What you need to know if you want to buy all-season tires

Let's talk about all-season tyres, also known as 4-season tires or all-weather tyres.

All-season tires have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Logical too, because all-season stands for convenience: you can keep driving on the same tires all year round, instead of having to change 2 times a year if you use summer tires and winter tires.

When do you choose all-season tyres?

As a rule, you choose all-season tires because:

You do want good performance in all weather conditions.
It costs you too much time, money or effort to change tires twice a year.

All-season tires combine the best features of summer tires and winter tyres.

The all-season tire is designed to provide lasting grip and traction (that is, the ability to transfer the power from the engine to the road) in a variety of road conditions, in dry, wet and moderately cool climates. The tire is therefore a compromise, but in fact that applies just as much to winter tires and summer tires.

The big advantage of 4 season tyres

The main advantage of all-season tires is their versatility. But all-season tires have also become much better in quality in recent years, so that they are now a real alternative to regular tire changes.

If you planned to continue driving on summer tires in winter, all-season tires offer added value in the form of extra safety.

Did you know that in black ice with all-season tires at an original speed of 50 km/h you come to a halt on average 2.5 meters earlier than with summer tyres?

Disadvantages of all-season tires

The disadvantage of all-season tires is that they are neither summer tires nor winter tires. That may sound strange, but it comes down to this:

• In tough winter conditions, all-season tires lose out to real winter tyres.
• And in hot summer weather, the braking distance of all-season tires is longer than that of summer tyres.
• All-season tires wear out about 15-30% faster than summer tires due to the composition of the rubber.

It is better to buy winter tires if:

• You drive more than 10,000 kilometers per year.
• You regularly use the car in the winter.
• You also go on winter sports by car or come to countries where winter tires are mandatory in winter.
• You demand top performance from your tires in all circumstances.
• If you regularly travel for work or holiday during the winter period, it is recommended (and sometimes even mandatory) to have winter tires on your car.

Need more information about winter tires? Check out everything you're about here winter tires must know.