If there’s one thing that will ensure smooth sailing on the road, it’s the tires. With good tires, it doesn’t matter if you’re caught out in the storm, nor if the roads are wet and slippery, they will get you where you need to go. It’s not an exaggeration to say that high-quality tires can literally mean the difference between life and death.
To be prepared for anything that you may encounter on the road, it’s best to invest in all-season tires. They’re specifically designed to handle most weather conditions and to keep your car running.
There are many all-season tires available on the market today, so, to make choosing a set easier, the following list contains only the best of the best.
1. Yokohama AVID Ascend Radial Tire
Anyone looking for high-quality all-season tires at affordable prices should look no further than Yokohama. The company has long been considered among the most reliable ones, and whatever you get from Yokohama is guaranteed to meet your expectations, and then go a step further.
The Yokohama AVID Ascend Radial Tire is an inexpensive model that can be used on sedans, minivans, coupes, and crossovers. It’s known as a durable, cheap product with an excellent warranty and excellent fuel economy.
In dry road conditions, this all-season tire performs perfectly with increased surface traction and exceptional cornering. Regardless of the speed, the tire will provide stability and responsive steering. As an added bonus, the design of the tread doesn’t only offer greater stability but reduces the noise produced. With a full set of these all-season tires, your rides will be smooth and quiet.
When it comes to wet or snow-covered roads, you won’t be disappointed with Yokohama’s performance. The deep grooves will ensure enhanced traction and a safer ride. The sipes will grab onto the snow and ice and remove the water from under the tread, increasing traction and giving you more control when steering.
The only drawback of this all-season tire is that it tends to lose psi more quickly than some competitors. For best performance, do a monthly check of the tire pressure.
Key Features:
- Excellent warranty
- Improved fuel economy
- Affordable
- Perform well on dry and icy surfaces
Specifications:
| Brand | Yokohama |
| Weight | 19.5 pounds |
| Max Load | 1,235 pounds |
| Max psi | 51 psi |
2. Michelin Defender LTX M/S
You can never go wrong with Michelin tires. Michelin has proven time and time again to be the leading company that manufactures all-season tires, and if you’ve never given them a try before, now’s the time.
The Michelin Defender is designed for light trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, and it performs magnificently on both highways and city roads. You’ll get 70,000 miles warranty, and you’ll get the Michelin Man’s protection wherever you are.
The long tread life of this all-season tire and its smooth and quiet performance guarantee safety and satisfaction.
Since the Michelin Defender LTX M/S was created for light trucks, the all-season tires are designed for driving over paved roads and can handle heavy loads.
The tread pattern is ideal for handling diverse tough conditions for longer periods. The high traction and excellent stopping performance over wet roads make this a tire truly suitable for all seasons.
The Michelin Defender performs well over snow and icy roads, although it does leave much to be desired, as the tire is an all-season one, not a winter one. Light snow and ice won’t pose a problem for the Defender, so it still can serve you well in a pinch during winter.
Overall, you can expect high performance from Michelin Defender, high durability, quiet ride, optimal traction over dry and wet roads, and even in some light snow.
Key Features:
- Excellent warranty
- Michelin Man’s protection
- Good in light snow
- Performs well over dry and wet roads
- Can handle heavy loads
- Durable
- Eco-friendly
Specifications:
| Brand | Michelin |
| Weight | 39 pounds |
| Max Load | 2535 pounds |
| Max psi | 44 psi |
3. Pirelli P ZERO Nero All-Season Tire
Loyal customers of this Italian brand swear by the Pirelli P Zero Nero All-Season Tire. With its middle-of-the-road price, it outperforms the competition within the same price range rather easily, although it offers just a 45,000 miles warranty.
This all-season tire can be used on a variety of different vehicles, from coupes, sedans, even to performance cars such as Porsche Boxster.
The Pirelli P Zero Nero features 2 steel belts and a polyester cord body, which means it’s strong and durable even at high speeds. The lateral grooves nicely remove the water from under the tread, which ensures better stability over wet roads, although the tire leaves something to be desired even in light snow.
