What's the difference between all-season and all-weather tyres?

There's no formal difference between all-season and all-weather tyres. These two terms are used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Some tyre brands might draw a distinction between regular all-season tyres, and 'all-weather' tyres that also carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) certification. This indicates that the tyre has undergone extra snow performance testing.

Are all-season tyres okay in winter?

All-season tyres are designed for use all-year round. That means they'll perform much better than a standard summer tyre in cold and slippery conditions. However, if you live somewhere that sees harsh weather during the winter, you might find that proper winter tyres are more effective over snow or ice-covered roads.

Are all-season tyres good in the rain?

Yes. All-season tyres are designed to cope with most year-round weather conditions, and that includes rain. In fact, the optimisations all-season tyres have to work in all weathers means they should perform better in the rain than summer tyres, especially if the temperature is low.

Do all-season tyres make a difference?

Yes. All-season tyres will generate much more grip and traction in cold and wet conditions than summer tyres. So, if you only tackle occasional bad weather, you might find that all-seasons are the most cost effective and convenient tyre choice.

Do all-season tyres count as winter tyres?

No. Winter tyres are a different type of tyre that are specifically designed to work in very cold conditions, as well as low-grip surfaces like snow and ice. All-season tyres will handle these conditions substantially better than summer tyres, so are a better choice if those are your only options. However, drivers in rural areas or places that see harsh winters might be better off with proper winter tyres.

Can I drive all-season tyres all year?

For most UK drivers, the answer here is yes, you probably can drive all-season tyres all-year round. This setup is great due to its mix of regular road grip, plus its ability to cope with low temperatures and slippery surfaces. That said, drivers who live in rural or remote areas where roads aren't as frequently maintained might be better off with full winter tyres.

Can I mix all‑season tyres with other tyre types for an MOT test?

Yes. You can do this, but you shouldn't. Mixed tyre types will not cause an MOT fail. You'll only fail the test if your tyres are worn, damaged or otherwise dangerous to use. However, mixing different types of tyres on your car will substantially impact its handling and braking performance. You may well end up with uneven grip and traction across different wheels, which increases your likelihood of an accident.

Car Care

What are all-season tyres? Are they worth it?

• 3 min read

Mike Vousden

Content Editor

Mike is a Content Editor at Motorpoint. He's written for several motoring mags, and worked as an electric car analyst. He likes EVs, V8s and '60s American cars

All-season tyres – sometimes called all-weather tyres – are a middle ground between summer and winter tyres.

They aim to give drivers a single tyre that can be used all-year round. As a result, they need to handle the high grip and friction of a hot summer's day, as well as the slippery conditions you encounter during the winter months.

All-season tyres explained

Middle-ground option between full summer and full winter tyres
Intended to be used all-year round
They won't quite match the dry-weather grip and efficiency of summer tyres
…or the outright cold-weather performance of winter tyres
Most UK cars come with summer tyres by default, so you'll need to swap them out if you want all-seasons
Some brands identify their all-season tyres with an icon featuring a sun and snowflake

All-season tyres vs summer tyres and winter tyres

	All-season tyres	Summer tyres	Winter tyres
Best time to use them	All-year round	Spring, summer and autumn months	Autumn, winter and spring months
Ideal temperature range	Usually -10 to 30ºC	Above 7ºC	Below 7ºC
Works in the dry	✅	✅	✅
Works in the rain	✅	✅	✅
Works in snow	✅ (if 3PMSF certified)	❌	✅

How do all‑season tyres work?

The most obvious part of all-season tyres is their tread design – the shape imprinted into the rubber that helps the tyre grip the road. You might see larger separate blocks of tread with slightly wider gaps (grooves) between them compared to a summer tyre, which helps the all-season tyre clear rain, mud or snow more effectively.

What you won't see is the actual compound of rubber used to make the tyre. All-season rubber contains additives that help it stay springy and elastic even at very cold temperatures where normal tyres would become harder and less grippy.

Are all-season tyres any good?

Yes – all-season tyres are a good idea for many drivers. Particularly if you live somewhere like the UK that experiences lots of cold, slippery weather over winter. And especially if you live in a more rural part of the country with less frequently maintained roads.

All-season tyres won't match the outright cold-weather performance of proper winter tyres. They're much more convenient, however, as you won't have to swap back and forth between summer and winter tyres as the year goes on.

Pros of all-season tyres

More convenient than swapping between summer and winter tyres
Much better in cold weather than the summer tyres most UK cars have by default
Some all-season tyres are 3PMSF-rated, so can be used in countries that require snow tyres

Cons of all-season tyres

Noisier, less efficient and less grippy than summer tyres in summer
Not as capable over snow or ice as a dedicated winter tyre
Fewer options on the market

Should I use all-season tyres in the UK?

Cars driving in the rain on a UK main road

All-season tyres are a great choice for many UK drivers. As we all know, our country experiences a broad range of weathers and temperatures. That means all-season tyres might be a better fit for your driving than the summer tyres your car was probably equipped with from factory.

You should consider the area where you live and the places you usually drive to. If, for example, you live outside of the city with more rural and country roads, all-season tyres will mean more grip and traction at times when those roads are wet or slippery. However, if you mostly live and drive in urban areas that are gritted often, then you might be able to get away without them – though you'll still have an easier time in the cold with all-seasons equipped.

Do all-season tyres work in snow?

Unlike a full winter tyre, all-season tyres are not designed specifically for driving in the snow. That means they won't generate as much grip or traction on snowy surfaces as proper winter tyres.

That said, their tread design and rubber compound mean they'll perform substantially better in the snow than summer tyres. So, given the choice between all-season and summer rubber to tackle snow, we'd pick the former every time.

What are three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) all-season tyres?

Some all-season tyres are starting to carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) certification. This means they've undergone extra testing to demonstrate even better grip in snowy conditions than regular all-season tyres. You can check if a tyre has this certification by seeing if it has the 3PMSF symbol – a snowflake inside the outline of a three-peaked mountain (appropriately enough!).

An important consequence of this certification is that you'll be able to use these tyres in countries like Bulgaria, Denmark and Sweden that legally require you to have winter or snow tyres on your car.

Things to check before buying all‑season tyres

Are they suitable for you? – does your driving include roads that see occasional snow or ice, or do you drive exclusively on paved, well-gritted urban roads?
Are all-season tyres available for your car? – check that all-season tyres are offered in your required tyre size, which can be found on the side of your existing tyres
Should you pick all-season tyres, or swap between summer and winter tyres? – if you live somewhere that sees very challenging weather, you might be better off with full winter tyres