Winter Tyres vs Summer Tyres: A Seasonal Guide to Safety and Performance

Did you know that the average lifespan is about 20,000 miles for your tyres? Additionally, your front tyres will often need replacing before your rear tyres, which will alter their lifespan.

One way to affect the lifespan of your tyres is to change them for the correct season. But in the debate of winter tyres vs. summer tyres, is there a clear winner?

If you're curious about changing tyres for the season, we're here to offer our guidance. Read on to learn more about how your tyre type can affect their lifespan, safety, and more. We'll also look at some other tyre types you should keep your eyes out for.

Winter Tyres

Winter tyres, as the name suggests, are predominantly useful for the cold, icy, and snowy seasons; but actually, their real use is where temperatures dip for extended periods of time below 7c... you can read that as north of the Yorkshire moors, Scotland and most of Northern Europe. And if you are travelling to northern Europe, the weather in these regions is often so icy that switching to winter tyres is actually mandatory for all drivers, including tourists.

But what is it that makes these tyres better for winter? The short answer is that they have features that make them more effective in cold weather than other types of tyres.

The first thing to note is the tyre tread. These tyres have deeper tread that helps to channel water, ice, and snow away from the tyre, while also keeping rubber in contact with the ground. Doing so helps them excel at stopping and slowing, while also reducing the risk of aquaplaning.

Furthermore, these tyres are made of a compound that helps them resist cold weather. Summer tyres will begin to harden or freeze at about 7c. Winter tyres can handle temperatures much lower.

In short, these tyres are ideal for cold weather that is approaching freezing. If there's snow or ice, they're significantly better at braking than other tyres.

Summer Tyres

On the opposite end of the spectrum is summer tyres. These tyres are functionally the opposite of winter tyres but have many similar features. The primary difference is that their features are meant to work for warm weather rather than cold weather.

Summer tyres have a tread that isn't as deep, as there's no snow to need to trudge through. They're also made of a compound that can handle higher temperatures than winter tyres.

Summer tyres are useful until snow begins to fall. If you're using them during snowy or icy weather, you're putting yourself at significant risk.

Other Types of Tyres

What other types of tyres should you expect to see while changing tyres? Here are the main types of tyres, other than summer and winter.

Off-Road

Off-road tyres are best suited to driving somewhere that isn't paved. These tyres are heavy-duty and are useful for driving down dirt roads, muddy paths, or grassy areas.

Off-road tyres have extremely deep treads. These treads work to help pull a vehicle through rough terrain and keep firm contact with the ground at all times.

However, like all things in life, they come with a compromise. These same treads make it difficult and less safe to drive on a paved, flat surface and will use more fuel in the process. These tyres will also wear down quickly when driving over asphalt or cement.

All-Season Tyres

All-season tyres are the obvious answer to winter and summer tyres. But are these tyres truly useful for all seasons?

All-season tyres aren't as good in dry conditions as summer tyres are. Similarly, they aren't perfect for snow or ice as winter tyres. Fundamentally, they are a year-round compromise with the advantage that they don't need swapping out like the others will - they're perfectly functional in both types of weather. Where weather is moderate, they're great for clearing ice and slush due to their unique tread patterns, winder grooves also help to keep a good braking distance in icy conditions.

The softer tread compound stays flexible in freezing temperatures. As a result, you won't need to worry as much as you would with a summer tyre about your tyre's grip in the cold.

Having said all that... don't go planning any arctic expeditions. Our recommendation... for those living south of the Yorkshire Moors, All-season tyres might be worth considering.

Changing Tyres For the Season

How do you know when it's time to change your tyres? If you're using all-season tyres, you'll rarely need to. However, you should check their tread and durability before snow starts.

For summer tyres, you should switch these out to winter tyres once the weather is consistently at seven degrees or lower, in the UK that's usually late September time. If there's snow, you should consider not driving until you've changed to winter tyres.

If you're using winter tyres, you should change them to summer tyres when the temperatures warm back up, and in the UK that generally means late March. That way, you'll enjoy the shorter braking distances and firmer, more durable tread of summer tyres.

Common Questions

Here are the most frequently asked questions about changing tyres.

Is Swapping Tyres Mandatory?

It depends on where you live. Many territories in Northern Europe require drivers to change to winter tyres. Swapping to summer tyres is never mandatory. In the UK, there is no mandatory swapping of tyres - but in some areas of the country in the deepest darkest winter, we do sometimes wonder why.

Are All-Season Tyres Safe?

Yes, these tyres are perfectly safe in all weather. However, they won't always perform as exceptionally as the "correct" seasonal tyre. In short, they are a compromise.

All-season tyres provide good braking and reliable control in winter temperatures. They also provide excellent braking and resistance to aquaplaning in summer temperatures.

Can I Use Off-Road Tyres on the Road?

While you can drive on the road for short distances, it isn't suggested to use off-road tyres on paved surfaces. They'll have a worse grip here due to not having as much contact with the ground, and they will also use more fuel.