Over dry roads, the Pirelli P Zero Nero will provide you with solid stability, excellent cornering, improved acceleration, and reduced braking distance. You can drive with confidence over paved roads, and even through off-road areas.
The treads wear off evenly, and the model comes in a run-flat version. Run-flat technology allows you to drive safely for a short distance with a flat tire, so this is definitely an advantage.
Although this all-season tire can be improved upon, it offers adequate performance in various road conditions. At this price point, you won’t find a better quality all-season tire.
Key Features:
- Affordable
- 45,000 miles warranty
- Suitable for various vehicles
- Reduced braking distance
- Durable
Specifications:
| Brand | Pirelli |
| Weight | 26 pounds |
| Max Load | 1609 pounds |
| Max psi | 50 psi |
4. Cooper Starfire RS-C
Anyone looking for a high-quality tire that won’t break their budget should consider the Cooper Starfire RS-C. It’s a very affordable product with high-level performance and some nice features.
Whether you’re driving a sedan, a minivan, or a coupe, you’ll get reliable performance in all weather conditions.
This all-season tire is designed to handle dry and wet roads pretty well, as it will give you perfect traction and more stability while steering. Over dry surfaces, you’ll get a nice on-center feel due to the deep, continuous center ribs, and you’ll get better traction and tread life as the tire has an amazing grip.
It doesn’t disappoint in wet road conditions either. You’ll be able to handle your vehicle with ease since the wide grooves effectively remove the water from underneath the tire, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and offering you better stability. Traction in the wintertime is surprisingly good. However, it’s better to stay on the safe side and get winter tires if the snow gets deep.
The design of the tread reduces the noise on the road, although there are much quieter all-season tires available on the market.
You can expect these all-season tires to last you solid 5 years or more with average use. The tire offers superior performance at a price that won’t break your bank, so it’s a smart, budget-friendly option.
Key Features:
- Inexpensive
- Nice traction on dry and wet roads
- Extended tread life
- Better stability
- Reduced noise
Specifications:
| Brand | Starfire |
| Weight | 22 pounds |
| Max Load | 1389 pounds |
| Max psi | 44 psi |
5. Hankook Optimo H724
Hankook is well-known for producing high-quality tires at affordable prices. You’ll be able to get a full set of all-season tires for your vehicle in well under $400. And the low price isn’t an indication of low performance. These tires do a wonderful job in almost all weather conditions, so you won’t go wrong with them.
Created using the renowned Hankook technology, these all-season tires promise reliability and durability. The tire has a single strand bead wire and a high hardness bead filler, making it highly resilient.
Since they weigh only 15.4 pounds, their lightweight will improve your fuel efficiency and ensure a comfortable ride. With its longer mileage performance, this is a budget-friendly and environmentally responsible choice for consumers.
The center rib block allows for more stability and easier handling when cornering, and the jointless cover of this all-season tire reduces the braking distance.
The Hankook Optimo has abrasion resistance tread compound and performs well in dry and wet conditions. The tire can handle snow and ensure a safer ride even in wintertime.
The five-pitch shoulder tread technology allows you to enjoy a quieter ride, although there are many other tires that do a better job of reducing the noise.
Optimo wears off evenly, but the rubber is thinner than some of the competition. In spite of this, it’s still long-lasting and reliable.
Key Features:
- Budget-friendly
- Lightweight
- Resilient
- Improved fuel economy
- Reduced braking distance
Specifications:
| Brand | Hankook |
| Weight | 15.4 pounds |
| Max Load | 1124 pounds |
| Max psi | 44 psi |
6. Sumic GT-A All-Season Radial Tire
If you’re a price shopper, the Sumic GT-A All-Season Radial Tire is a cheap product that has a surprisingly fine performance for its price. This all-season tire will do well in dry and wet road conditions, although if the road starts getting icy or covered in snow, you should change this set for winter tires.
Manufactured in Japan, all Sumic products enjoy a good reputation, and this all-season tire is no different. The 4-ribbed symmetrical design will give you improved stability on the road, and the tread compound ensures a safer ride over wet roads.
