All-season tires are great for spring, summer and even fall however they are not meant to be used in severe winter weather. This is because they do not hold the “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake” symbol which signifies that they have passed required performance criteria in snow testing to be considered severe snow service rated. Tires with this emblem provide improved snow traction over tires holding the mud and snow emblem (M+S). This being said there are many areas in the United States not experiencing severe winter weather and for those areas all-season tires are a great choice.
The all-season tires however not holding this emblem perform better in other seasons of the year other than winter. This is because the very reason winter and all-weather tires perform well in winter is because they have a more aggressive tread compound and softer rubber compound allowing them to grip well on snow and ice. This however are features that make them less able to handle well in warm weather on dry roads. In fact, winter tires become too soft in warmer temperatures and will wear down much faster. They even will chemically degrade if continually in contact with warm pavement, making them less capable of properly gripping the road, thereby making it more difficult to brake and increasing the stopping distance.
If the weather where you live has a mild climate and you would like to equip your car with one set of tires for the year then all-season tires like the Nokian zLine A/S is a great choice. This high-performance all-season tire combines safety and performance to allow for a luxurious and comfortable drive. It incorporates many new technologies like the new comfort base compound, silent groove design, polished grooves, while offering low rolling resistance making it fuel efficient and thereby environmentally friendly. The polished grooves help provide both aquaplaning and slushplaning protection as the grooves allow to displace more water from between the tire and the road. It is also able to work in a wide temperature range making this tire ideal spring to late fall.
The fact that all-season tires do not have the severe service rating means that they do not need as aggressive treading, allows them to perform better in the other seasons of the year. This also make them a lower rolling resistance tire and more environmentally friendly. To make sure to get the most out of the tires performance always replace your tires with the same recommended manufacturer’s dimension tires.
All-season tires are a great choice for areas not experiencing severe winter weather and allow for one set of tires throughout the year, eliminating the need to change tires. Having said that, the option does exist to change over to dedicated winter tires in the winter to allow for the use of all-season tires the rest of the year. The benefit of the all-season tires is that they are fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.
For more information regarding all-season tires, visit: nokiantires.com