local Tyre Pros centre today to browse and order your perfect tyres online.

In the meantime, keep updated with the latest motoring news and trends on our Tyre Pros blog.