All tires are sorted and presented by cost from expensive to cheaper.

A relatively new model in the line of the French brand, introduced in 2015. The tire is designed for passenger cars, but is also available for crossovers and SUVs.

The tire has a pronounced directional tread pattern with deep drainage channels and is positioned as a summer tire, with the potential for year-round use even in conditions of sudden snowfall.

When developing the model, special attention was paid to the composition of the rubber mixture, which includes silica, functional polymers and plasticizers, which not only improves the tire's grip on the road, but also increases its wear resistance and fuel efficiency.

In tests, it reveals its best qualities on dry and wet asphalt, where it surpasses many winter models in braking distance and handling, but is inferior to them in traction on snow (although not all, and only slightly).

Premium all-season tire with a directional tread pattern from the German concern, introduced in 2017. The model is aimed at small and medium-sized passenger cars that are used in regions with mild winters. It consistently takes leading positions in tests and shows very balanced results in all disciplines.

Quatrac is one of the most famous all-season series from the Dutch company.

The fifth model was released in 2014 and, like its predecessor, has an asymmetrical tread pattern, which is conventionally divided into two halves: the inner “winter” and the outer “summer”. The winter side has many deep zigzag sipes that are responsible for traction on snow and on many surfaces. On the summer half, the sipes are less deep and straight, which is necessary for better grip on asphalt.

In general, this is a fairly balanced tire, which in many disciplines, although slightly, is superior to most all-season analogues (including more expensive ones).

Pirelli Cinturato All Season

A tire with a directional tread pattern from an Italian manufacturer.

Therefore, combined with a relatively low price, this is a good balanced tire for year-round use.

With the arrival of the new season, car owners, as a rule, begin to choose tires and replace them in order to ensure safe driving on the road in certain weather conditions. Driving on icy and dry road surfaces has certain features that only appropriate tires can cope with. Many people prefer winter and summer options, which perform best under certain climatic conditions.

But some drivers want to save money and buy universal tires, as confirmed by numerous tires designed specifically for driving on wet and dry asphalt, as well as on snowy surfaces. That is why it is practical, which is very important for many.

Why do you need all-season tires?

All-season tires are a truly revolutionary development. They eliminate the need for “re-shoeing” depending on the change of season, and besides, their cost is significantly lower than their seasonal counterparts. But be that as it may, each driver has a different attitude towards the use of such tires. You can verify this by reading the comments of consumers who leave both positive and negative reviews.

All-season tires were largely created for the mild European climate, where there are no too low temperatures and harsh winters. That is why this type of tire is in greater demand abroad than on domestic roads. The all-season rubber marking, which represents the letters M+S, which means Mud and Snow, will help you recognize the versatility of a tire.

Choosing the right tires

The choice of all-season tires should be made based on many factors, based on the characteristics of the vehicle’s operation. First you need to pay attention to the composition of the material. To drive as safely as possible on all-season tires in winter, it is better to buy tires that use thermoactive additives during manufacture. Such tires are characterized by moderate hardness, due to which they do not harden in the cold and retain their elastic properties. In summer, this composition prevents the rubber from melting when driving on hot asphalt, ensuring stable and stable control.

Another point to pay attention to when purchasing is reviews. All-season tires are used by many drivers. They often share their impressions. Therefore, everyone can familiarize themselves with the experiences of other consumers and draw certain conclusions for themselves. But one of the most important components of choosing the right tires is the tread pattern.

Types of protectors

Traditionally, all-season tires are made with one of the following tread types:

• symmetrical directional;
• asymmetrical directional;
• symmetrical non-directional;
• asymmetrical non-directional.

Protector Features

The directional pattern is suitable for driving on wet road surfaces. Therefore, for areas with rainy weather, this option will be the best. Thanks to the special arrangement of the grooves, the tire effectively removes water from the point of contact of the wheel with the road. In this case, the occurrence and, accordingly, aquaplaning is prevented. But it is important to note that the installation of this type of tire must be done correctly, otherwise the tire will do exactly the opposite. A special arrow shown on the surface of the product will help you install the tires correctly.

