All-season tires are adapted to driving on wet and dry surfaces. They are the most common type of tires due to their versatility. Here are a few tips for choosing the right tires for your vehicle and some product recommendations.
What’s The Best All-Season Tires? Top Nine Revealed
You should replace your tires every five years to avoid driving in unsafe conditions. If you notice signs of damage or excessive wear and tear, replace your tires as soon as possible. All season tires are suitable for a wide range of environments and climates and are more than likely adapted to your needs. Here are a few recommendations to help you shop for new tires.
How We Chose Our Ratings
We compared different tires and assigned ratings according to these criteria:
Manufacturer
We looked for tires sold by well-known manufacturers who have a positive reputation and offer warranties on their products.
Safety rating
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues safety ratings for tires. We checked these ratings to select the best tires.
Performance
We looked at factors such as traction, handling, and braking to rate these tires.
Durability
We chose tires made from durable materials to reduce risks of damages and make sure you get your money’s worth.
Size selection
The tires we recommend come in different sizes so you can easily find new tires for your vehicle.
Top Nine All-Season Tires
Here are a few options to consider if you need a new set of tires.
Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS All-Season Radial Tire
These Bridgestone tires are suitable for sport utility vehicles, SUVs, and some light utility trucks. If you are looking for performing and durable tires, this product is a great fit for you.The symmetric design of the tread pattern includes improves handling when you turn and brake. The closed-shoulders are an interesting design feature that will improve handling on wet surfaces. The tread pattern includes some lateral grooves combined with deeper ridges.
This design is ideal for pushing water out of the way so you don’t lose traction on wet roads. These all-season tires can handle wet surfaces and light snow thanks to their silica compound that sticks to the road. The internal structure of the tires included some steel and nylon components that will improve durability. The tires are available in 17 and 18” sizes. The width options available include 225, 235, and 245mm. The speed rating of the tires varies between H, V, and T depending on the size you choose.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
These tires stand out thanks to the comfortable and quiet riding experience they provide. They are designed for SUVs and trucks. The symmetric design of the tread pattern includes some deep grooves to get light snow and rain out of the way. The tread pattern is also designed to deliver optimal handling and braking in a wide range of conditions.
The tread depth of 12/32” is slightly deeper than what you will typically find on all-season tires. These Michelin tires are ideal if you need some heavy-duty tires that you can use to drive in snowy conditions on an occasional basis. It’s interesting to note that these tires are designed to be durable and to improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. They have a speed rating of T and are available in different sizes that fit SUVs and trucks, but not smaller vehicles.
Goodyear Assurance Tripletred
These Goodyear tires feature three different tread surfaces. You will find deep V-shaped grooves in the center of the tires and some slightly curved treads on the edges of the tires. This design choice results in improved traction on dry and wet surfaces.
Having different tread surfaces increases the contact of the tires with the road whether you are driving on a wet or dry surface.The structure of the tire uses steel and polyester. These are durable tires that will keep their shape for years.The sizes available vary from 15 to 18.”
The width of the tires varies between 195 and 235mm. You will find three different speed ratings, including H, T, and V depending on the size you need. Overall, these Goodyear tires are ideal if you want versatile tires that will help you drive confidently on a wide range of surfaces and in different weather conditions. It should be easy to find tires for your vehicle thanks to the many different sizes available.
Yokohama AVID Ascend GT
We recommend these tires if your priority is a comfortable and quiet ride. These Yokohama tires are also designed for durability thanks to their tread block bridges that prevent the tread pattern from losing its original shape. These tires have a good selection of features to provide traction and optimal handling on dry and wet surfaces. The Orange Oil compound used on the tire rubber is adapted to a wide range of environments.
The edges of the tread pattern deliver excellent contact and grip on snowy or wet conditions, and the grooves of the tires will prevent hydroplaning. These tires feature an asymmetric pattern to ensure even wear and tear on the surface of the tires. The low rolling resistance will improve your driving experience.
These tires are available in diameters ranging from 15 to 19” and fit a wide range of vehicles. The narrowest tires have a width of 175mm while the largest one has a width of 255m. The speed rating is either H or V depending on the size of the tires.
General Altimax RT43
We like these all-season tires because they are designed to provide optimal contact with the road. The center rib of the tread pattern ensures that the tires are always making full contact with the surface you drive on, and the ridges you will find on the side help reduce noise while getting water out of the way.
The silica compound these tires are coated with also contribute to optimal contact and handling. There are steel and polyester cords inside of the tires to improve strength and durability. The design of the internal structure of the tires is interesting because it reduces distortion. This will make the tires last longer and ensure that they don’t lose their shape.
These tires are comfortable, quiet, versatile, and come in many different sizes. You will find diameters that vary from 14 to 20,” which makes these tires ideal if you have a smaller car.
Overall, these tires are an excellent choice because of the comfort and noise reduction, but there are other options to consider if performance and handling are your top priorities.
Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max
These are some of the best tires available for crossovers and SUVs. The tread of the tires is designed to lower the rolling resistance when you drive. This provides a more comfortable driving experience and makes a difference in terms of fuel efficiency. The shoulders of the tires feature deep grooves to get water out of your way and deliver the traction you need to safely drive on wet roads.
These Goodyear tires are excellent if you are looking for grip in wet conditions. The handling and comfortable experience delivered by these tires make the product stand out. The only downside if that these tires are designed for crossovers and SUVs, which limits the sizes available. The sizes range from 16 to 18,” and the width of the tires varies between 215 and 255mm.
