All-Season Tires: A Safe Choice For Changing Conditions
Autumn arrives early in northern climes and mountainous areas. Are all-season tires the right choice for your vehicle?
“All-season tires are the most popular choice based on their convenience and ability to deliver balanced performance in dry, wet, and mild winter conditions,” says Brad Robison, Senior Product Manager at Bridgestone. “All-season tires are a jack of all trades that is a master of none, but often better than a master of one for most consumers.”
All-season tires were introduced into the US market in the late 1970s and quickly became the most popular tire in North America, Robison says. “They represent over 90% of the US market.”
What Makes All-Season Tires Different?
To give you the best performance on rain-slicked roads, all-season tires have meticulously designed treads. This includes two vital parts of the tread: the voids and the sipes.
The lateral voids that run around the tire are the wider open channels that force water out so it doesn’t get trapped between you and the roadway. This brings your tire into closer contact with the asphalt and helps avoid hydroplaning in wet conditions.
The sipes are the smaller slits across the tires that improve the traction by creating more tread surface edges. The more edges you have, the better the grip, explains Robison.
“All-season tires will have specific tread rubber compounds and tread pattern features to achieve their performance,” Robison says. “Tread compounds for all-season tires can be engineered to stay flexible in cold environments and provide elevated winter grip.
“For all-season products, the tire must also consider other conditions such as wet performance, wear life, and rolling resistance to really provide that balanced performance.”
Mixing different types of materials for optimal performance allows all-season tires to handle temperatures from a high of 100 degrees to near freezing. Some premium tires also add silica to enhance grip in the slipperiest of conditions.
“The automobile industry has continued making technology advancements and tires have followed that same trend with a consistent focus on safety,” Robison explains.
What to Look In All-Season Tires
When it comes down to the actual purchase of your all-season tires, there are specifics you are going to want to consider. Experts like Robison understand not only the financial concerns but that you need a tire you can trust and rely on to keep you and your family safe.
“Shopping for tires can be overwhelming, but there are a few things drivers can look for to help make their choice,” he says.
First and foremost, what type of vehicle you are driving and what does your daily commute look like? You also want to make sure the tire fits properly and the experts at your local tire store will be happy to help make this happen.
“I would narrow the research to tires for the type of vehicle that you drive and then determine if you are looking for an everyday touring all-season, performance, or even an all-terrain tire,” Robison advises.
Next up, look for warranties and the exact technology that goes into the tires. Also pay attention to the resistance a tire offers, which can be a major factor in the battery life of a hybrid or electric vehicle. Plus, some tires are specifically tailored to cut down on road noise and offer a smoother ride.
“All-season tires will typically have a mileage warranty and information on the technology used to deliver grip on wet roads, all-season performance, quiet and comfortable ride.,” he says. “After the basics are covered, there are also premium all-season tires that offer additional benefits.”
Robison explains these extra benefits include things such as run-flat technology. The feature allows drivers to continue on their journey after a puncture so they can fix or replace the tire rather than having to immediately pull over for roadside assistance. Not only is this a feature that can add convenience, but also to the safety of driving.
Limitations of All-Season Tires
While for many climates and areas of the country all-season tires will be enough to ensure a safe and comfortable ride, there are situations and weather patterns that may be too much for even the best all-season tire. There may be a time to consider a tire made specifically for your driving conditions.
“All-season tires have made a lot of progress in winter performance, but they are not engineered to deliver the same winter performance as a dedicated winter tire,” Robison says.
If you drive in an area such as the Northern United States or Canada that sees extreme temperature drops and variations in winter months, you may want to consider a tire that is specifically made for those conditions.
“All-season tires do a great job of providing you balanced performance throughout the year and some winter performance if you need it occasionally,” Robison says. “If you find yourself needing to drive on snow covered roads on a regular basis or expect to find yourself in situations where you are not able to stay home if a winter storm comes through, a winter tire is recommended.”
Also worth considering in areas with extreme heat, such as the Southwest where roadway temperatures can melt certain types of rubber, you may want to consider a different compound for your tire during the hotter months.
Here are some tips for choosing the right winter tire:
- All-season tires are great solution for most climates and have become the go-to choice for most drivers
- Find tires with the highest rated tread life for your driving habits
- Find tires with a low rolling resistance if you drive an electric car
- The more edges your tread has, the better the grip on wet roads
- Premium tires add silica for hugging the road in wet conditions
- Some tires are designed to dampen road noise, so take this into consideration in your choice
- Ask your tire advisor to recommend treads suited to your type of driving and environment
- If you live in weather extremes, you might be able to use all-season tires just in the summer and spring
- Look for addended features such as run-flat technology
- For hotter climates, make sure the compound of the tires is correct for the roads when temperatures climb