All-weather tyres vs All-season tyres: What test results show
All-weather tyres are specific variation of all-season tyres designed to survive in harsh winter conditions. They can be a middle ground option for people who do not want to keep switching to snow/winter tyres every year at the beginning of the snow season and changing it back again in the spring.
Based on snow-traction tests conducted by Consumer Reports of 64 different models of car tyres, it was found that the best all-weather tyres are matching the All season Banden Utrecht tyres in mild weather and were able to generate traction in severe ice and snow during winter. Tread life tests conducted to measure wear over 16000 miles led to the conclusion that the all-weather tyres are expected to have 50,000 miles or more life time, which is more than what a typical winter/snow tyre gets you.
The tread life directly impacts the operating costs, as a longer tread life reduces the cost per mile, especially if you also consider the costs for changing tyres, including the purchase, balancing, mounting, and recycling.
For this test, the following 5 all-weather tyre models were tested using Toyota Camrys using a common tyre size 215/55R17: Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady, Nokian WRG4, Vredestein Quatrac 5, Michelin CrossClimate +, and Toyo Celsius. Among these tyres, there was a big gap between the top and bottom performing all-weather tyre.
Compared to the regular all-season tyres, Performance all-season tyres are definitely a step up, placing more importance on handling, at the cost of a shorter tread life. These tyres have a V speed rating, signalling their road-holding capabilities. It indicates a max speed rating of 149 mph. These tyres are able to manage the heat buildup generated during high-speed driving much better than compared to those tyres with lower speed ratings. In a way, they guarantee a fine-tuned road grip for an enthusiastic driving year-round.
All-weather tyres can be essentially thought of as an amalgamation of the capabilities of performance all-season tyres with added winter driving toolkit. As such, they can be used year-long without changing. They usually come with a three-peak mountain and snowflake symbol, signifying that it meets industry standards for traction in the snow.
Tyre Speed Ratings
Every tyre comes with a letter that pertains to the max speed limit rating. Standard all-season tyres are usually rated either S (up to 112 mph) or T (118 mph), whereas higher speeds are identified as letters H (130 mph), V (149 mph), W (168 mph), Y (186 mph), and ZR (149+ mph) respectively. It is always recommended to use the tyres mentioned in the owner’s manual or that inscribed on the driver’s side door.
Difference Between Winter and All-Season Tyres
Winter or snow tyres are designed to withstand long drawn winter conditions, including ice, slush, and snow. The tread components of winter tyres are more flexible and stay softer in cold weather, thereby improving traction, control, and handling under sub ~45º F weather. With its jagged, wide, and deep tread edges biting into the surfaces, it is able to maintain traction in harshest weather.
On the other hand, All-season goedkope banden Utrecht tyres focus on a quite and smooth drive in most conditions (including in mild snow) and are great on bare pavement and in the rain. All-season tyres are not tailored to work with deep snow, ice, and cold weather when temperatures dip below 45º F.
Snow Traction ability
In terms of traction in the snow and ice braking, All-weather tyres perform just below winter tyres and beat both regular and performance all-season tyres. But they do have an advantage in wet braking, dry braking, tread life, and handling.
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