Summer Tires vs. All-Season Tires: A Guide to the Pros and Cons

There’s a lot of preparatory work that comes and goes with the changing seasons. When the summer sun rises high in the sky, it’s time to put your air conditioners in your windows and get ready for the heat waves that will soon be coming in. Of course, during the winter months, digging out your parka and getting ready to do some shoveling is part and parcel to that particular time of the year. A major part of this preparation is taking the necessary steps to ensure that your automobile functions properly as we get used to the sudden shift in weather. Should you buy summer tires or all-season tires? Well, at McCluskey Chevy, we happen to sell both, and we’ve taken the time to examine the pros and cons of both, so you can make an informed decision. So if you’re wondering, “Are there all-season and summer tires for sale near me?” look no further than McCluskey Chevy. We carry both types of tires and welcome you to stop by our dealership and look over our extensive selection of tires for all types of vehicles.

What Are Summer Tires?

So, what are summer tires? Sometimes referred to as “performance tires,” summer tires are specially designed to provide braking and traction during the warmer months of the year. Because the weather during the summer months can sometimes be unpredictable, summer tires are designed to operate on roads that are wet or dry because we all know rain during the summertime is a distinct probability. Summer tires tend to work best in temperatures above 45 degrees, so it’s a good idea not to leave them on all year long. Their treads are usually much smoother than typical tires, and while they work well in the rain, they have very poor grip in snow and ice.

What Are All-Season Tires?

Just as their name suggests, all-season tires can be used throughout the duration of the entire year, though there are exceptions. If you live in a geographical area with moderate snowfall during the winter, you should be able to leave them on all year long without any trouble. All-season tires have a deeper tread than summer tires, so they can operate in temperatures that are at the freezing point but not lower. All-season tires are the most common tire on the American market and can be utilized for just about any type of automobile.

Summer Tires: Pros and Cons

Summer tires can be very effective depending on what kind of car you drive. They are ideally best for cars that are formulated for high performance. For example, if you drive a sports car such as a Mazda Miata or Chevrolet Camaro, summer tires will be very beneficial for the precision performance to give you an edge. These tires grip the road well and can withstand higher rates of speed. They’re especially effective with speed, cornering, and braking. Because of their shallow tread patterns, more of the rubber comes into contact with the road allowing for excellent performance on paved surfaces.

However, some disadvantages come with the use of summer or performance tires. Because more of the tire makes contact with the road during use, they tend to wear out much quicker than all-season tires. A variable to consider with summer tires is in the name–summer. Like so many parts of your car, tires are placed under a considerable amount of friction. Between traveling on the asphalt and having brake pads being applied whenever you decrease speed or come to a complete stop, the wear and tear on summer tires during the warmer months of the year is quite substantial. It should also be remembered that while summer tires have excellent grip in rainy conditions, they’re not effective in ice and snow. This means that if you live in a geographic location with heavy snowfall, you’ll need to replace your tires during the winter months with either snow tires or all-season tires.

All-Season Tires: Pros and Cons

When it comes to the advantages of all-season tires, the most notable is their practicality and cost-effectiveness. As we previously mentioned, most cars on the road that are sold usually come equipped with these tires as they’re the most common. All-season tires are relatively easy to find, and, as their name suggests, they can be used all year round with some exceptions. Because the grooves in all-season tires are much deeper than those of summer tires, they tend to last a bit longer. While summer tires don’t handle all that well in the snow and ice, all-season tires can handle themselves up until the freezing point. You can still drive all-season tires through the snow, but it’s best that you use caution while doing so. This is a distinct advantage that all-season tires have over summer tires—they can theoretically be left on all year long.

There are, of course, disadvantages to using all-season tires. First and foremost, if you’re a driver who’s keen on performance, you might notice that such activities as braking, cornering, and acceleration won’t be nearly as precise as they would be with summer tires. If this is you, it might be worthwhile to keep two sets available so you can change them over. Once again, it all comes down to your geographic location. While all-season tires are meant to be just that—all season, they’re designed to tackle moderate snowfall and not an excessive amount. Many experts say that driving in an area prone to blizzards and temperatures that fall well below freezing should consider keeping a pair of winter tires handy. If not, tire chains can also be implemented to assist in gaining traction when on the road.

Does AWD or FWD Make a Significant Difference?

There’s a common misconception that as long as you have a vehicle with AWD, you can leave your summer tires on all year long and not have to worry about the repercussions of doing so. We assure you that this is a misconception. Many experts agree that all-season tires have better traction in harsh weather conditions when equipped with FWD than summer tires with AWD. Even if you drive a vehicle like a subcompact SUV with available AWD, it’s best to err on the side of caution and pay close attention to the weather patterns of your area.

Which Tires Should I Get?

Like many other choices you will make as a consumer and automobile owner, the choice of which tires will work best for you all comes down to necessity and personal preference. You should take into consideration what you drive, how you drive, and how drastically the weather changes during the winter and summer months. You also might want to consider which tires are in your current price range. If you purchase a pair of snow tires to switch out your summer or all-season tires, then the summertime is the best time to purchase them because the demand won’t be as high. If you’re unsure about what might work best for your vehicle, you might want to bring it down to McCluskey Chevy. Our expert service department can look over your vehicle and help you make the best decision, and figure out what will work best and fits within your price range. Stop by our dealership anytime and our team will be happy to find the perfect set of tires for you.