All-season tires are becoming increasingly better, but they still cannot fully replace separate summer and winter sets. In this article, we explain which drivers may find one set for the whole year to be a suitable solution.
Summer or all-season tires – what should guide your choice?
When choosing between summer and all-season tires, several factors related to how the car is used should be taken into account. First and foremost, we should consider how many kilometres we cover per year, the conditions in which we drive, as well as our driving style and the car’s specifications. This will help us determine which tires are the optimal solution for us.
Annual mileage – how many kilometres does our car cover?
All-season tires are intended for drivers who cover low annual mileages. If our car travels 5,000–8,000 km or less over 12 months, all-season tires may prove ideal – naturally, after taking the other factors into account.
An all-season set can also be considered for mileages of around 10,000–15,000 km, although in that case it is best to choose a mid-range or premium model – the most durable premium and mid-range models last for around 50,000–60,000 km in tests, so they should be sufficient for several years. If, however, we drive even more, all-season tires cease to be cost-effective – a new set will have to be purchased so often that the costs will not actually be lower, while the compromise performance of all-season models will be more noticeable at higher mileages.
Car operating conditions – do we ever use the vehicle in difficult weather?
Another issue is the conditions in which we drive. All-season models balance summer and winter performance, which means they do not provide as high a level of safety as separate sets during their respective seasons. As a result, they work best for strictly urban use, or possibly for occasional trips.
If, however, we sometimes drive in heavy rain during the summer or in particularly high temperatures, it is more sensible to stick with summer tires. Winter use of the car must also be taken into account. Winter tires will be a considerably more reliable option if we want to maintain effectiveness even in heavy snow. If, on the other hand, we are able to give up driving when difficult weather occurs, switching to all-season tires can certainly be considered.
Driving style and car performance – do you drive dynamically and use the engine’s high power?
The final issue is related to our habits behind the wheel. All-season tires will not provide as much confidence during dynamic driving as a summer set. Therefore, if our car has considerable power that we enjoy using, only summer tires with sporty characteristics will allow us to fully enjoy its performance. If, on the other hand, we are calm drivers and use a car with low or medium power, then, provided the conditions described above are met, all-season tires will almost certainly prove sufficient.