Non-directional tread is more common, as evidenced by numerous reviews. All-season tires of this type are characterized by maintaining their tread properties, regardless of the direction of rotation of the wheel. The car is held equally stable both when moving forward and backward. The peculiarity of the symmetrical pattern is that it is the same on the outside and inside of the tire. The asymmetrical version is distinguished by the visual division of the tire into two parts. The inner one is designed to conquer wet road surfaces, while the outer one performs well when driving on dry asphalt.

Advantages of all-season tires

Many people wonder whether it is worth using all-season tires in the winter. Of course, in summer the conditions for movement are more comfortable and safe, so there are no special problems here. During the cold season on the roads, the risk of accidents and skids increases, which all-season tires cannot always cope with. Is it possible to drive in winter or not? There is no definite answer to this question, because everything depends on many factors, namely:

Thus, driving in winter on all-season tires is generally possible only if you first select them correctly.

Pros of all-purpose tires

As for the advantages and disadvantages, many drivers have noticed the presence of both in relation to all-season tires. So why should you choose all-purpose tires? There are several arguments in their favor:

• No need to regularly visit a tire shop.
• Lower cost compared to seasonal analogues.
• Reduced noise level.
• Possibility of using rubber all year round.

Disadvantages of “all-season”

But along with all the advantages, there are also certain disadvantages that such tires have:

Thus, all-season tires have advantages and disadvantages, which are very important to consider when choosing products. It is also necessary to take into account the conditions in which the tires are intended to be used. For those who primarily travel around the city, you can buy almost any tire. For fans of high-speed driving, all-season tires may not be suitable, since when driving too fast they do not provide sufficient stability and precision control. This can be fraught with dire consequences, so do not neglect basic recommendations.

Popular tire models

Modern all-purpose tire manufacturers use a variety of technologies and introduce innovations to improve the quality of rubber. Perhaps in the near future they will develop tires that will truly be universal and practical in any weather.

But today there are also good all-season tires that are ready to become a worthy replacement for many winter and summer analogues. Among the most popular and recognized by many consumers are the following tires:

High-quality tires are the key to safe driving

The choice of tires is a purely individual matter, but it should be based on generally accepted standards. This includes the composition of the mixture, marking of all-season tires, tread type, cost of the product, manufacturer, etc. Therefore, before making a purchase, it is recommended to familiarize yourself in detail with the specifics of the rubber and compare it with the specific operating conditions. In this case, you will be able to choose tires that maximize safe movement on both dry and wet asphalt.

But be that as it may, seasonal tires do their job better. If the issue of safety is acute, then it is better to give preference to such products.

And passenger cars are a compromise between summer and winter tires. It has only part of the characteristics of seasonal tires, thanks to which it can maintain more or less stable control all year round. Which tires are better for Moscow, and should you give preference to all-season tires? Let's see how professionals choose tires.

What are all-season tires?

The whole trick of the all-season tire is the asymmetrical tread, the inner side of which is designed for driving on snow, and the outer side for draining water and better traction in the rain. The composition of the rubber is also important; if hard tires in summer will provide the best grip and less wear, and soft tires in winter will allow you to overcome snowy and icy roads more safely, then all-season tires with medium hardness will allow you to cope with both types of tracks with half success.

Asymmetric tires for jeeps and cars look like this:

• the outer side with the inscription Outside is softer, has a self-cleaning tread consisting of slat blocks, which is adapted for crushing snow;
• the inner side marked Inside is more rigid, has a large number of drainage grooves and is designed for drainage in the contact patch with the road surface.

The rubber composition is chosen so that it does not harden too much in winter and does not float too much in summer. At the same time, it is stiff enough to slowly wear out on a dry summer track and soft enough to feel relatively safe in the snow. However, at low temperatures there is an increase in braking distance and a decrease in traction.

Marking

It’s easy to navigate the store’s assortment by markings - you should choose tires by looking at the inscriptions and drawings on the side edge of the wheel. Tire manufacturers use several marking options: All Seasons (AS), Any Weather (AW), “M&S”, “M+S”. In the case of “M&S” and “M+S”, clarification is necessary, since some manufacturers use this abbreviation to designate summer tires (despite the decoding: Mud (M) - “dirt”, Snow (S) - “snow.”).

