All season tyres blend the technologies of summer and winter tyres into an all-weather tyre created to adapt to both sunny spells and snow. Sometimes referred to as all-weather tyres, they are designed to maintain performance and aid safety in both hot summer weather and cold winter weather.
The tyre industry’s rule of thumb is a summer tyre compound works at its optimum from 7°c and above while a winter 7°c and below. All season tyres are made with an intermediate rubber compound. This allows them to perform well on warm summer roads and will not suffer on cold winter roads either.
It’s also not just about temperature. When it comes to all season tyres, they are designed with sipes in the tread, which allows them to perform well during heavy rainfall, as well as being able to cope with some snow and ice on the roads too.
You should buy all season tyres if you would like to have excellent tyre performance and safety throughout the year without needing to change from summer to winter tyres.
In Britain, we tend to have mild winters and not-so-hot summers, while rainy downpours can happen all year round. For this reason, all season tyres are a suitable purchase for the vast majority of us. Without having to change tyres, you will be safe to drive in wintry weather, rainy downpours and hot, dry roads depending on the time of year.
Britain is also known as a country that experiences four seasons in one day, where a cold winter’s day can start out with snow and ice on roads in the morning, blazing sunshine in the afternoon and heavy rain in the evening. A premium quality all season tyre such as the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 is designed to cope perfectly on a day of mixed weather conditions.
However, if you do live in a part of the country that often has very heavy snowfalls or freezing cold, icy conditions on roads that aren’t gritted, you may be better investing in winter tyres and summer tyres rather than all season tyres. Similarly, some countries in Europe require you to use winter tyres by law in the winter, so if you drive through those countries you will need to have winter tyres on your car.
Source: Met Office 2019
The UK climate is continue to change - with average days of rainfall increasing each year it is essential drivers are equiped with tyres that can provide outstanding performance whatever the weather. All Season tyres are designed to provide the peace of mind that whether it's an unpredictable downpour, sunny spells or colder conditions - great for the British weather.
the average number of rainy days per month in the UK, based on 2019 Met Office data
in rainfall across the UK is expected by 2100
excel in wet conditions
More test wins than any other brand tested*.
Better grip on snow through large amount of sipes at the center of the tread. The sipes influence each other at their intersection, stimulating their opening for better grip.
Shorter dry braking & Improved dry handling. Reduced deformation of the tyre during heavy maneuvers through strong crown & shoulder blocks.
Lifetime Aqua Planing Resistance. Over time grooves evolve to continuously ensure water dispersion.
You should not mix all season and summer tyres. If you are changing your tyres to all season, you should put all season tyres on all four wheels. Equally, you should not mix all season tyres with winter tyres or summer tyres with winter tyres. Always fit the same type of tyre on all four wheels.
If you mix tyres, you will create an imbalance in grip and traction which will increase the chances of you losing control of your vehicle. Cars rely on all four tyres evenly, regardless of whether your car is rear wheel drive or front wheel drive and as such the same tyre should be fitted on all four wheels.
Changing all four tyres? Don’t forget about your spare tyre. If you have a matching spare, you’ll need to change that too.
When Auto Express tested all season tyres in 2019, the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2 was unbeatable in the cold, snowy weather testing. The Goodyear tyre provided grip and confidence in tight turns on snow and no other tyre could match it for braking and traction. What’s more, the Goodyear tyre made the least amount of noise, making it the ideal choice for drivers seeking ultimate refinement.
The latest Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 is now available with upgraded Snow Grip Technology compared to the Gen-2 tested by Auto Express. The Gen 3 has improved grip for better handling on snow due to its gridded tread design. The Gen-3 also has a large amount of sipes at the centre of the tyre that work together to open up for better grip on fresh snow.
All of Goodyear’s all season tyres meet high standards for performance in winter conditions and bear the same ‘M+S’ and ‘Snowflake’ designations as winter tyres. However, in very heavy snow or treacherous icy conditions, an all season tyre may not be as good as a winter tyre such as the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+. So if you need the best possible safety in heavy snow, a winter tyre is the way to go.
