How Do All-Season Tires Perform?
05/30/2024
While it’s safe to say that All-Season Tires perform well in “all seasons” of the year, if you live in areas with extreme conditions, like heavy snow, or are planning to travel to those locations, you may consider switching to tires that are designed specifically for those weather patterns.
What Are All-Season Tires Best For?
All-Season Tires are a very convenient option for year-round use as they are designed to perform well in a variety of conditions, from extremely dry weather to areas with light snow. Their performance in extreme winter conditions, however, might not be as favorable as what you’d get with Winter Tires. This is because they are made with a rubber compound that remains flexible at moderate temperatures, but can become hard and less effective in temperatures below 45°F. Winter Tires on the other hand are made with a special rubber compound that stays soft and flexible even in very cold temperatures and provides better traction on icy and snowy roads – enhancing safety, control, and stability.
Can All-Season Tires be Used in Snow?
The tread design of an All-Season Tire is optimized to provide a balance between wet and dry performance. They have sipes (small slits) to handle light snow, but the design is not ideal for deep snow or ice. Winter Tires have deeper grooves and more aggressive sipes to enhance grip on snow and ice. This design helps channel snow and slush away from the tire and provides better biting edges for traction.
Should I Still Consider All-Season Tires?
All-Season Tires are a great alternative to Winter or Snow Tires if you don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of switching out seasonally and live in an area with milder winter conditions. However, as we've previously mentioned, for optimal safety and performance in cold, snowy, or icy conditions, Winter Tires are the better choice for areas where winters are more extreme.
Delinte's Recommendation for an All-Season Tire
Released in 2024, Delinte’s DST2 is the line’s latest Sport Touring, All-Season Tire which delivers impressive results in a wide range of weather conditions. The DST2 features 3D SIPES to ensure better contact with the road and distribute pressure evenly on wet, dry, or snowy road surfaces. Additionally, its wide tread grooves evacuate water quickly for improved driving performance, reducing hydroplaning at high speeds. The DST2 also has an intelligent tread block pattern which reduces road noise and provides a comfortable ride and it comes with a D-Shield 55K Mileage & Road Hazard Warranty Plan.
