All-season Tyres: A Comprehensive Guide
What are all-season tyres?
All seasons, also known as all-weather tyres, are a modern category of tyres that exhibit features of summer and winter tyres. They are developed to function in very high as well as very low temperatures, and their overall efficiency varies throughout the year.
The winter tyres and summer tyres are produced with special reference to the weather conditions. One is made from different materials and has a different tread pattern, while the other is designed to be used at different temperatures.
The summer tyres are optimal when the temperature is more than 7°C. Winter tyres, on the other hand, are suitable to be used at cold temperatures equal to or below 7°C. This is the difference in all-season tyres.
They also use a particular sort of rubber that is quite functional regardless of the temperature. This indicates that they can drive without trouble on the dry and warm roads and the cold winter roads, even in relatively low temperatures below 7°C.
How do all-season tyres work?
All-season tyres operate in two basic manners; we have looked at one of them. They use a special rubber that is more effective, especially when temperatures are below 7°C.
This is important because summer tyres do not perform well in cold conditions. All-season tyres are more suitable for cold climate functionality than summer tyres. They have a specific tread design with only small cuts and grooves.
The types of patterns assist the tyres to have better traction on the roads, especially in winter, for instance, when it is icy or snowy. They also assist in allowing water to drain off when it is raining heavily, a factor that makes driving much safer.
This is why the above-mentioned tyres apply to a wide range of weather conditions.
So to summarise how an all-season tyre works:
1. All-season tyres are constructed from a compound that performs optimally when the temperature is low, for example, below 7°C.
2. These tyres come with a specific groove on the rubber that enables them to handle heavy rainfall and move water off the surface of the road.
Is it worth getting all-season tyres in the UK?
All-season tyres are for countries like the UK with mild climates; rather warm but wet sometimes, extremely cold sometimes, and rainy all year. They are suitable for these conditions.
To be precise, the British climate is rather mild and changeable; we do not have severe winters and very hot summers. There might be a week or so when it is extremely hot, and that is when you would wish your AC was in great shape.
Also, sometimes it can rain at any time of the year and quite a lot, so one should be ready for that. All-season tyres come in very handy for the UK weather, and it is advisable to have them paired.
How long should all-season tyres last?
Therefore, it is not easy to find out how long a tyre will last, as it depends on many factors. Usually, the all-season tyres have a tread life of about 20,000 miles in the front and about 40,000 miles in the rear.
Thus, if one is using his car for private or personal use and perhaps for an average of 10,000 miles per year, then perhaps the tyres may need replacement every 2 years. However, it must be understood that should your tyre get damaged or worn out beyond the agreed limit, you will have to replace it earlier.
Also, due to their constant usage irrespective of the season, your all-season tyres would not last as long if you usually replaced them with winter tyres when the weather was cold and wet.
How To Identify All-Season Tyres?
First of all, two important symbols are to be considered on the sidewall: the 'M+S' and '3PMSF' symbols to identify all-season tyres.
The 'M+S' marking would suggest that the tyre is sufficiently adequate in mud and snow. The '3PMSF' marking symbol is shaped like a mountain with a snowflake inside indicating that the tyre has been tested by experts and is safe to use in snowy conditions.
This symbol also indicates that the tyre meets the requirements for snow tyres in regions where they are legally required.
Best 10 Most Popular All-Season Tyre Sizes
Here are the top 10 tyre sizes of all-season tyres that offer an excellent blend of performance, durability, and comfort under variegated driving conditions.
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175 65 R14
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185 60 R15
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195 55 R16
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205 55 R16
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215 55 R16
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225 50 R17
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235 45 R18
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225 65 R17
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235 55 R18
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245 60 R18
Can My Car Support All-Season Tyres?
Yes, your car can use all-season tyres provided you get the right size intended for your car. You will find this in your car's manual or on a sticker inside the driver's door.
All-season tyres are designed to handle both fair and inclement weather conditions, which is why they will be a good choice for most cars, especially for regions that do not have extreme weather conditions, such as the UK.
Where the winters are very severe and the summers are extremely hot, then you may need more specialised tyres.
Discover a huge collection of all-season tyres ranging from budget and mid-range to premium brands at Tyre Savings Centre.