Are All-Season Tyres Worth It? Pros, Cons & Costs Explained
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 1 year ago
5 min read
- Tyres
- Review
FixMyCar discusses the benefits of all-season tyres and whether they are worth the money.
Most cars in the UK are fitted with summer tyres due to our moderate weather, but according to road safety experts, using them during winter is dangerous. That’s why it’s recommended that you switch to a set of winter tyres when the temperature regularly falls below 7°C.
We know what you’re thinking - having two sets of tyres is an additional expense most of us can’t afford. It’s a valid point.
Fortunately, there is an alternative: all-season tyres.
This guide is for drivers wanting to learn more about all-season tyres, how they differ from summer or winter tyres, and the benefits they bring.
Contents:
Pros and cons of all-season tyres
What's the difference between all-season, summer and winter tyres?
How to identify all-season tyres
How much are all-season tyres?
Should you choose seasonal or all-season tyres for electric vehicles?
What are all season tyres?
All-season tyres are hybrids, combining the best elements of summer and winter tyres to make them suitable for year-round use.
You can rely on all-season tyres whether it’s dry, wet, cold or warm. They perform well in temperatures ranging from -10°C to 30°C because the rubber they are made from can adapt quickly, remaining flexible even on cold roads. This range makes them perfect for the UK climate.
Pros and cons of all season tyres
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Better performance than summer tyres in winter. | Worse performance than summer/winter tyres used in the appropriate season. |
| Better performance than winter tyres in summer. | More expensive than summer tyres. |
| Lower upfront cost than two sets of tyres. | Not suitable for extreme snow and ice. |
| No need to change your tyres when the season changes. | Less durable than summer/winter tyres used in the appropriate season. |
What’s the difference between all season, summer and winter tyres?
The main differences are laid out below.
Performance at different temperatures
Summer tyres perform best at temperatures above 7°C.
Winter tyres perform best at temperatures below 7°C.
All-season tyres perform best at temperatures between -10°C and 30°C.
Design features
Summer tyres are made of a hard rubber compound capable of coping with high temperatures. They have a more solid tread profile, grooves to expel water and fewer sipes to optimise performance and comfort.
Winter tyres have deeper grooves to grip in snow and ice, with more sipes and a high natural rubber content to stay soft in freezing temperatures.
All-season tyres include solid tread blocks, a tread depth between that of summer and winter tyres and a slightly harder compound.
Braking distances
Continental tested the braking capabilities of summer, winter and all-season tyres and found the following results. The wet and dry braking tests were conducted from a starting speed of 100km/h at temperatures above 15°C, while snow braking was tested from a 40km/h starting speed.
Dry braking
1st place - summer tyre: 36.6 m.
2nd place - all-season tyre: 41.9 m.
3rd place - winter tyre: 44.1 m.
Wet braking
1st place - summer tyre: 51.3 m.
2nd place - all-season tyre: 54.9 m.
3rd place - winter tyre: 57.3 m.
Snow braking
1st place - winter tyre: 16.5 m.
2nd place - all-season tyre: 17.7 m.
3rd place - summer tyre: 16.5 m.
You can read the following guides for more information:
How to identify all season tyres
When choosing a new set of tyres, you should pay attention to the symbols and labels on the sidewall, as these provide essential information about the tyre’s capabilities.
Keep an eye out for the letters M+S, which stand for mud and snow, showing that the tyre is suitable for both surfaces. Additionally, the 3PMSF symbol - an image of a three-peak mountain with a snowflake - indicates the tyre is three-peak mountain snowflake certified, which tells you experts have confirmed the tyre is safe for use in the snow.
This guide to choosing tyres contains more information about reading and understanding tyre labels.
How much are all season tyres?
The price of all-season tyres depends on whether you choose a budget, mid-range or premium brand. The pros and cons of each tyre category are laid out in the following guides:
Premium tyres by brands like Continental and Goodyear can cost around £100-200, while mid-range brands like Avon or Hankook typically charge around £60-140.
Check out our guide to the best all-season tyres for buying advice and recommendations.
Should you choose seasonal or all season tyres for electric vehicles?
The same considerations apply when you own an electric vehicle. However, you must find strong tyres that are designed for EVs. Car batteries are heavy, so your tyres are under even greater pressure.
For this reason, it may be best to opt for a set of winter and summer tyres, though it’s worth noting that brands like Continental do offer durable all-season EV tyres.
What’s best, winter or all season tyres?
When deciding whether to buy winter or all-season tyres, you must consider what’s best for you based on the weather you regularly encounter.
If you frequently drive on snowy roads, in very low temperatures or often need to drive to places that are hard to reach in winter, winter tyres may be the right option.
On the other hand, if you rarely find yourself driving on snowy roads, as most of us do in the UK, then all-season tyres may be the best option.
Buy all season tyres
Choose from FixMyCar’s extensive range of all-season tyres and take advantage of the UK’s biggest network of independent garages and mobile mechanics.
Not sure which tyres to choose? Read our guide to the best all-season tyres.
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