A long time debate has been which tyre is best: seasonal or all-season tyres? They both hold an array of benefits, and the best choice for you will depend on your needs and driving behaviour.
A lot of tyre companies vary in their recommendations but seasonal tyres may be a favourite of many customers and all-season tyres mean the upkeep and maintenance of the tyres are a lot lower. The all-season tyres are fitted once and then simply remain on the car, in sun or snow. They are a very flexible option for many drivers that saves customers a lot of money in any garage charges if a professional is changing the tyres each season.
With all-season tyres, there are also a lot of logistical advantages. The question of where you will store your tyres each season will not be a problem. However, these largely practical advantages are of no use for assessing the technical performance of the tyres. The most important question to be asking is how they differ from summer and winter tyres technically.
As true all-rounders, they live up to their name. They combine key elements that are prevalent in summer and winter tyres, therefore being able to brave all weather conditions. All-weather tyres provide reliable grip in both summer heat, rain and mild winter conditions. However, all-season tyres represent some kind of compromise on performance.
They do not match the individual performance of summer and winter tyres, therefore when deciding, it is important to look at the severity of winter conditions in your area.
Driving with summer tyres in the warmer weather and with winter tyres during the colder periods, seasonal tyres ensure driving safety and performance is maximized all year round.
During the summer season, where temperatures are above 7 degrees celsius, fitting summer tyres can guarantee high grip levels on wet and dry roads, through their specially manufactured tread patterns and compounds. In comparison to all season tyres, summer tyres will provide high stability whilst driving, and optimal mileage in hotter temperatures.
When temperatures fall below 7 degrees celsius, it is time to change your summer tyres to winter tyres. These are an excellent choice as they will perform in all winter conditions ranging from heavy snow and ice to wet and cold roads. The winter tyres feature an aggressive tread that is capable of clearing away slush and digging into the snow for greater traction than an all-season tyre does. The rubber stays softer during the freezing temperatures, meaning your vehicle control is better throughout the colder months.
When it comes to choosing which type of tyres are best for you, both all-season tyres and seasonal tyres hold multitudes of benefits, however, the performance of all-season tyres will never be entirely matched to seasonal tyres due to the way they are designed and the conditions they are designed to tackle.
Article by Colewood Automotive, our partners for ServicePoint Tyres.
ServicePoint Tyres enables Allstar ServicePoint users to have the added convenience and control of purchasing a wide choice of tyre brands through the online portal for their fleet, and booking a fitting at more than 1,500 fitters, including fitting centres and mobile fitters, across the country. If required, the tyres can be delivered.
The easy to use portal enables users to filter and search tyres by brand, speed rating, standard EU tyre label gradings, summer and winter options, and more. As well as showing them the price breakdown for the tyres before purchase.