What to opt for: summer tyres or all-season ones?

Drivers often misunderstand the difference between summer and all-season tyres supposing that the weather is their only distinguisher. In reality, there is a much bigger difference between them.

And depending on your driving style, road condition, and the vehicle itself, all season and summer tyres can have both serious limitations and benefits. This simple guide will help you to make a right tyre choice.

First of all, focus on your needs. If you live in the area where winter tyres are mandatory by law, buying all-season tyres doesn’t make sense as you can mount summer tyres right after the winter season is over.

Then ask yourself how many miles you drive a year. What is the type of terrain you usually drive on (highways, city pavements, or maybe mountain roads)? Do you have a passion for high speed? Does comfort mean a lot to you? Is your budget limited?

Benefits and drawbacks of summer tyres
Summer tyres are also called performance tyres because they offer great braking (which makes them ideal for race cars), perfect grip on both wet and dry pavements, and superior steering response in all kinds of ‘summer’ weather conditions (when it’s warmer than 7 degrees Celsius).

On the other hand, they are more expensive, noisier and harsher, which seriously hits pockets and compromises comfort.

Benefits and drawbacks of all-season tyres
All-season tyres have three huge benefits in comparison with summer tyres: they are more durable, cheaper, and softer (quieter). So if you are a regular driver living in a warm climate zone, don’t look any further.

However, all-season tyres, which are said to provide some grip on snow, in reality provide some to none grip in cold weather (at temperatures below 7 °C).

So they should rather be called ‘three-season’ tyres. Add to this their longer braking distance, propensity for hydroplaning, and slower response, and now you understand why some people call them ‘no-season’ tyres. You can make up for these pros somehow by choosing only all-season tyres of high quality.

Anna Yarmoshchuk is an independent journalist and blogger