What are all season tyres, and should I switch?

Have you ever thought that your summer tyres aren’t always suitable for all seasons? Many motorists in the UK don’t know that there are three different tyre options, each suited to different times of year. 

This winter has carried on longer than most and while some drivers will be keen to avoid buying full winter tyres as snow is still fairly rare and the cold spell is sure to end soon (surely?), standard summer tyres will perform particularly poorly in these icy arctic conditions.  All season tyres on the other hand perhaps provide a happy medium and are perfect to keep drivers firmly on the road in the cold and provide great wet grip. So instead of changing tyres at multiple times in the year, all season tyres have become more appealing option for drivers when it comes to overall cost saving.

Summer, winter and all season tyres - what's the difference?

Summer tyres, the standard tyre product that is fitted to the car from new when you buy it from the manufacturer, are best suited to warmer months between March and October. Summer tyres are made from a softer compound so, during the warmer months, they grip dry roads superbly and offer excellent handling and steering.

Then there are winter tyres, which are the optimum choice when the temperature drops below 7 degrees. Sometimes referred to as snow tyres, they have a different rubber compound enabling them to grip the road in wet, icy or snowy conditions. They also feature tiny grooves on the tread pattern known as sipes which help to grip snow and ice.

Finally, the third offering is the all season tyre, this all-rounder is agile enough to grip on dry roads but not harden as much as summer tyres on those colder winter days. In mild climates like the UK where you cannot guarantee hot summers but equally snowfall is fairly rare, all season tyres perhaps offer the ideal solution as they still perform great in the wet.

At Kwik Fit we stock a range of all-season tyres including the following:

Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen2

The award-winning Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 2 is an all season tyre which offers drivers great performance in all weather conditions, as well as snowy and icy roads. This tyre is designed to meet the needs of drivers in the UK who don’t always change tyres in line with the differing and unpredictable weather conditions. Find Goodyear Vector 4Seasons tyres for your vehicle.

Michelin CrossClimate

The Michelin CrossClimate achieves all-weather excellence thanks to a combination of an intelligent new rubber compound mixture which adapts to weather conditions, providing grip in all temperatures; with a unique tread pattern. In tests carried out by TUV SUD, the V-shaped tread provided excellent dry performance while the new bevel-edged tread blocks with higher performing sipes allowed for great traction on snow and ice.

As well as boasting safety in every weather condition, the Michelin CrossClimate delivers the highest levels of combined performance in fuel ecomony, longevity and driving comfort that Michelin is committed to delivering in every tyre that it develops. Find Michelin CrossClimate tyres for your vehicle.

Speak to Kwik Fit

If you are unsure which tyres are the right ones for you, contact your local Kwik Fit centre, tells us a little about your driving habits and we'll be able to suggest the best tyres for the job. Many of our centres are open 7 days a week too!