Many drivers have a difficult time deciding whether to choose a summer tire or to go with an all-season tire. The reality is that your circumstances are different than the next person’s and what works best for your vehicle may not be the same for everyone. It doesn’t help that there’s a lot of jargon in the tire industry that the average consumer may not be familiar with.
The truth is that just because a tire is classified as all-season doesn’t mean it’s the best option for every situation. The name can be a bit confusing without having all of the facts. Some snow tires have great snow grip, while others have next to none. Some are great on damp highways while others are about the same as any summer tire. Today we’ll look at which tire might be the best choice for your needs.
When you purchase summer tires, they are engineered specifically to offer top performance in a warm climate during summer driving conditions. Unlike other seasonal tires, like winter tires, you may not immediately realize what special functions summer tires offer. After all, you may believe all tires should function at their best when it’s warm outside.
This might be true in some respects, but summer tires are focused solely on offering the best performance when it is warm, whether the roads are wet or dry. The seasonal conditions associated with spring, fall, and winter are effectively removed from the equation when it comes to design and engineering. This allows the tire manufacturer to maximize the performance for summer, which is an advantage.
Some summer tires are known as ultra-high-performance summer tires and these show the highest degree of results with the focus on summer conditions. This type of tire has the highest performance and traction on wet and dry roads during warm months, even compared to all-season tires.
There are some downfalls to this engineering focus, though. Many road conditions and climate types do not allow the summer tire to excel as it would in ideal circumstances. However, some people will find their location makes summer tires a fine choice for year-round use.
The most important of these is that the tires have not been engineered to offer the traction required when temperatures start to drop, especially when things drop below freezing. If there is snow or ice on the road, summer tires can also cause problems with controlling your vehicle and may leave you stuck out on the road.
If the location you live has a winter season that includes freezing temperatures, summer tires are not the best option for year-round use. However, it is possible to rotate from summer tires to winter tires based on the season for top performance.
While all-season tires may not be engineered specifically for summer weather, they do have more diversity in terms of performance. We mentioned summer tires have serious limitations in terms of temperature and seasonal precipitation, but all-season tires do not. Those who are interested in tires that can be used the whole year-round, all-season tires are an excellent choice.
All-season tires do a great job both in freezing temperatures as well as temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also just fine on both wet and dry roadways and in light winter conditions across the country. These might be the best option if you want the versatility of avoiding accidents in typical, non-extreme weather situations that might lead to the need to file an insurance claim.
However, that doesn’t mean that there are no limitations when using these tires. They are designed and engineered to offer traction in mild winter conditions, but they aren’t going to be the best choice if you’re hanging out and a blizzard hits your location. They also do not reach the same mark as a summer tire when it’s super warm, but they’re getting there.
Now that you have an idea of how summer and all-season tires work in different conditions, you might think you have all the information you need. However, there’s more to think about when it comes to rain and snow on the road. The ability of a tire to move deep water is something that is apart from its classification as all-season or summer.
When you are on a road that is lightly wet or damp, the tread rubber is what is largely determining the traction. Something that is softer and stickier is the best option for dry and damp roads. However, when there is more water and you’re going at a higher speed, the tire’s ability to keep in contact with the pavement instead depends on the pattern of the tread.
The tread patterns that are best at dispersing water are found on both summer and all-season tires. However, there are some not so great patterns on some of those tires, too. Wear also matters because when a tire is somewhat worn out or underinflated, even a tire with great tread patterns and compound may not be up to the level of a new tire that is properly inflated with a worse tread pattern.
Summer tires will not have adequate snow traction for the same reason that they offer excellent traction on damp roads. These tires have a grippy, soft tread compound. The problem is that in cold temperature, the compound starts to harden. An all-season tire, on the other hand, may not have the same damp road grip but will work well even at freezing temperatures.
If you are looking for replacement tires and want increased traction on damp and wet roads, but don’t need the traction on snow and in cold temperatures, you may want to swap your tires out for summer tires. However, the opposite is just as true. If you have a car that seems to be having a whole lot of trouble when snow starts to fall, you might want to make the switch to all-season or snow tires if you drive in substantial amounts of snow.
When looking for summer tires to replace your all-season tires, you can often check if the manufacturer of your original tires has a set of summer tires of the same model. This is a good bet for a tire that will fit your car and give you the performance you need. The same goes the opposite way, too. If you own summer tires but want all-season protection, look for tires from the same manufacturer that are made for all seasons.
If you find that there isn’t an equivalent, you can also find many options at online tire stores. Just remember that there is no governing body or industry standard for summer, all-season, or three-season tires. Every company has it’s own assessment method and those can be far from uniform from one brand to the next. Take time to read reviews before you make a purchase, or consult your local tire shop for recommendations.
At this point, you should be well-equipped to choose the best tires for your car. Whether you go with all-season, summer tires, or swap between summer and winter tires based on the season is going to be based on what you use your vehicle for and what climates you spend time in. There is no single right answer. Go with whatever works for you and make sure you get the great performance you deserve.