All-season tires for a sedan - save to the maximum

Some car owners consider all-weather tires to be another attempt by humanity to invent something universally ideal. And indeed, according to advertisers, such tires are suitable for any time of the year: “change shoes” and drive until the tread wears out. Solid pluses: you don’t need to buy a second set of tires, or even discs, you don’t need to visit a tire service every season. By the way: in the US, about a third of car owners use all-season tires. Indeed, they, like most products, have their pros and cons.

Features of all-season rubber

What are the differences between winter and summer tires? The most important characteristic is the composition of the compound (rubber compound). In tires designed for the cold season, it is soft and does not tan at low temperatures. But in the heat, on the contrary, winter tires begin to “creep”, become excessively soft, which leads to a deterioration in performance. Fuel consumption increases, the risk of mechanical damage increases, the car does not obey the steering wheel.



In order to create something universal, the developers tried (and are still trying) to find the composition of the compound, which would “automatically” become hard in summer and soft in winter. But alas! Such a rubber compound has not yet been invented. Therefore, tire manufacturers are looking for a compromise between summer and winter compounds. To do this, use a mixture of different grades of rubber. As a result, all-weather tires retain their elasticity up to -10°, then they become "tanned". You can only ride it where the winter is mild. If we take characteristics such as elasticity, braking distance, noise, wear resistance and influence on fuel consumption, all-season tires have average parameters. They are slightly worse than summer and winter tires. For most Russian regions, where the temperature can fluctuate from -40 ° to + 40 ° during the year, “all-weather” will not work.

Notation

If we talk about inscriptions, this, translated into Russian, means “all seasons”: All seasons, four (4) seasons or “all-weather” - All Weather. The second point is the presence of a picture in the form of a mountain with three peaks and a snowflake inside. The image corresponds to the designation 3PMSF (three initial letters of the picture - three-peak mountain snowflake).



Also, the manufacturer, at its discretion, can mark “mud + snow” or in English Mud + Snow, M + S. This means that the rubber layers are stacked towards each other from one sidewall to the second diagonally. What do manufacturers in the “all-weather” niche offer today, if we take the best combination of price and quality as a basis? We present the most popular tires, for ease of comparison, all slopes of the same diameter - 15 inches.

Cordiant Off Road

Russian brand that produces tires for difficult operating conditions. This model is designed for off-road, as evidenced by numerous lugs and Off Road inscriptions. Tires confidently overcome any obstacles, do not "notice" the curbs, have a self-cleaning ability due to the wide tread grooves. However, it is not recommended for use on vehicles that constantly ply in urban areas.



Of the minuses, car owners distinguish the “blurring” of the tread when driving on clay soil, a possible breakdown in a skid when moving on an icy road surface. Some users are unhappy with the lack of large sizes (there are only 15 and 16 inches).

Hankook Tire Kinergy 4S2 H750

The model has been produced since 2018 and is intended for European countries with mild winters. The South Korean tire has a directional tread and is characterized by increased rigidity provided by large blocks and their special arrangement. The pattern, created using computer simulation, guarantees good grip on the road surface and a shortened braking distance, which, according to the developers, is not affected by ambient temperature.



To remove moisture, two-level grooves are provided to prevent aquaplaning and improve the car's patency in slush. Wear indicators of the WTWI type placed inside the tread allow the car owner to correctly and timely assess the condition of the tire in terms of wear. Among the shortcomings, users note a soft sidewall.

Nitto Neo Gen

The product of a Japanese company, which is the "daughter" of the notorious Toyo. The asymmetric enlarged tread pattern immediately catches the eye, the central part of which is formed from inclined grooves designed to “row” slush. The model is distinguished by reinforced sidewalls, which in Russian operating conditions can only be regarded as a plus. However, it is not recommended to drive these tires in temperatures below -10°. Despite the hard shoulder areas, the rubber comfortably handles small bumps.



Users note the “picking up” of pebbles by the tread, as well as the “dislike” of the tire for sand on a hard road: skidding is possible.

KORMORAN ALL SEASON

Model of all-season tires from the Serbian manufacturer. An unusual and thoughtful tread pattern made using the “fish skeleton” technology - Fishbone is interesting. This configuration of the elements contributes to better stability on slippery surfaces and prevents hydroplaning. Of the other features, it is worth highlighting the complete isolation of the shoulder zones and a lot of solid jumpers. The latter increase the stability of the car during high-speed maneuvering and reduce noise.



The strength of the material of manufacture is also noted: the tire does not deform when it enters a pit and passes well obstacles such as speed bumps. Of the minuses, poor handling on an icy road, sensitivity to ruts are noted.

Kama-365 (NK-241)

The Nizhnekamsk manufacturer (RF) offers a budget tire option for use at any time of the year. The instructions indicate that the tire is designed for driving in the city at a temperature not lower than -10 °. The slope is soft: moreover, both the central part and the sidewalls. This guarantees a comfortable ride on bumpy roads, but you need to be careful with curbs. The tread pattern guarantees efficient drainage. However, it is not worth climbing into the mud on such tires, which is what the manufacturer warns about.



Among the most common shortcomings, users highlight the inaccurate geometry of the product, which has to be balanced for a long time. Also, during long-term storage (especially incorrect), the tire is prone to warping. But the price pleases.

What you need to know when choosing an "all season"

Despite the abundance of pluses, do not forget that "year-round" tires will have to be changed more often. The average service life, as practice shows, does not exceed 45 thousand kilometers (even less for budget versions). Tires are clearly not suitable for aggressive driving enthusiasts, because they do not work well at excessively low and high temperatures, and high-speed driving implies a strong heating of the rubber.