Winter or all-season tyres? Tips for choosing

For those who primarily drive in the city and less than 25,000 kilometers a year, all-season tyres are the ideal choice. Modern products like Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 or Scorpion All Season SF2 offer high performance without compromises. Thanks to the latest development technologies, Pirelli has improved tyre wear through optimized tread contact, benefiting mileage. These tyres offer performance comparable to seasonal ones even on wet surfaces, thanks to the "V" grooves on the tread that enhance water dispersion. In fact, almost 90% of Pirelli Scorpion All Season SF2 sizes have received the highest rating for wet braking. Additionally, the tread pattern of these tyres responds to different conditions encountered throughout the year, thanks to adaptive sipe technology.

For those who drive long distances, face challenging winter conditions, and seek maximum performance, winter tyres are the best choice. Designed to perform at their best in extreme conditions such as with low temperatures and on snowy or icy roads, these tyres offer shorter braking distances on both wet roads (up to 15%) and snowy roads (up to 50%) compared to summer tyres. The tread design, with special sipes, collects and retains snow for better grip through the "snow-on-snow friction" effect.

Whether you choose winter or all-season tyres, it's important to ensure the presence on the sidewall of the M+S (Mud and Snow) marking, which is necessary to comply with winter regulations. For maximum safety on snow, you should also make sure that the tyre sidewall features the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, indicating the tyres have passed rigorous tests in critical winter conditions. Each country has its own rules for winter driving, so it's always a good idea to check when crossing national borders.

Pirelli offers a complete range of both winter and all-season tyres with the same level of technology and safety. The product families Cinturato and Scorpion, dedicated to traditional cars and crossovers/SUVs respectively, have been recognized for their performance by TÜV SÜD certification, which awarded them the "Performance Mark" after specific safety tests. These tyres are also available for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles thanks to Pirelli Elect technology in a selection of sizes. With this range, Pirelli can meet 97% of the European market's requests for sizes larger than 16 inches. For high-performance vehicles, for which winter equipment remains the preferred solution, the P Zero Winter tyre is available and approved by many premium and prestige automakers.

In conclusion, the choice between all-season and winter tyres depends on how you use your car and the conditions in which you drive. Making the right choice means finding the right balance between safety, comfort, efficiency, and performance.