Is it worth buying all-season tires?

Auto tests for major automotive publications annually confirm a not very pleasant fact - the better the quality of the tires, the more expensive they are. However, in a comparison of all-season tires, winter velcro and studded tires, winter tires always win. All-season models demonstrate the following indicators:

• 34-60% worse on ice than Velcro, and 90% worse than studded ones;
• 31-82% worse on snow than Velcro, and 37-85% worse than studded ones.

In addition, such tires have a number of disadvantages:

• increased noise;
• increased fuel consumption;
• accelerated tire wear;
• deteriorated dynamics.

When should you buy these tires? The choice of all-season tires is determined in the following cases:

• winter in the region is mild, there is little precipitation, the temperature is above zero;
• There are not enough funds to buy two sets of tires;
• there is no place to store summer/winter tires;
• there is a desire to save on replacing tires in the service;
• I want to feel more confident in the off-season (relevant if you have both winter and summer tires in your collection).

By wearing all-season shoes, you won’t have to wait in line for service in the off-season and spend twice as much money on 2 sets of tires. In addition, in mild climates in winter, such “footwear” behaves much better than “specialists” in harsh winters and damages the road surface less.

Is it possible to operate an all-season vehicle in Moscow? In this region it is recommended for summer, autumn and spring rather than winter. During snowfalls in Moscow, when the road is covered with a thick layer of snow and ice, it is advisable to change into more serious models.

Choosing tires for an SUV - performance assessment

Which all-season tires to choose? To evaluate which all-season tires are better, you need to pay attention to the tread pattern, tire shape and rubber compound composition. Equally important are such characteristics as aquaplaning, the ability of rubber to maintain properties at low and high temperatures, road grip, and a reduction in braking distance.

Which all-season tires are best for an SUV? Let's consider the main evaluation categories:

• Maneuverability in the snow. For all-season tires it will always be lower than for winter tires. If your plans for the winter involve driving on snowy roads at high speed, it is better to avoid all-season models.
• Braking in the snow. As a rule, tires demonstrate good braking due to the presence of a self-cleaning tread on the outside.
• Sliding on loose snow. The models under consideration do not cope with this work; winter tires take the lead here.
• Handling on wet asphalt. All-season models demonstrate a short braking distance and better aquaplaning, sometimes even better than summer models.
• Ride comfort. This indicator directly depends on the manufacturer and cost. The innovative rubber compounds of the best Jeep tires provide excellent performance.

In addition, we should not forget about the types of rubber depending on operating conditions:

• with a focus on summer - smoothed proctor for better traction on dry/wet roads, not recommended for use on snow in winter;
• for country trips - a tread with many outlets to remove snow, dirt and water, well suited for driving on the highway at high speeds not only in Moscow, but also in the Moscow region;
• for driving on snow - they have good grip, are soft, suitable for use on snow and mud, but are noisy on dry asphalt and interfere with acceleration.

Each manufacturer is good in one or another or in several areas; it is impossible to single out one ideal tire model. What to wear for your car or SUV is decided based on the conditions in which you plan to use the tires: the ratio of rainy, snowy, dry days a year, the intensity of snowfalls, the rate of temperature changes and temperature extremes. When choosing all-season vehicles in Moscow, it is recommended to opt for more expensive and serious models due to changeable and harsh weather conditions.

Good tires for a car are not only a guarantee of the safety of you and all the passengers who are in the car with you. Good tires mean driving pleasure and confidence in every driving situation. Today, among the constantly growing assortment, it is quite difficult to make such an important choice, and most importantly, not to make a mistake.

Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with several models of all-season tires that will save money and also guarantee maximum safety.

Rating of the best all-season tires 2016 - 2017

1st place: Michelin Premier A/S

The rating of the best all-season tires of 2015 opens with the Michelin Premier A/S model. This model is the new flagship of Michelin in the class of all-season tires. Premier A/S provides maximum grip on wet and slippery road surfaces. In addition, a car shod with these tires has excellent handling, short braking distances and fuel efficiency, even on snowy roads. Manufacturers claim that innovative technologies and high-strength materials were used in the development of this model. Wheels are most optimal for compact ones.