The center channel effectively removes water from under the tread, increasing the traction and allowing for better steering and handling. It has an excellent wet grip, but as mentioned, it doesn’t perform well in snow.
The rigid construction ensures that this all-season tire can withstand high speeds; however, it needs to be noted that the tire tends to lock up when braking quickly.
The Sumic GT-A All-Season Radial Tire was designed for lighter cars, smaller crossovers, sedans, or coupes. You’ll have a 45,000-mile warranty, which is very decent for the price point.
Overall, this all-season tire easily outperforms the competition within its price range, and can even compete with some of the pricier models. It has a long tread-life and is very reliable in wet and dry conditions.
Key Features:
- Affordable
- Excellent value for money
- More stability
- Smooth and comfortable ride
Specifications:
| Brand | Sumic |
| Weight | 16.15 pounds |
| Max Load | 1168 pounds |
| Max psi | 51 psi |
7. Milestar MS932
Milestar MS932 all-season tire was designed to handle wet road conditions with ease. It has optimal traction, solid grip, provides more stability and easier cornering. Overall, a very comfortable ride in all weather and road conditions.
It can be fitted on sedans, minivans, coupes, crossovers, and SUVs, and its appealing design will suit most tastes.
The wide ribs and rounded shoulders perform excellently over dry roads, enhancing traction and offering more cornering stability. It’s primarily designed for asphalt or pavement, so if you don’t tend to drive off the beaten path very often, this tire can be a smart choice.
When it comes to wet road surfaces, you won’t be disappointed. The wide circumferential grooves work wonders for eliminating water from under the tires, so you shouldn’t be concerned about hydroplaning.
The tread design is specifically made for improving traction over wet and slippery surfaces. You’ll experience a more stable ride, improved steering response, and high-level cornering ability.
The Milestar MS932 can handle light snow with ease, but keep in mind that the tire isn’t a winter one.
Noise reduction and treadwear are the two most common complaints among customers. Although it does reduce the noise somewhat, there are many quieter models available on the market. This all-season tire is reliable but tends to wear off more quickly than the competition.
All in all, it performs well for its price and proves to be an excellent choice of tire that will serve you well year-round.
Key Features:
- Affordable price
- Appealing design
- Good traction on dry and wet roads
- Cornering stability
Specifications:
| Brand | Milestar |
| Weight | 23.9 pounds |
| Max Load | 1653 pounds |
| Max psi | 44 psi |
8. Bridgestone Ecopia EP422
Bridgestone always offers all-season tires with above-average performance, and this is true with the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 model as well. This tire is environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, and reliable in most road conditions.
The all-season tire can be fitted on smaller crossovers, sedans, coupes, and minivans.
The NanoPro-Tech ensures better rolling resistance that improves your fuel economy regardless of the road conditions. According to Bridgestone, you should get an extra 20 miles per tank.
The Ecopia EP422 features a symmetric tread pattern and notched shoulder design which gives you a better steering response and a comfortable on-center feel.
Driving over dry roads is a breeze, and you’d be surprised at how well the tire performs over wet roads, and even in snow, slush, and ice. This all-season tire has an excellent grip and traction and proves to be one of the better all-season tires on the market.
The two steel belts inside the tire are wrapped in nylon and encased in polyester, so you can rest assured that these tires will last you for a good while. They’re strong, durable, and resilient.
All in all, this is a high-quality all-season tire that can easily handle ice and light snow. The biggest issue comes with deep snow when the tire experiences problems with braking and accelerating.
Key Features:
- Environmentally friendly
- Fuel efficient
- Excellent traction
- Low rolling resistance
- More stability
- Long tread life
Specifications:
| Brand | Bridgestone |
| Weight | 20 pounds |
| Max Load | 1356 pounds |
| Max psi | 44 psi |
9. Continental TrueContact
Designed for almost all types of coupes, sedans, minivans, and crossovers, the Continental TrueContact is durable, resilient, and offers excellent performance.
