What is the difference between all-season tires and regular tires?
3 Answers
All-season tires and regular tires differ in appearance: All-season tires have the "AT" marking on the tread, where "A" stands for "all" and "T" stands for "terrain"; Regular tires have wider tread grooves, providing better drainage, making them more suitable for use in rainy summers. All-season tires, also known as multi-purpose tires, are designed to adapt to various road conditions. Tires are often used in complex and demanding conditions, enduring various deformations, loads, forces, and high and low temperatures during driving. Therefore, they must have high load-bearing capacity, traction performance, and cushioning performance, while also requiring high wear resistance, flexibility, and low rolling resistance and heat generation.
I've always thought all-season tires are much better than regular tires (commonly known as summer tires). Regular tires only perform well in warm weather, providing strong grip in hot conditions. But when winter comes or during rainy days, the rubber hardens, becoming as dangerous as ice skating, with brakes prone to skidding. All-season tires, on the other hand, are made of more flexible materials that maintain elasticity across different temperatures. In light snow or light rain during winter, they still offer some grip. For those living in temperate regions, using all-season tires year-round saves both hassle and money, eliminating the need to purchase an extra set of dedicated winter tires for rotation, thus saving on storage and labor costs. Although they may not be as stable as professional snow tires during heavy snowfall, they are sufficient for daily commuting for most families. A set of all-season tires can last several years with low average costs. This is how I avoid the hassle of changing tires during cold snaps.
As a car enthusiast, I've discussed tire differences. Regular tires are primarily designed for summer use, with softer rubber compounds that provide excellent grip in high temperatures but become hard and slippery in cold weather. All-season tires feature a special rubber formulation that performs well across a broader temperature range. They maintain flexibility in light snow or rain, reducing the risk of skidding. Their tread patterns are optimized for quick water drainage on wet roads. However, even four-wheel drive can't match winter tires in deep snow. If driving safety is a priority, all-season tires offer more comprehensive performance than summer tires. They're versatile enough to cover spring, summer, and autumn, with only slightly reduced winter performance. Using a single set of all-season tires eliminates the hassle of biannual tire changes and saves storage space. They also provide greater peace of mind on long journeys.
