What tires are best for the summer and fall seasons? Which is better if you drive a lot on paved roads? Is all-season tires better than summer tires? What is the difference between summer vs all-season tires? Let’s find out.
Understanding how tires react on wet surfaces is key to understanding the differences between summer and all-season tires.
The tire rubber or compound is key to determining the tire’s traction on wet roads. The more sticky and softened the compound, the better it will grip on damp roads.
Water-saturated roads are another story. Hydroplaning resistance of tires depends on their tread pattern and grooves. There are both good and poor tread patterns for all-season tires and summer tires.
Sticky is the best choice for dry pavement. The tire compound and temperature will determine how sticky it is. Certain compounds perform better in warmer temperatures.
It is a little misleading to call all-season tires “all-season tires”. This term was created in 1970 when Goodyear introduced a tire that they claimed was great for all seasons. All-season tires have treads and compounds that can withstand winter snow. They have moderate tread depth. They last longer than summer tires. All-season tires can withstand the heat. All-season tires can still grip hot pavement but don’t perform as well on the same surface as summer tires. The compounds remain flexible even when temperatures drop. This allows for better traction when driving in winter conditions. You lose the ability to drive on snow and ice but you can still corner, steer, and brake the rest of the year.
All-seasons are an excellent choice if you live in areas that have a wide range of temperatures. While they don’t do well in all conditions, they can perform moderately well in them. The Falken Ziex tire is a great all-season, all-around tire.
Summer tires are more likely than three-season tires because they have more rubber on the roads. They are nimbler and more agile thanks to their shallower tread depths and straighter groove designs. Summer tires are more resilient to rain than all-season tires. Although they don’t have a long life expectancy, this design does provide exceptional performance. Summer tires are the best choice if you care about performance.
Summer tires have more flexibility and contain additives that make rubber sticky. This, combined with the shallow tread, provides excellent grip. Summer tires are also great on wet pavement. They effectively channel water away, so that you don’t lose your stability in the rain. They are not suitable for driving in snow. These compounds lose flexibility when it gets cold. If you’re looking for a performance tire you should look for a summer tire. It is best to remove it when snow begins to fall. You might not want summer tires if you live in a warm area. The Falken Azenis is an excellent example of a summer tire that you can use all three seasons.
BEST TIRES
Although variety may be the best thing in life, it can make for a bad philosophy when it is about tires. No matter what vehicle you drive, ensure that all four tires are identical. You cannot mix-match. Either you use all-season tires, or you ride on summer tires.
Summer tires have an asymmetrical tread pattern so you can’t rotate them. Tires can only be rotated to the opposite side of the normal pattern. All-season tires can still be rotated in the old fashion. Now you know the differences between summer tires vs all season tires.
Your climate will determine which tires are best for your vehicle, whether it is a car, truck, or SUV. If you are looking to get into a new set of tires contact us or come in and visit our showroom today!
