The ambition to create the world's first fully all-season tyre emerged in the mid-1970s, when tyre manufacturers decided to challenge the accepted wisdom of two distinct types of products: one for summer and one for winter.
Initially, the design philosophy was tentative. The vision was a compromise – a tyre that handled well and reduced risk in the winter, but that, inevitably, sacrificed performance in normal driving conditions. In the warmer south of Europe, where roads are seldom dangerous apart from at high altitudes, there was definitely a less favourable view of winter tyres that would help a little in the cold, but deliver reduced day-to-day grip and drivability for the rest of the year.
For four decades the market's lack of motivation to create a compromise tyre meant development was slow – both in terms of effective new designs and technologies that might create such a tyre. The best options for drivers in search of all-year tyres were those marked with M+S – Mud and Snow – on the sidewall. Designed for off-road vehicles, these tyres are suitable for handling slippery surfaces and are legally compliant when winter tyres are mandatory. At the first downfall of snow and more challenging conditions, however, their grip can fail.
The launch of the Cinturato All Season
Behind the scenes at Pirelli the R&D department set a new target. By developing and exploiting new technology – from materials science to digital modelling – it would create a no-compromise all-season tyre that would transform the market. The result was the Cinturato All Season tyre. Launched in 2015, it was the first premium product for consumers who wanted to use the same tyre all year round, a tyre that was a pleasure to use in the summer and safe to drive in the winter. The range covered three-quarters of the most popular 15, 16 and 17-inch sizes and also featured Seal Inside technology which allows the car to keep moving – albeit at a limited speed – even if the tyre is punctured.
The Cinturato All Season tyre was decisive for the development of the category. In wet weather the pioneering directional tread design optimised the tyre's ability to drain water through two large longitudinal and lateral channels, which dramatically cut the risk of aquaplaning. And thanks to the Full Silica technology of the tread compound, it offered a new level of grip, effective braking and traction across a wide range of driving conditions.
Driving comfort was also enhanced. In full compliance with European regulations on noise limits, the level of noise was significantly reduced, both inside and outside the vehicle – making driving more pleasurable still for driver and passenger alike.
Innovative compounds and tread patterns
Since it first hit the market, more technological advances using virtual modelling and artificial intelligence have taken the Cinturato family to the next level of safety and comfort. The All Season SF3, launched in the spring of 2024, has an improved compound (a new mix of polymers with special microstructures) and an “adaptive tread pattern” that works well for both hot and cold weather. This includes pioneering 3D siping technology. Sipes are the smaller but vital grooves that cut more laterally across tread blocks to enhance grip and the dispersal of water from the contact area.
The clever tread compound is responsive in the warm, but does not harden in the cold. This optimises the movement of tread blocks (the parts of the tread that touch the road surface) in both dry and wet conditions to guarantee better braking and cornering performance.
When the road is covered in snow, the blocks also allow the tyre to capture snow crystals, offering excellent road holding. As the tyre wears, the pattern of these sipes changes from a straight line into a zigzag that increases the surface area capable of capturing snow despite the drop in tread depth. And the pattern also standardises the wear profile to extend the life of the tyre.
Every All Season tyre must bear the M+S marking, which means it can be used as a replacement for winter tyres or chains when their use is mandatory. Importantly, more sophisticated models like the Cinturato All Season SF3 also bear the symbol of a snowflake in a three-peaked mountain – Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake or 3PMSF. This mark, which indicates the rubber and tread are suitable for use on snow-covered roads, is also found on the Pirelli Scorpion All Season SF2 and Carrier All Season for vans.
Today, half a century after the tyre industry began work on creating the first all-season tyre, the idea of compromise has been forgotten. Thanks to advances in technology ranging from materials science to AI, drivers can confidently buy one set of high-quality tyres they can use safely all year round – whatever the weather.
