All-season tyres are designed to support safe, reliable, and performance driving all-year round. They combine the core features of summer and winter tyres, so that they can be used throughout the year and across changing seasons and conditions.
Crucially, while winter and summer tyres need to be switched as the temperature changes, with all-season tyres you don’t need to worry.
Virtually all tyre brands have their own selection of all-season tyres to choose from. Some of the premium tyre brands offer particularly good handling and performance in changing conditions, with the Michelin CrossClimate 2 range, Continental all-season Contact range, and Bridgestone and Pirelli all-season tyres all popular with drivers. The Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen, meanwhile, is another all-season tyres that offers better grip and high-performance in all conditions.
Mid-range and budget tyre brands also offer all-season tyres alongside other specifications like run-flat tyres and various tyre sizes.
The UK is one of a handful of places where all-season tyres can be safely and legally driven all-year round – provided they are well maintained with sufficient tyre tread, tyre pressure, and no damage.
This is because the UK enjoys a moderate climate with no extremes in weather or driving conditions, enabling reliable year-round performance on all-season tyres.
All-season tyres are often more expensive to purchase upfront, though they can be used year-round which means drivers enjoy more use for their investment. It’s cheaper to buy winter tyres or summer tyres, but you cannot use both throughout the year, which means investing in a second set of tyres for each vehicle.
All-season tyres are one tyre type; to ensure safe and comfortable driving off-road, you need to choose 4x4 tyres or multi-terrain tyres.
When comparing new tyres, you’ll find that all-season tyres have a series of benefits to support driver safety, comfort, performance, and the durability of the vehicle on the road. Top features include:
1. Adaptable tread pattern, with thick shoulder blocks for enhanced handling
2. A flexible rubber compound, that is pliable in winter but strong in summer
3. Moderate tread depth to dispel water and minimise the risk of aquaplaning
Summer tyres are a good option for driving in high temperatures, as they are constructed from a strong rubber which holds the sidewall and supports the load index of the vehicle even under the pressure of heat. They are also designed to navigate the dry roads and wet conditions of a UK summer with ease – however, they are not as versatile as all-season tyres.
Summer tyres offer the best all-round performance in summer specifically, but they need to be swapped when the temperature cools – while all-season tyres remain balanced all year.
It depends on the conditions you are driving in. Winter tyres are uniquely designed to navigate challenging driving conditions at temperatures below 7° c and may offer a better performance in light snow and icy conditions. However, they are not as flexible or as adaptable as all-season tyres.
Browse our extensive range of all-season tyres across our tyre manufacturers, learn more on our individual car brand pages, or head to our Knowledge Hub for advice on selecting the right tyres for you.