The tires feature a standard speed rating of T. We highly recommend these tires if you are looking for optimal handling and grip on wet and dry surfaces for your crossover or SUV.
Continental Extreme Contact DWS
These high-performance tires are suitable for driving on wet roads, dry surfaces, and in snowy conditions. There are designed for a wide range of vehicles, including sports cars, coupes, sedans, and trucks.
We recommend these tires if you are looking for tires that are more performing that typically all-season tires and are likely to drive on snow and ice for at least a few weeks each year.The silica compound is one of the standout features of these tires.
The compound significantly improves grip and traction on wet roads. We also like the asymmetrical design of the tread pattern. The sturdy shoulder blocks improve handling and make your vehicle more responsive.
The tires feature a wrap-around rib that is closer to the outer shoulder of the tire. This feature will improve the stability of your vehicle, especially if you drive a sports car. The deep grooves in the center of the tire are perfect for getting rid of water, snow, or slush. The size selection is somewhat of a downside for these tires. This is still a product to consider if you are looking for a performing tire.
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season
These Pirelli tires are a good compromise between performance and safety. They are designed for crossovers and SUVs. These tires deliver excellent fuel efficiency. If you are looking for extended mileage and would like to save money on gas, these tires represent an excellent investment.
You will find three deep grooves that wrap around the tire to prevent hydroplaning and improve handling in wet conditions. The other elements of the tread pattern are designed to improve contact with the road while reducing noise.
The internal structure of the tire should also be mentioned. This structure is designed to reduce pressure on the tires. You will find diameters that vary between 16 and 22,” and can choose from tires with a tread depth of 10/32 or 11/32.”
Bridgestone Potenza S-04
These all season tires are probably your best bet if you live in an area with a lot of precipitation. These Bridgestone tires stand out thanks to their safety feature and steering response on wet roads. They also deliver good traction in snow.
The asymmetrical design makes these tires safe and responsive in a wide range of conditions. You will find that the grooves of the tread pattern help reduce noise while the deeper grooves get water and snow out of your way. The strong shoulder blocks improve the durability of the tires and deliver a precise response, especially in corners.
The diameters available range from 17 to 20,” which makes these tires suitable for a wide range of vehicles. These tires are an option to consider if you need all-season tires that can withstand rain and snow.
All Season Tires Shopping Guide
Shopping for new tires can be a daunting task since you will encounter specs you might not be familiar with. Here is a quick breakdown of what to look for when shopping for new tires.
Are All Season Tires Right For You?
Depending on where you live, summer or winter tires might be a better choice for you. Summer tires are designed for optimal handling and braking on dry surfaces. These tires are suitable for driving and braking on wet surfaces as well. The tread pattern of summer tires isn’t ideal for driving on snow and in other tough conditions. If you live in an area with warm and dry weather, summer tires are your best option.
Winter tires are a must-have safety feature on your vehicle if you live in a cold climate. These tires are designed to deliver a comfortable ride and optimal traction on roads covered in snow or ice. The handling and braking performance of these tires is inferior to other types of tires, but the tread pattern, tread depth, and edge design will help you drive in wet or snowy conditions.
All season tires are a compromise between summer and winter tires. These tires have characteristics of summer and winter tires without any of their restrictions. You won’t get optimal traction in snowy condition with the tread pattern and depth of an all-season tire, but comfort and handling will be much better when compared to the performance of a summer tire. Unless you live in an extremely cold area, all-season tires are very likely adapted to your needs and will deliver optimal performance and handling as the weather changes.
Size, Load Index, And Speed Rating
You can find specs that correspond to the size, load index, and speed rating of a tire by looking at its sidewall. The diameter and width of the tire should match the wheels installed on your car.
The speed rating of a tire indicates the maximum speed at which you can safely drive. A tire with a high speed rating will typically perform better and deliver better handling.
Tires with S and T speed ratings are suitable for most vehicles. If you are looking for better performance, think about getting tires with a speed rating of H or V.
You can also find ultra-high-performance tires. You will notice a difference in handling and in how responsive the tires are, but might find that tires with a lower speed rating are better for braking. Speed ratings of ZR, W, and Y fall in this category.
The load index of a tire is another important spec to look at. The load index indicates the weight the tire can support. Make sure it corresponds to the weight of your vehicle.
You will also come across bias and radial tires when shopping for new tires. Radial tires use steel for their structure while bias tires use nylon and polyester. Both are suitable for most vehicles, but radial tires are more durable thanks to their stronger structural integrity.
Tread Depth And Pattern
The tread depth and pattern of a tire aren’t crucial concerns if you live in an area with mild weather. Keep in mind that deeper grooves will give you more traction while the design of the tread can impact handling and durability.
If you live in an area with a lot of precipitation, look for tires with grooves designed to push the water out of the way. Tires with sticky compounds that improve traction in wet conditions will make your vehicle safer.
The tread depth of an all-season tire is either 10/32 or 11/32.” A tire with a tread depth of 11/32” will last a little longer and might provide more traction, but this is a very slight difference.
You will come across tires with symmetric and asymmetric tread patterns. An asymmetric tread pattern will make up for uneven wear and tear. The outer shoulder of a tire tends to get used up more quickly due to the increased wear and tear when you accelerate or turn, but an asymmetric pattern will ensure that wear and tear is as even as possible.
The tires recommended above cover a wide range of needs and should be suitable for your vehicle. Don’t hesitate to look at other options while keeping these shopping tips in mind if you can’t find a good match for your vehicle in our recommendations.