2nd place: General Altimax RT43

Next in the ranking are the General Altimax RT43 tires. This set of tires is considered the best in terms of price-quality ratio. Altimax RT43 provides a high level of comfort and good grip. The model is designed to minimize tread wear. At the same time, the prices for a set of tires are much lower than those of premium brands, and as a bonus you receive a factory guarantee for tread wear resistance for 120,000 km.

3rd place: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 all-season tires offer ultra-high performance and the best grip in their class. Sipes of different thicknesses provide reliable grip in wet snow conditions. When the road is dry, the sipes close together, providing excellent steering control and long service life.

4th place: Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season PLUS

The quietest all-season tire is the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season PLUS. The wheels have been specially designed for safety, good grip and durability. The special tread pattern and engineering “tricks” of the manufacturers together contributed to a quiet and quiet ride without noise. The wheels are also designed to reduce rolling resistance, reducing fuel consumption and extending wheel life.

5th place: Michelin Defender

Michelin Defender tires are the best standard tires for a passenger car, with a 145,000 km warranty. These tires provide confident driving, safety, as well as a quiet and economical ride. IntelliSipe technology provides more sipes on the wheel, which gives the wheel tread “blocks” greater rigidity.

6th place: Michelin LTX M/S2

For crossovers, all-season tires Michelin LTX M/S2 are considered optimal. The reason for their popularity is their high performance, excellent grip and excellent drainage system, which can significantly reduce braking distances on wet surfaces. The wheels are built on steel belts, which ensures a long service life and allows you to transport fairly heavy loads.

7th place: Firestone Destination LE2

The budget version of wheels for SUVs and crossovers is represented by the Firestone Destination LE2 model. These tires provide a quiet and comfortable ride. A bonus is high performance in all road conditions. Continuous "shoulder" blocks of a closed nature provide maximum grip and excellent handling in dry road conditions. Grooves, wavy sipes and zigzag sipes in the tread allow the car to remain perfectly controlled in wet road conditions.

8th place: Continental Extreme Contact DWS

Continental ExtremeContact DWS is the best choice for SUV owners who love to put their foot down on the gas pedal. This model provides maximum grip, is designed for high speeds and has a short braking distance. Note the asymmetrical tread pattern. It is thanks to this shape that the wheels perform well in dry, wet and snowy weather conditions. And optimized rolling resistance allows you to save some fuel.

9th place: Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season PLUS

The Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season PLUS model best meets the criteria for a quiet and comfortable ride on a crossover or SUV. The company's new technologies have made it possible to provide exceptional handling, provide comfort and quietness, and also extend the life of a set of all-season tires.

10th place: Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenz PLUS

The Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenz PLUS tire set is designed not only for maximum fuel efficiency, but also has an excellent aesthetic appearance due to the lateral grooves in the tread. In addition, the wheels have a tread wear guarantee of 110,000 km. The tread itself is made from 5% recycled rubber.

11th place: Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring and Cooper Discoverer H/T plus

The list of the best all-season tires for 2016-2017 is completed by two models: Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring and Cooper Discoverer H/T plus. The first is for sedans and minivans, and the second is for crossovers and SUVs.

Depending on the climate you live in, seasonal changes can range from slight to extreme. Some areas of Russia have a very temperate climate with a rainy winter season and hot summers. Others experience short, hot summers followed by long, very cold and snowy winters. All-season tires are not suitable for all regions and driving conditions. So, the climate in which you live should determine your attitude towards all-season tires.

In the article we will look at the pros and cons of all-season tires, how to choose them, including what all-season tires are for SUVs (UAZ Patriot and other models in particular), Gazelle and what sizes all-season tires come in.

What is all-season

All-season tires are tires that perform best in moderate conditions. Compared to winter tires or summer tires, all-season tires handle a variety of weather conditions better than others. They are versatile, which is good news. The bad thing is that this versatility means, according to many reviews of the all-season vehicle, that it behaves poorly in both heat and cold.

