All-season tires are the universal and most profitable solution in terms of car maintenance. The owner of such rubber does not need to update tires twice a year, which results in significant savings. Nevertheless, operational aspects also make themselves felt, which introduce restrictions on the use of this type of tire. But it depends on the region in which all-season tires are used.
Reviews note that a harsh winter does not contribute to the favorable operation of cars with universal tires. As a result, it is necessary to find a compromise between climatic restrictions and financial and practical expediency.
General information on all-season tires
According to the classical definition, an all-weather tire is a rubber capable of providing sufficient performance in temperature conditions above 0 degrees. The practice of use is not so clear in the conclusions, but initially it is worth adhering to this rule, ignoring the more subtle nuances. The fact is that all-weather tires in winter are not able to demonstrate optimal adhesion to the problematic coating due to the absence of spikes. The tread configuration of such rubber is more likely oriented to a drainage system. On the surface you can find an abundance of branched grooves and lamellas designed for safe pairing in conditions of movement on a watery surface in autumn or spring.
Another feature is the increased hardness of the structure. For the winter period, soft studded tires are used that have sufficient flexibility and tenacity for confident movement on ice and snow. In this case, a typical Scandinavian Velcro rubber is considered, devoid of pronounced protectors. Getting rid of spikes is already connected with the fact that all-weather season is also sharpened for operation in summer conditions, where such inclusions are not required at all. Therefore, it is possible to consider this rubber as a compromise universal option, but not specialized for certain weather conditions.
Varieties of models
Inside the segment, all-season tires differ in the type of so-called treadmill. In essence, this means the direction of the tread pattern. The most common is a symmetrical pattern without directionality, characterized by comfort in control and low noise level. This solution is suitable for premium family or business models where pronounced athletic qualities are not needed. The non-directional asymmetric pattern ensures stable contact with the road under intense loads - for example, when making a sharp turn. Therefore, this option is suitable if you need all-weather tires for SUVs that require tougher control mechanics. Lateral stability also allows the use of such tires in some models of the sports segment.
The directional symmetrical tread is specifically designed for aquaplaning conditions. That is, if it is planned to regularly operate the machine on wet roads, then just directional all-weather tires will do. Reviews indicate that a wide divergence of the grooves of the symmetrical tread provides an effective drainage from the contact spot with the road. This option is often recommended for rear-wheel drive models, because during the passage of the problem area, the front wheels protectors “dry” the coating, which allows you to easily control the rear wheels in the prepared area in the future.
Universal off-road tires
There is a special class of tires marked A / T. In accordance with a strict classification, such tires are not included in the general group of all-season models, but both categories have many similar features. In particular, all-weather tires for SUVs are also designed for operation on hard surfaces, and in off-road conditions with gravel, dirt, etc. Such tires combine balanced driving and comfort qualities. Actually, A / T rubber, which has a more pronounced tread, also has similar properties.
The main thing that makes it difficult to attribute the segment of universal off-road tires is the configuration of the picture. In this case, the tread has a large height, width and contact area. At the same time, the coupling qualities of the A / T modifications guarantee at a higher level, which is already determined by the mass of the car itself. Even all-weather tires on the Niva of a modest standard size R15 will provide sufficient adhesion to the problematic coating due to the tread features.
Year-round rubber specifications
The main characteristic is the already mentioned size. On the market you can find tires with diameters R14-R17 in the middle range. From a safety point of view, the stopping distance is also important. All-season tires are considered by some indicators to be the least reliable, since they have the longest stopping distance. This applies, for example, to braking on a dry surface - on average, it takes 50-52 m. Unless winter tires in such conditions show a less attractive result at 57 m. Not the best indicator in conditions of snow cover - 42 meters versus 29, which winter tires require to stop. However, a lot depends on the tread parameters. So, for ordinary cars and motor vehicles, its depth can be 0.8-1 mm. If all-weather tires on the Niva or a small van are required, then we can talk about 1.5 mm. For buses and trucks, tires with a drawing depth of 2 mm or more are recommended.
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons tire reviews
According to many motorists, this is the best option if you plan to ride on dry and snowy surfaces. The creators of this rubber provided it with diverse characteristics, which ultimately affected the balance in the accuracy of the reactions and the overall reliability of the control. Only a large braking distance has become a serious drawback, which is characterized by this all-weather rubber. Reviews of pure winter operation note that rubber is suitable for regions with European gentle frosts. However, experimenting in harsh Siberian conditions is not recommended.
As for the wet autumn cover, the behavior of the Vector 4Seasons tires is consistent with typical summer tires. But the developers still made the main emphasis on light snow coverings, which not every universal velcro rubber can handle.
Reviews tires "Kama Euro-224"
In Russia, this is one of the most popular options representing the all-season tire segment. Users point to two main advantages - optimal traction under any conditions and strength indicators. On the other hand, the Kama all-weather tires are very noisy and give a feeling of stiffness, which also does not contribute to comfort, especially if the surface is uneven and you have to deal with pits and small bumps.
In terms of seasonal operation, this solution can hardly be called universal. Both in the behavior on the snow cover, and in riding on a dry track, there are some flaws. For example, fresh snow can clog the tread, resulting in forgetting the hitch. In summer, the all-weather tires "Kama" proves worthy, if you do not take into account certain nuances in aquaplaning. Wet asphalt is hard for this rubber, but without losing reliable contact with the coating.
Yokohama Geolandar tire reviews
In this line, the modification H / TS G051 deserves attention. On a normal road, tires demonstrate sufficient directional stability, good handling and optimal shutter speed when aquaplaning. Not every all-season tires boasts a combination of such advantages.
Reviews about the shortcomings of this model, however, are also there. They indicate difficulties when driving on mud and snow. There is a loss of coupling with a decrease in stability. In general, for off-road and harsh winters, this option is not suitable. You can count on stable handling and noiselessness only on dry or wet asphalt. For such a coating, perhaps this is the best all-season rubber of the existing offers on the market.
Price issue
Quality tires cost about 4-6 thousand rubles per set. For example, the mentioned modification from Goodyear is available for 4.5 thousand on average. You can also find models worth about 1.5-2 thousand. But it is important to understand that all-season tires, prices for which are below the level of 3,000, are more likely to be made on the basis of low-quality mixtures. In practice, this means a decrease in wear resistance, reliability and durability.
How to choose the best option?
By their purpose, such tires are universal. However, each season will have its own drawback, since it is simply impossible to fully meet the requirements of both winter and summer operation.
For example, the best all-weather tires in winter are those whose surface has narrow treads that allow them to maintain sufficient grip and are not clogged with snow. In summer and in rainy weather, on the contrary, a pattern with wide slats is required for efficient drainage. As a result, the choice should be reduced to specific operational nuances and the need to sacrifice certain characteristics.