All-season tires and all-weather tires may seem extremely similar both in features and benefits to you. And when you look at a collection of tires, you might not be able to immediately differentiate them.
However, there are important differences and similarities to be aware of when choosing the tire best for you and your unique circumstances. This is a simple and educational guide to become familiar with these tires and decide which ones you want to use, whether you want to stick with one or switch them throughout the year depending on your local weather.
Understanding all-season tires
All-season tires, as the name implies, are usually a solid option year-round, assuming the weather isn’t extreme in the area. For example, a city with no snow or ice would do well using all-season tires. They’ll keep up their performance in warm, dry weather, and slightly wet conditions (but not too wet).
The best all-season tires mix the features of summer and winter tires for a happy medium. They’re a good option for temperatures ranging between -10°C and 30°C. And while they can drive in the snow, it’s not recommended, since at that point, a winter tire will have better control.
All-season tires are cheaper in the short-term
Because they can be driven year-round in regions with minimal snow, they don’t need to be changed often which makes them a cheaper option in the short-term. But tires don’t last forever.
After inevitable wear and tear, they do need to be replaced for safe driving, so eventually they’ll need an update. Winter tires might be mandatory in your state and your car insurance might have a stipulation for winter tires. If so, you do need to swap for winter tires every year.
But they wear out sooner
However, if they aren’t being switched out, the tires will wear out sooner since they aren’t sharing the load and the friction with another set of tires. These tires are less resistant to specific weather conditions since they’re a mix of summer and winter attributes.
All-season tires can be smoother
If it’s not snowy, all-season tires will handle better on the road and do better on fuel. Winter tires have deeper treads for better control in the snow and slush but they don’t serve a purpose on dry roads.
But be wary of extreme conditions
All-season tires might be smoother in dry conditions than winter tires would be in the same conditions, but as soon as the circumstances change, the tires won’t be as reliable. Their traction and braking capabilities will falter.
Exploring all-weather tires
At first, the best all-season tires and the best all-weather tires sound synonymous. But there’s an important distinction. While all-season tires can be used year-round if the conditions are mild, all-weather tires can be used year-round with more intense conditions. These tires can better manage moderate snow.
This isn’t to say they’re equal to winter tires. The tread patterns and rubber compounds that all-weather tires use aren’t meant for extreme cold and deep snow. Only winter tires are up to that task for Canadian cities that get heavy snowfalls.
All-weather tires are versatile
Slightly more than all-season tires, all-weather tires can manage more snow, so they’re more likely to be used year-round in cities that get some snow.
But they don’t last as long
However, because of their versatility, they aren’t made for one specific weather or temperature, so they’ll degrade faster than tires used specifically for one weather condition. This is because the materials used to make the best all-weather tires must work for all weather; they aren’t overly resistant to one condition. Hot asphalt and icy asphalt will have more of an impact on them.
All-weather tires don’t need to be changed
Like all-season tires, depending on the location, all-weather tires don’t need to be changed throughout the year; only when they’ve been used enough that their performance starts to be affected.
There’s no seasonal cost to change them, but there is the cost to replace them. That time will depend on what kind of driving you do and how often.
All-weather tires are more cost-effective
The seasonal tire change is one way all-weather tires are cost-effective, but since there’s no need to store another set of tires, that’s more in savings. There’s only one set of tires to pay for when it comes to tire maintenance and rotation.
The best all-season tires versus the best all-weather tires
Consider location
The most important distinction to understand is that all-season tires are great for regions that don’t get any snow (or very little) and all-weather tires work well for areas that get light to moderate snow, but not extreme winter weather. That’s the first consideration to make when shopping for a set of tires.
If you live in an area that gets lots of snow or dangerous driving conditions with sleet, ice, and slush, use winter tires.
Consider long-term costs
Driving conditions are the first and most important factor to consider. Then there’s cost.
Depending on your choice, you may be paying for tire storage and seasonal tire changes. However, if you know you’ll be driving in heavy snow, think ahead. Get a set of winter tires and a set of tires that will work best in the remaining months of the year.
Consider your driving habits
See if you fall into any of the following categories in terms of driving habits and consider shopping for the suggested type of tire:
- You drive seldomly or a lot and the weather is mild: use all-season tires.
- You drive seldomly and the weather is moderate: use all-season or all-weather tires.
- You drive often and the weather is moderate: use all-weather tires.
- You drive seldomly or a lot and the weather is severe: use winter tires.
These suggestions are a baseline. Driving habits and regions will vary so one suggestion might not work for two people in the same situation.
Choose Sailun for your new tires
For the best all-season tires to the best all-weather tires and everything in between, choose Sailun. We engineer, design, manufacture, and support a full lineup of impressive winter, all-season, off-road, and ultra-high-performance tires in a wide range of popular sizes for countless cars, crossovers, pickup trucks, and SUVs, plus a wide range of commercial vehicle applications. Find your next set of tires here.