All-season Tires vs. Summer tires vs. Winter Tires

Jul 17, 2019 Car Tyres Tips & Tricks PitStopArabia

If you are a driver in the UAE, you must have heard the name summer tires and all-season tires while visiting a tire shop. It is quite rare to hear about winter tires in the UAE, due to obvious reasons. However, if you found yourself driving in the European winter, the term 'winter tires' would be a common occurrence.

However, despite hearing about these different names, most drivers are oblivious of how these tires are different from each other and which type is ideal for them. Therefore, in this article, PitStopArabia will discuss the tires mentioned above and help drivers identify which tire is best for them.

All-Season Tires

As the name suggests, all-season tires are designed to work in all types of driving conditions. Whether you are driving in dry conditions, wet or even light snow, all-season tires will keep your car running smoothly. Today, many vehicles come installed with all-season tires due to their reliability and year-round performance.

Not only this, these tires have remarkable durability as well, making them extremely popular among drivers. These tires offer a balance between summer and winter tires, combining their features.

These tires are available for use on different vehicles, including pick-up trucks. However, these tires are not to be used in extreme winter conditions. Likewise, all-season tires offer less grip than summer tires in summer conditions.

Summer Tires

These are designed to give the best performance in summer conditions and areas that have warm climates. Most tires in the UAE are summer tires due to the warm climate of the UAE. The finely tuned tread patterns offer excellent grip in dry conditions, while the cornering and steering are also remarkably improved.

You might be wondering, how will summer tires perform in wet conditions? The answer is that summer tires feature wide circumferential grooves that channel water away from the tires, thereby, reducing the risk of hydroplaning. Naturally, the tires are not meant to be used in winter-like conditions. Since the UAE climate is warm, most drivers are recommended to use summer tires.

Winter Tires

Also known as snow tires, they are meant for driving in winter conditions. Regular tires harden up when temperatures start to fall below 7°C. In an ideal situation, tires must remain flexible to provide optimal grip on the road. Therefore, winter tires are made using a higher natural rubber content, which enables them to maintain their flexibility when temperatures fall below 7°C.

Winter tyres feature tiny grooves, which bite into the slippery surface (snow or ice) to provide excellent grip, and shorter braking distances. Likewise, the deep tread grooves reduce the risk of hydroplaning, enabling a safe ride in wet conditions.

One way to know that your tire is a winter tire is that it will have a snowflake symbol on its sidewall. Some tires may have the M+S letters etched into their sidewall. It means that the tires can be driven in mud (M) and snow (S). Today, many all-season tires and winter tires have the M+S tyres.

An Overview



All-Season Tires

Summer Tires

Winter Tires

Traction

Optimal traction in all types of conditions

Excellent traction in dry and wet conditions

Excellent grip in snowy or icy roads

Tread Features

Moderate tread depths that offer durability while compromising cornering and braking capabilities. Tread design allows the tires to be driven in rain and light snow

Have wide grooves that help disperse water away from the tread, reducing the risk of hydroplaning

These have zig-zag grooves and special slits that enable the tires to maintain excellent grip and reduce the braking distance in snow or rain

Advantage

Smooth ride all year long

High-performance

Excellent for driving in snow or icy conditions

Disadvantage

In extreme conditions, the tires begin to lose traction

Cannot be used in winter or off-road conditions

When temperatures cross 7°C, they have to replaced with summer or all-season tires, and they are less durable

Places Ideal For

Places that experience all types of seasons

Ideal for places that have warm climates

Areas that experience temperatures below 7°C

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Final Words

We hope that this article is informative for you and will help you understand different tire types and their uses. Keeping in mind the condition of the UAE, all-season and summer tires are the best option. Winter tires are a waste of money as they are not feasible for driving in the UAE.

The next time you find yourself in a tire shop looking to buy new tires, look for all-season or summer tires alone. Moreover, if you plan on getting from one point to the other without worrying too much about performance, handling or braking distance, all-seasons are the perfect option. If you are looking to get the maximum performance from your vehicle, summer-tires are the best choice.

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