Choosing the right tires for your vehicle might feel complicated at times, but it doesn’t have to be. Deciding if or when you need winter tires can be a judgment call based on local climate, but choosing between summer-only tires and all-season tires is a bit simpler. So, when are all-season tires a good option? Here are some things to consider when trying to make that decision.
Should I buy summer tires or all-season tires?
The decision of whether you should purchase summer tires or all-season tires might seem like the easiest decision, but there are several factors to take into account. Local climate, mileage, and driving habits are the main considerations.
Local Climate and Driving Habits
Summer-only tires are ideal in two situations:
-When you live in an area with nice weather year-round that rarely, gets into the 40s, and the only real weather to be concerned with is either high temperatures or heavy rain.
-When you want the ultimate performance and grip in nice weather, but have an alternate set of tires for cold weather or winter conditions.
Mileage
In the simplest terms, if fuel economy or the overall lifespan of your tires isn’t a big concern because you place a higher priority on performance and handling, then summer tires are great. Summer tires tend to deliver a slightly rougher ride because of their stiff sidewalls, but keep an eye on tire pressure!
Therefore, if your commute is a long distance or you drive on rough roads, or if dips down into the 40s during winter, then all-season tires will offer more comfort, better mileage, and cold-weather insurance.
How do I choose a good all-season tire?
When it comes to choosing the best all-around tires for most drivers, the ever-growing class of all-season tires is slowly becoming the easiest answer. While true summer tires will deliver the best ultimate grip in dry and wet weather, high-performance all-season tires are continually improving and are a great option.
The same is true for genuine winter tires, which will always edge out even the best all-season tires when there’s ice or snow on the ground. However, the latest all-weather all-season tires—with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol—are closing that gap.
Here are a few basic guidelines to use when trying to decide if all-season tires are a good option for you
Mileage
If your commute is long or you put a lot of miles on your car, all-season tires are often the best option. Most all-season tires will have a significantly higher Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG), so they have better treadwear rating and will inevitably last longer before needing to be replaced. Plus, many all-season tires are designed to minimize rolling resistance for improved fuel economy, so you can go farther on every gallon of gas, too.
Road quality
Summer tires are great for optimal performance, but the softer sidewalls of high-performance all-season tires or touring all-season tires make them the better choice when road comfort is a concern, and that’s particularly true if you live in an area with rough or poorly maintained roads.
Regional weather
The weather in your area is the most important deciding factor for most drivers when deciding on all-season tires. If summer temperatures in your area get excessive but winters are mild, then a performance or grand touring all-season tire will be better on hot or wet asphalt. On the other hand, if you have mild summer weather but very cold winters, you’ll want to choose an all-season tire designed with additional siping and cold-weather rubber compounds. And of course, if you get more significant winter weather, all-season tires with the snowflake (3PMSF) symbol will get you around safely in light snow.
Driving habits
One quality many drivers overlook when deciding on what all-season tires are best for them is how they’ll match up to their actual driving conditions. For those who simply use their vehicle as a tool to get from point A to point B, then the comfort and high treadwear rating of touring all-season tires will be perfect. However, for those drivers who don’t mind sacrificing a small amount of comfort for increased road holding and responsiveness, then performance all-season tires might be ideal, as long as your winter driving needs don’t involve much snow.
Tradeoffs with all-season tires
Just as there are tradeoffs between summer, winter, and all-season tires, there are also tradeoffs between the various all-season tire categories. Keep in mind that the sporty nature of performance all-season tires will favor dry and wet weather conditions with an emphasis on feedback and roadholding in those particular conditions.
Whereas the other end of the all-season tire spectrum, all-weather tires, are engineered with an emphasis on coping with cold temperatures and mild winter weather conditions. The tire size, tread designs and rubber compounds are designed to work best in those specific conditions, so keep that in mind if you plan on using your all-season tires all year.
When to switch to all-season tires
If you need of new tires anyway, there’s no wrong time to make the switch to all-season tires. Unless, of course, you do require winter tires in your location. Otherwise, you can make the switch to all-season tires at any time of the year.
Keep in mind that if you’re changing to all-season tires that have the 3PMSF symbol because of winter-driving needs in your area, they’ll do well in most light winter conditions, but they won’t match up to true winter tires. If you’ll be driving on ice or taking trips into the mountains for winter sports and other snow-based activities, be sure to plan accordingly by packing tire chains if needed.
What about choosing the best brand of tires for your all-season needs? With all the advancements in tire technology over the years, there aren’t really many bad brands, so it’s more about choosing the right tire in the category you need it from. Many people are most comfortable choosing all-season tires that are offered on their car from the factory, but keep in mind that auto manufacturers try to save money, so there are often better choices for less money—even from the same tire brand.
You can’t go wrong with any of the big names like BF Goodrich, Bridgestone/Firestone, Continental, Dunlop, Good Year, Michelin, or Pirelli, as each company offers great choices in a variety of all-season tires. That’s not to say that other tire companies don’t offer great options, so be sure to consider your budget when making your all-season tire buying decision.
For help in choosing the best all-season tires for your SUV or sedan, contact Zohr online or call/text us at 816-800-9175 and we’ll be happy to help you choose the best option for you. Plus, since we’re mobile tire shop and our mobile tire technicians are ready to deliver your all-season tires directly to you and install them at your home or office.
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