Pros and cons of all-season tires

But above we noted not the only advantages and disadvantages of the all-season model. In fact, rubber has its own characteristics, and the requirements for operation in different weather conditions dictate to its manufacturers the high quality of materials from which such rubber must be made.

pros	Minuses
Savings due to year-round use: no need to keep 2 sets of tires for one car and pay for tire fitting services	Reduced ride efficiency at temperatures averaging below 2-10 o C
Ride comfort	Not suitable for severe frost or snowfall
Reduced noise level in winter	Poor performance on ice
Versatility	Higher price for all-season tires than for summer tires
Excellent wet weather performance for most all-season tires
Longer tread life

However, individual performance will vary with the different models of tires available. Some tires are also labeled M+S, which means they are better suited for driving in mud and snow. These tires will have better traction.

Also, do not forget that the behavior of all-season tires on SUVs, as well as small trucks like the Gazelle, will be different. In general, all-season tires feel good on UAZ Patriots and other models in sizes 75 r16c and above, that is, with not very wide dimensions and a fairly high profile and radius, but the leading criterion is, of course, the weight of the vehicle itself, which uses all-season tires tires.

How are these tires designed?

When tire manufacturers develop all-season tires, the main factors they consider are:

• tread wear durability,
• Possibility of water drainage in wet conditions,
• road noise,
• ride comfort.

Other factors, such as cold weather, play a factor, but to a lesser extent.

Tread wear life is rated based on average use under normal operating conditions for various vehicle types. For all-season tires, it depends mainly on the composition and density of the rubber, and affects the ability to maintain grip with a minimum amount of wear. A harder rubber compound will have longer tread life but will lose traction more easily, while a softer rubber compound will have better traction in a variety of conditions but will be more susceptible to wear.

The ability of all-season tires to remove water from their tread prevents a condition known as hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is when the tire's contact patch is unable to clear water from the road quickly enough to contact the road surface, and essentially rides on top of the watery surface. This is a very dangerous phenomenon for the driver and passengers of the car. Tire manufacturers design their tread blocks so that water flows from the middle of the tread outward. The channels and lines cut into the tread blocks are known as "grooves".

A tire's tread pattern also plays a role in the amount of noise transmitted into the vehicle's interior. Tire designs include alternating or stepped tread blocks to minimize droning noise from road contact. Road noise is an issue at highway speeds, and poorly designed tires are noticeably noisier than higher quality tires.

The rubber used in an all-season tire is resilient and stiff enough to create harsh impacts that transmit vibration from the impacts into the cabin. To improve ride comfort, tire manufacturers strategically design the sidewall to be softer and allow the tire to go over potholes and potholes more smoothly. In general, the smaller the sidewall, called the profile, the stiffer your ride will be. Moreover, the profile is measured as a percentage of the tire width, and its larger indicator does not always mean that the profile is actually larger. For example, passenger car tires of size 235 65 r17 will be higher than tires 215 65 r16c, but lower than 205 70 r15. The latter are often used on SUVs and crossovers; such tires are installed on the Niva, some UAZ models and foreign SUVs.

Which is better: all-season tires or winter tires?

All-season tires are the best option for all-around driving conditions when you decide to save money or for other reasons not change tires between seasons, but they perform best in conditions above 2-10 degrees. Below this temperature, the rubber compound in the tire becomes much harder (dubbed), which increases braking distance and significantly reduces the likelihood of loss of traction.

Is it possible to drive in winter on all-season tires? If you drive in cold and snowy conditions only occasionally and live in the southern regions of our country, then all-season tires may be the best choice for you. If you live in a climate that experiences several months of cold weather and snow, consider a separate set of winter tires for temperatures below 0 degrees. They will improve traction in cold weather and slippery conditions.

But here are typical reviews from owners about all-season tires in Russian conditions:

I've never ridden on winter tires. You might think I'm crazy, but in the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory you will look stupid with them even in deep winter. All-season is my choice.

