Choosing tyres that excel across all seasons can be tricky – after all, no single tyre can dominate every condition. While dedicated winter tyres are essential in some European countries due to harsh winters lasting several months, the UK’s milder climate makes all-season tyres a tempting alternative for many drivers. But how do these compromise candidates truly perform?
We put eight leading all-season tyres through rigorous testing at world-class facilities in Finland and Germany to find out just that. This head-to-head comparison unveils which tyre reigns supreme, balancing wet grip, dry handling, snow performance, and fuel efficiency, ultimately helping you make the best informed decision for your needs.
The Contenders: From Premium Picks to Budget Buys
Our tyre test lineup features familiar names alongside a budget contender, all in the popular 225/45 R17 size commonly found on UK cars:
- Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3: The reigning champion from our previous tests
- Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 and Continental AllSeasonContact 2: Joint runners-up in the last round, both aiming for the top spot.
- Vredestein Quatrac and Dunlop All Season 2: Hoping to shake up the established order with their capabilities.
Rounding out the field is the Sailun Atrezzo 4Seasons, representing budget options often sought after by cost-conscious drivers.
To ensure a fair playing field, all tyres were sourced from regular retailers, reflecting real-world availability and pricing, which we also factored into our analysis.
Beyond Just Grip: What We Evaluated
Each tyre’s performance wasn’t simply judged on subjective feel. We employed precise, standardized testing procedures at specialist facilities to obtain quantifiable data across various categories:
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Snow Performance: Conducted at Goodyear’s Arctic Center in Finland, this involved navigating a challenging 0.8km (0.5 mile) track featuring steep inclines, tight corners, and simulated winter road conditions. We rigorously measured acceleration, braking, and handling to gauge how effectively each tyre performed on snow-covered surfaces.
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Wet Handling: Taking place at Continental’s Contidrom in Germany, we subjected the tyres to extreme weather simulation. This included measuring stopping distances from 50mph to zero, evaluating cornering abilities on a tight circle, and assessing aquaplaning resistance in both straight lines and curves. A demanding 1.8km (1.1-mile) wet handling circuit further tested traction, grip, and overall control during simulated rainy conditions.
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Dry Performance: The dry track at Contidrom provided a contrasting environment where we measured braking distances from 62mph to zero and lap times on a serpentine one-mile course to assess grip, responsiveness, and stability in dry conditions. We also recorded cabin noise levels across different road surfaces to gauge comfort during cruising.
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Fuel Efficiency: Rolling resistance – the energy lost due to tyre friction – was measured according to industry standards. As rolling resistance directly impacts fuel consumption, this test provided valuable insight into each tyre’s efficiency.
The Verdict: A Balanced Approach for UK Roads
The final rankings combine these diverse performance categories, weighting them according to typical UK driving conditions. Wet handling and braking take precedence due to the prevalence of rainfall in our climate, followed by dry performance. Snow performance receives a smaller weighting, reflecting its infrequent occurrence but crucial role in those unexpected snowy days.
By analyzing each tyre’s strengths and weaknesses across all these critical areas, we determined which all-season tyre offers the best overall value for UK motorists seeking versatile year-round performance.
