All Season Tyres

All-season tyres have a specially adapted rubber compound, which ensures that the tyres do not harden in winter and are not too soft in summer. They are also marked M+S or M&S.

If the tyres also have the snowflake symbol, they are also suitable for winter and offer you good grip in ice and snow. This means you can rely on your tyres even when there is more snow.

Changing a tyre is not easy enough, but getting a second set of tyres is an additional cost. All-weather tyres are a cheap alternative, as you can use them in summer as well as in winter.

The tyres are suitable for people who do not drive frequently or long distances. Also, you should live in an area that doesn't get much snow. If you are on the road a lot and for a long time or live in mountainous areas with heavy snowfall, all-season tyres are not suitable for you.

The actual durability of all-season tyres depends on various factors. In general, it can be said that the tyres can last up to 50,000 kilometres with average use. If you drive a lot, you should only use the tyres for 35,000 kilometres.

An important factor is the quality of the tyres. A well-made tyre will not only last longer, but will also offer you more safety. Have your tyres checked regularly to make sure they are not too worn.

One big difference between the two types of tyres is the surface structure. Winter tyres have recognizable sipes on the entire tread. All-weather tyres have the sipes only in the middle part of the tread.

The material composition also differs between the different tyres. Winter tyres are made of a fairly soft rubber compound to keep them resilient in the cold. All-season tyres have a mixed material composition to cover the needs of the different seasons.

You can easily measure the tread depth of your tyre with a one pound coin. This has a gold rim that is approximately three millimetres wide. If you insert the coin into the tread of your tyre, this edge should not be visible.

The law prescribes a tread depth of 1.6 millimetres. However, experts advise replacing the tyre at a depth of three millimetres. Winter tyres should even have a tread depth of at least four millimetres.

You are free to decide whether you want to mount your tyres on aluminium or steel rims. Opinions differ on the question of which rims are more suitable. Aluminium rims usually look better, steel rims are considered to be more stable.

Another advantage of steel rims is that they require less maintenance than alloy rims. They do rust more quickly, but you can cover up these unsightly spots with hubcaps. Whether you have aluminium or steel rims, you should regularly wash your rims thoroughly and remove any dirt. This will prevent premature corrosion.