Everything you need to know about all‑season tires. They are good but not perfect
All-season tires, also known as multi-season tires, are gaining popularity in Poland and there's no doubt that in the coming years they will increasingly replace seasonal tires. More and more car dealers are offering their customers new vehicles equipped with such tires. But what should we know about all-season tires before we decide to buy them? Here are the two most important advantages and two drawbacks worth knowing.
All-season tires are a special type of tires that are adapted during the manufacturing process for use in both summer and winter conditions. The key role here is the optimization of the compound, which becomes relatively hard in the summer, ensuring good traction and resistance to wear, while in winter it remains sufficiently pliable for the tire to function properly at low temperatures. Additionally, the specific tread pattern provides good tire performance in both summer and winter. All of this makes all-season tires versatile, and they can be used throughout the year.
However, in order for a tire to be considered all-season, it must have a special 3PMSF symbol, which is awarded by the manufacturer. Without this symbol, the tire is not considered all-season.
Advantages of all-season tires
1. Universality.
All-season tires are always appropriate for the conditions on the roads, regardless of the time of year. This means drivers don't have to worry about changing tires depending on the weather. A winter tire put on in November can quickly wear down if it's warm and dry, just like a summer tire, which may not work well during an unexpected frost. All-season tires eliminate this problem, ensuring safe driving all year round.
2. Savings.
All-season tires eliminate the need to change tires twice a year, allowing you to save both time and money. In addition, we don't have to worry about storing a second set of tires, which is especially important for people living in apartments who do not have a garage.
Disadvantages of all-season tires
1. Faster wear and tear.
All-season tires, like all other tires, wear out. However, because they are used year-round, their wear is faster. Therefore, all-season tires need to be replaced more often than seasonal tires. What's more, all-season tires are typically more expensive than seasonal tires, which means that even though we save on their replacement, we have to pay more for their purchase.
2. The necessity of regular checks.
All-season tires require regular checks, which means we need to take care of their inspection and potential replacement ourselves. In the case of seasonal tires, these tasks are usually performed by a mechanic during the regular tire change.
In summary, all-season tires are an excellent choice for those who don't have high traction requirements, travel primarily in good road conditions, and don't want to worry about the weather. However, they are not suitable for people who drive dynamically or for those who do not want to regularly check the condition of their tires.
