Difference between summer and all season tyres
Do you change your tyres depending on the time of the year? Do you use summer tyres or all season tyres? The idea of using different tyres for different seasons might be something you haven't even considered, but the reality is that summer and all season tyres are very different, and each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
What are summer tyres?
The majority of UK cars are by default fitted with summer tyres. Summer tyres have shallow treads with a stiff compound. This design gives them excellent grip in wet and dry conditions, as well as ensuring high performance even when temperatures approach 40 degrees.
Advantages of summer tyres
Precision grip - You may be surprised to discover that when it comes to all season tyres vs summer in rain, it is the latter that comes out on top. This is because the firm tread compound on summer tyres means you can enjoy precise gripping on both wet and dry roads.
Less rolling resistance - This improves the handling and efficiency of the car, which leads to reduced fuel costs.
Shorter braking distances - In most UK temperatures, summer tyres offer slightly better braking distances than all season tyres.
Disadvantages of using summer tyres in the winter
Poor acceleration - In cold weather, the shallow grooves on summer tyres equals significantly slower acceleration than you get with winter or all season tyres.
Cracks and split - The rigid material on summer tyres does not have the elasticity required for frosty conditions when rubber stiffens. As a consequence, the material can crack or even split. Not only does this reduce the lifespan of the tyre, but it can also be extremely dangerous.
Reduced grip - The relatively small number of grooves in the tread means that summer tyres can struggle to dig into snow or ice. Instead, they compact the snow/ice and are likely to skid. This issue also leads to longer braking distances.
What are all season tyres?
All season tyres are a combination of summer tyres and winter tyres. They have more grooves in the tread than summer tyres and are built for safe, efficient driving in temperatures of between -10 and 30 degrees.
Advantages of all season tyres
Save money - Using an all season tyre means that you do not need to pay for two sets of tyres. You also avoid having to pay any storage costs for your set of tyres that are not being used.
Easier to manage - All season tyres mean you avoid the time and hassle of having to change your tyres every year. Alternatively, it means you avoid the cost of getting somebody else to perform the task.
Better cold weather performance - Whilst summer tyres deteriorate in performance when the temperature drops below seven degrees, all season tyres continue to offer a safe, efficient drive even when the temperature drops below zero.
Disadvantages of all season tyres
Fuel consumption - As all season tyres are not optimized for warm weather driving, they do not perform as efficiently on dry roads compared to summer tyres.
Performance on icy roads - Whilst all season tyres are better for driving on snow or ice than summer tyres, they do not perform as well as winter tyres. In extreme weather conditions, all season tyres are still susceptible to loss of grip and poor handling.
Cost - All season tyres are typically more expensive than standard summer tyres found in the UK. So, although they represent a cheaper option than using separate summer and winter tyres, it is a more expensive venture than just using summer tyres all year round.
All season tyres vs summer tyres: what is the best option?
Clearly, there is a lot to consider when weighing up the all season tyres vs summer tyres debate. One important consideration to make is that compared to many other countries, the UK does not experience many extreme weather conditions. This means that all season tyres will perform well for the vast majority of the time.
That being said, whenever the temperature drops below 7 degrees (typically November to March), summer tyres do become less efficient, making all season tyres the more prudent option.You all need to consider the long-term cost of the two options. Summer tyres are fitted as standard and are generally cheaper to buy, but they are likely to experience a lot of wear and tear in cold weather. Ultimately, it comes down to a personal choice, but whatever you decide, make sure to check the condition of your tyres regularly to keep them efficient and improve driving comfort.
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