The Continental’s EcoPlus Technology helps you conserve more fuel, and will ensure better treadwear and better traction over wet and dry road surfaces.
The symmetric design of the tread allows for a continuous tread contact with the road, which improves the tire’s steering response. The deep grooves remove water from under the tread, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and improving traction on wet surfaces.
This all-season tire performs well even in snow, as long as it’s not too deep. The vertical ridges grip on to the snow and improve the traction, ensuring a safer ride in the wintertime.
The 2 steel bands inside the tire are reinforced with polyamide, and this doesn’t only add to the overall strength and durability of the tire, it also improves treadwear and ensures ride uniformity.
As a bonus, the Continental TrueContact features a cushioning layer of rubber which absorbs vibrations and makes for a more comfortable ride.
Key Features:
- Fuel efficient
- Excellent wet traction
- Good tread life
- Fine snow performance
- Cushioning layer of rubber
Specifications:
| Brand | Continental |
| Weight | 17.76 pounds |
| Max Load | 1356 pounds |
| Max psi | 44 psi |
The Top Picks For All-Season Tires
Not all tires are created equal, and if you’re looking for the best of the best, our top picks include:
- Best Overall: Michelin Defender LTX M/S
- Best Value: Yokohama AVID Ascend Radial Tire
- Budget Pick: Hankook Optimo H724
Best Overall
Michelin Defender is undeniably expensive, but it offers superior performance in all weather conditions and truly stands out from the competition.
You’ll be under the Michelin Man’s protection; you’ll get a 70,000-mile warranty, astonishing load capacity, and unmatched durability.
The Defender offers amazing performance over dry and wet roads, and with increased fuel economy, this all-season tire easily outperforms the competition.
Best Value
Yokohama AVID Ascend Radial Tire offers superior performance at an affordable price. You can get a full set of these all-season tires at under $500, and you’ll be able to use them year-round.
Few all-season tires can outperform the AVID Ascend Radial Tire at such a low price. You’ll truly be getting superior value for your money.
Budget Pick
Lastly, we have the Hankook Optimo H724. The cheapest all-season tire in the list, but easily comparable to Yokohama when it comes to the overall performance.
These tires are budget-friendly and lightweight, with the only major drawback being the rubber thickness.
What You Should Look For In All-Season Tires
All-season tires are a must-have, as they come with many benefits. They’re generally cheaper than other kinds of tires and will ensure that you can drive safely in most weather conditions.
There is one thing you should keep in mind, though. All-season tires are not the same as snow or winter tires.
Winter tires are designed specifically to handle ice, slush, deep snow, and extremely low temperatures. They have a softer rubber that grips on to these slippery surfaces more easily. That flexibility makes them perfect for wintertime, but horrible for summertime.
All-season tires, on the other hand, are made of more durable and sturdier rubber that can handle high temperatures and wet roads. This means you can safely drive if a rainstorm hits you during your summer road trip, and your tires might even handle some light snow or slush easily. But seeing how they aren’t as flexible or as soft as winter tires, you won’t be able to drive in deep snow or ice-covered roads.
When it comes to choosing your all-season tires, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Load capacity
Standard cars are somewhere between 3000 and 4000 pounds, so your tires need to be able to handle this load. You should be looking for a maximum load of about 1,389 per tire which gives you a total load capacity of about 5,556 pounds.
Fuel Economy
With the right set of all-season tires, you will be able to get as much as a 20% increase in your fuel economy.
Size
Depending on your vehicle, you will need to search for a different size for your all-season tire. If you aren’t sure which tire size you need, it’s best to consult with a mechanic.
UTQG
UTQG stands for Uniform Tire Quality Grade. It’s a quality rating for tires that takes into account the tread wear, safety, resistance to temperatures, and more. The higher the grade, the higher the quality of the all-season tire.
As you can see there are a lot of excellent choices out there for those in need of high-quality all-season tires. Just follow the advice in our buying guide section and choose one of the models we’ve covered. They all work really well, just make sure to pick the ones that fit your needs and driving style.
