All seasons over summer tyres (for all year round)

[lordrobs]

For most people a good quality summer tyre will be fine even in light snow or ice. The better ones don't noticeably lose performance until temperatures get down to freezing either unlike the low end through to mid-range stuff which can often noticeably change at around 7C or below. All-seasons I'd consider if you are for example commuting a long distance to work or like myself often doing back roads which may be untreated and potentially required to be out any time of day or night or weather. Even if it is only 1-2 days a year that can mean nothing else cuts it.

I'd say that long journeys aren't really a factor. It is pretty rare that a long journey will not include a fair chunk of main roads which will be gritted anyway and well travelled with other road users. It's often that first and last mile that get you on the untreated roads that you can come unstuck on. My wife covers next to no miles but the country roads between our and her parents can be pretty sketchy.

Our old estate was really strange in the winter, the road would freeze solid at the slightest hint of a frost and be like an ice rink if you added a bit of rain into the mix. New house is accessed via a private road which, from the one little bit of snow we've had so far, has just enough traffic to create a surface that a Zamboni machine would be proud of. As you rightly pointed out though we managed for years with just summer tyres. Depends what you value most I guess.

 

[Rroff]

I'd say that long journeys aren't really a factor. It is pretty rare that a long journey will not include a fair chunk of main roads which will be gritted anyway and well travelled with other road users. It's often that first and last mile that get you on the untreated roads that you can come unstuck on. My wife covers next to no miles but the country roads between our and her parents can be pretty sketchy.

Our old estate was really strange in the winter, the road would freeze solid at the slightest hint of a frost and be like an ice rink if you added a bit of rain into the mix. New house is accessed via a private road which, from the one little bit of snow we've had so far, has just enough traffic to create a surface that a Zamboni machine would be proud of. As you rightly pointed out though we managed for years with just summer tyres. Depends what you value most I guess.

Longer commutes you have more potential for being caught out by a change in the weather, especially if you can't just drop everything and leave. Though especially in the south that rarely happens these days but still.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

all season seems to be a harder compound version of winter tyres. using winter tyres with their soft compound wears them out fast in summer. in this country id say winter is not bad enough to warrant the actual use of winter tyres and all seasons do well on the tyrereviews.com youtube channel tests.

if you got a high powered or sporty car it may be beneficial to have summer tyres over all season however stuff like the michelin cross climate seems to do really well in summer conditions wile something like goodyear vector4seasons does better in winter conditions but trades off in summer performance use.

swings and roundabouts

 

[smr]

I buy all season tyres, wouldn't go for any other tyre now when buying them.