However, if you are concerned about driving in light snow, but don’t want to invest in winter tyres, the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 is your next best option, still providing excellent safety and driving performance in those conditions.
Jon Benson of Tyre Reviews, visited Goodyear's test track inside Artic Circle to put to the test our Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 on a two wheel drive vehicle, against the EfficientGrip Performance 2 summer tyres on an all wheel drive vehicle.
The tests undertaken as part of this video include:
Watch the video to find out which combination of tyres and drive train performs better in snow and icy conditions.
If your car needs a seasonal refresh, here are the pros and drawbacks of all season tyres.
All-round protection for changing weather conditions or temperate climates - great for Britain's changing seasonal weather
Not as high performance as summer tyres with a reduced sporty driving experience than the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 summer tyre
High density sipes for snowy and icy conditions
In heavy snow and treacherous ice, less grip than winter tyres such as the Ultragrip Performance+
Unique tread pattern to avoid aquaplaning
Initial outlay may be slightly more than a single set of summer or winter tyres
A cheaper year-round option than purchasing both summer and winter tyres
3PMSF marked All Season tyres allow you to drive in countries where winter tyres are required by law - without the need to change to a full winter tyre
When you purchase All season tyres you are really buying two tyres in one. A number of countries in the world require drivers to remove their summer tyres in late autumn/winter and fit ones capable of dealing with the colder weather.
In the UK drivers have understandably questioned the value of owning two sets of tyres for what is perceived as only a few days of real winter weather. It is however a misconception that the UK only has a few days of very cold weather – it is warmer in the day when the sun is out but temperatures often dip below freezing in the evening. When you are driving at this time you will realise the benefit of a tyre designed to work in sub-zero, conditions which can include ice and snow.
No, all season tyres will not wear out faster than a set of summer tyres. All season tyres are designed to have a long tread life, and are made with an intermediate rubber compound, meaning they can cope better than summer tyres with changing weather conditions and cold temperatures.
Tyre life is also largely dependent on good maintenance and driving style. If wheel alignment and pressures are incorrect these can strongly influence tyre life.
All season tyres are ideal for motorists living in moderate climate regions, providing an effective grip all year round. If you live in an area where snow is likely to be cleared from the roads, then they are an affordable, all-round solution, compared with buying a set of summer and winter tyres.
An all season tyre is designed to work well in the summer, without compromising too much performance versus a specialist summer tyre. As temperatures drop, all season tyres compounds remain pliable, unlike a summer tyre which can harden and reduce grip and traction on cold roads.
Goodyear invented the all season tyre in 1977, introducing the all season ‘Tiempo’ tyre to the market. Today, Goodyear’s Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 presents the latest in all season tyre innovation, offering great performance in all weather conditions, including dry, wet, slushy, snowy and icy roads.
What kind of tyres you have on your car isn’t the only consideration when the weather turns, so if you do have to venture out into bad weather, remember to check:
Be prepared with a winter driving kit, including a scraper, first aid kit, torch, foil blanket, high-vis vest and a warning triangle. For summer conditions, keep plenty of water on-board and make sure all your car’s fluids are topped up. Park in the shade and read the labels on hay fever medications to avoid drowsiness.
Finally, keep a charged mobile in the car, but never use this while driving.
All season tyres are available at reputable mechanics garages and tyre dealers, and some online retailers. Remember to specify your current tyre size and type, which you can find in your vehicle handbook. Some manufacturers also include this on the driver’s door pillar or in the fuel flap. You should also make sure that you fit all four wheels with all season tyres. By just changing the tyres on one axle, you drastically affect the amount of grip the car has, creating an imbalance that can cause the car to skid.
**Based on 47 reviews in magazines from November 2013 to November 2020, conducted by 17 of the leading and independent European tyre magazines. The calculation is based on the number of Goodyear test wins in the year round category over all competitiors tested. Read more