I drove on studded tires and Velcro, but after switching to all-season tires, they basically cope with slightly bad weather. But I love riding them in the snow; It is more difficult to ride in slush than with Velcro, and if there is deep snow, then chains may be required. Although most of the time I don't worry about safety and I'm still alive... for now... (heavy SUV owner)

An all-season tire is one with a heavy mountain and snowflake logo, seemingly for winter, but the manufacturer also does not recommend using it all year round. The only all-season tire that would be suitable for Russia is the Nokian WRG3.

All-season tires and legislation

Is it possible to drive an all-season vehicle in winter and summer? The 2020 legislation clearly regulates the months of use of winter and summer tires. But our legislation does not mention all-season tires, and regarding winter tires we are not talking specifically about tires for winter, but about studded tires. In particular, in summer it is prohibited to use any winter tires, and all-season tires are not winter tires. But in winter, the use of summer tires is prohibited, as well as tires with a residual tread depth of no more than 4 mm (clauses 5.5 and 5.6.3 in the bill, called the Technical Regulations). The only point is that the all-season vehicle must have one of the markings:

• designation with a sign in the form of a mountain peak with three peaks and snowflakes inside it (see figure below).

Thus, the law does not prohibit you from driving on all-season tires all year round, regardless of conditions.

How to choose all-season tires

From the point of view of purchasing all-season tires, you should look at the following selection criteria:

• all-season price,
• durability/service life of tires and service life warranty,
• local weather in your region,
• type of vehicle (Gazelle, passenger car or SUV),
• driving style,
• all season tire size.

These considerations will help you choose the best all-season tires at a good price. Look for tread types and speed ratings that match the type of riding you do, but know that better performance also comes at a higher price.

All-season tires are an excellent choice for the late spring, summer and early fall months. They perform well in dry conditions and can withstand wet weather during these seasons. But since in most regions of Russia winters are cold, long and often bring serious adverse weather conditions in the form of snowstorms and snowfalls, winter tires are safer today.

The best all-season tires of 2020

We analyzed about a dozen test drives of all-season tires from different manufacturers from different reviews under different conditions. Many all-season tires overlapped there, on the basis of which we were able to select the best of the best all-season tire models, the rating of which we present in the list below. The list contains the name of the all-season team and the overall average score that it scored based on the results of general ratings from various sources.

The best all-season tire for cars, crossovers and SUVs

1. Michelin Defender T+H – 9.2/10
2. Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 – 9.1/10
3. Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia – 9.1/10
4. Michelin Latitude Tour – 9.1/10
5. Yokohama Avid Ascend – 9.0/10
6. Toyo Versado Noir – 9.0/10
7. Falken Sincera SN250 A/S – 9.0/10
8. BFgoodrich Advantage T/A Sport – 8.9/10
9. Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max – 8.8/10
10. Goodyear Assurance TripleTread AS – 8.8/10
11. Michelin Primacy MXV4 – 8.8/10

However, when it comes to all-season tires for Gazelle or other light trucks, then Kama is the leader in sales in this segment for 2020. It's all about the cheapness of the all-season Kama with its not the worst driving characteristics.

Summary table comparing rubber types

Now let's compare winter non-studded ("Velcro"), winter studded and all-season tires under various conditions of use!

	Winter studded	Winter Velcro	All-season
Tread pattern	The protector has holes with metal pins. Aggressive tread design and sieving (thin sipes in the tread) grip snow and ice and repel slush.	Aggressive tread design and sifting provide stability while displacing snow and repelling water and slush.	Tread pattern to reduce noise and provide a comfortable ride with low rolling resistance during warm temperatures. In winter, snow and slush clog the channels.
Terms of Use	Harsh winter conditions with lots of snow and ice.	Harsh winter conditions with lots of snow.	Warm, dry and mild wet conditions
Rubber composition	Designed to maintain softness in low temperatures for maximum traction on ice. The best choice for heavy snow and slippery ice.	Designed to maintain softness in low temperatures for maximum snow traction.	Typically a more complex compound to increase tread life, which loses traction at 7°C and below.
Wet ice
Hard ice
Soft snow
Packed snow
Wet asphalt (+7 o C)
Dry asphalt