Guide to All Season vs All Weather Tires

All-season? All-weather? Some other type of tire? Drivers have lots of tire options to choose from. The challenge is finding the tire that works best for you, and determining this is based on driving preference and what the weather is like where you live.

Consider this post a guide to all-season and all-weather tires to help you determine what type would be best for you:

Key Differences Between All-Season and All-Weather Tires

You might think that all-season and all-weather tires are the same, but there are key differences between these types of tires. So what are the key differences? All-season tires are ideal for year-round driving in moderate climates. All-weather tires, conversely, are ideal for year-round driving in areas that experience more inclement weather.

Due to a shallow tread pattern and narrow grooves, all-season tires are designed to maintain traction and ensure performance in various temperatures and conditions, while all-weather tires are crafted in a way that helps them stay more flexible in cold conditions, rather than harden and become stiffer. All-weather tires also tend to have deeper tread grooves, which make it easier for them to grip the road in unfavorable driving conditions.

All-Season Tires: Pros and Cons

The biggest benefit of all-season tires is their versatility. Fitting to the name, they're designed to perform well in every season, albeit they do tend to perform best in areas with mild winters and favorable year-round temperatures. All-season tires also offer good stability in dry weather and can help your vehicle stop quickly in the right conditions. However, they do tend to be less resistant than other types of tires, so tread wear may occur more quickly.

All-Weather Tires: Pros and Cons

All-weather tires are ideal tires for year-round driving and offer better traction than all-season tires in winter conditions thanks to their deeper tread pattern. However, they tend not to offer quite as smooth of a ride as all-season tires. Additionally, if you live in a climate with hot summers, the tread may wear faster compared to all-season tires.

Choosing the Right Tires for Your Climate

So what tires are best for your vehicle - all-season or all-weather? It really depends on where you live.

If you live in an area with mild year-round temperatures, your best option is probably all-season tires. However, if you live in an area that experiences multiple seasons and receives significant snowfall during the winter months, the deeper tread of all-weather tires is likely to suit your vehicle better than all-season tires.

Another option is to purchase an additional set of tires and swap out the appropriate tires according to the season. For example, many drivers who live in areas that receive significant winter weather will opt to purchase a set of snow tires and equip their vehicles with these tires during winter. Snow tires are made from a softer rubber that stays flexible in colder weather. They also feature deep grooves and slits that help channel snow away from the tire, making it easier to drive in such conditions. Snow tires are best installed on a vehicle when temperatures consistently are below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. However, snow tires should be quickly replaced with all-season tires once temperatures regularly exceed this temperature in the spring to prevent accelerated tread wear in warmer weather conditions.

Tread Design and Performance Factors

Tire performance is largely in the tread design, with key factors that include overall tread groove depth and the number of sipes, or slits, they feature.

For example, all-season tires tend to have a more shallow tread depth than all-weather and snow tires, which makes them more suitable for driving in various conditions. Conversely, all-weather tires tend to have deeper tread depth, which helps maintain a grip on the road when conditions are snowy or icy. And snow tires have even deeper tread depths than this. Additionally, snow tires also have a lot of slits, which allows these tires to better funnel slush and snow away from the tire itself and promote a smoother, safer overall ride.

To learn more about tire tread design and how it impacts vehicle performance, schedule an appointment at your local GreatWater garage. Our professional technicians will be happy to explain how tread depths and sipes impact performance in various weather conditions.

When to Replace or Upgrade Your Tires

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, all drivers should replace their tires when the tread reaches 2/32" or less. Regardless of the type of tire, 2/32" is when tires become unsafe to drive on. This is the point where the tread depth impacts stopping distances and can also affect steering and handling. Here are some other guidelines on when to replace or upgrade your tires:

Replace:

• If your tires are more than 6 years old. This is the point where rubber tends to wear down and lead to performance issues.
• If there's visible damage, notably to the sidewall.
• If your tires are having a difficult time keeping air pressure. This could be indicative of damage.
• If you're heading out on a road trip and your tire tread depth is getting low.

Upgrade:

• If you're not satisfied with your all-season tire performance during winter driving conditions, consider upgrading to all-weather as your year-round tire or snow tires during the winter season.
• If you move to a region with a different climate. Say that you move from the Southwest to the Midwest. All-season tires were probably fine in the warmer year-round climate of the Southwest, but you might benefit more from all-weather tires if you move to an area that receives regular snowfall.

Contact A Shop Today

For more information on all-season and all-weather tires, and what option might be best for your vehicle, contact your local GreatWater-affiliated location today. As a network of full-service auto centers, we do everything - from engines and transmissions to tires. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and discuss your tire options.