All-season tires generally pinch your wallet a bit more than season-specific ones, such as summer or winter tires. That’s because they’re jacks-of-all-trades, made with some nifty tech to handle all sorts of weather.
Here’s an interesting point: While all-season tires might seem pricier initially compared to winter and summer tires, they often turn out to be more cost-effective over time This long-term saving aspect is crucial to consider. But remember, no price can be put on safety. So, if you’re dealing with extreme summer or winter conditions, it’s best to opt for dedicated tires.
Though for those living in areas with moderate temperatures, ranging from 32°F (0°C) to 90°F (32°C), all-season tires are a smart choice.
They are generally more economical due to their adaptability and longevity.
Let’s see what makes them cheaper overall, in the long run.
Table of Contents
One-Time Purchase Cost
This one’s pretty straightforward. Grab a set of all-season tires, and you’re sorted.
No need to shell out for two sets (one for summer, one for winter).
I can tell you for sure that it’s going to be much cheaper than buying two specialized sets, and let’s face it, it’s way less hassle as well.
Now this cost also includes installing them. I mean, sticking with all-season tires means you save on the labor costs for changing them out.
Plus, you dodge other expenses like wheel balancing and alignment, which often go hand in hand with tire changes.
Storage Savings
No need for a second set of tires means no stress about where to stash them. This is a big win if you’re short on space at home or would otherwise have to pay to keep your tires somewhere safe.
Storage isn’t just a space issue, though. It can actually impact the lifespan of your tires. Proper tire storage demands careful attention to factors like temperature and humidity.
Without the right conditions, your tires could degrade faster.
And then there’s another cost aspect. Think about the extras, like purchasing a tire rack or other storage solutions. All these add up, so sticking with all-season tires can sidestep these additional expenses and hassles.
Tread Life and Fuel Economy
All-season tires stand out for their impressive fuel economy and extended tread life. Generally, they can last between 40,000 to 100,000 miles, significantly outperforming summer and winter tires, which usually cap out at around 20,000 to 40,000 miles.
Moreover, they also offer a modest advantage in terms of fuel economy, where, compared to summer tires, they provide almost 1 to 2% better MPG readings. But the difference is more pronounced with winter tires, which tend to have the highest rolling resistance.
And compared to winter tires, all-season tires offer 3 to 5% better fuel efficiency. The reason? Winter tires are designed with a more aggressive tread pattern and softer rubber compound to grip icy or snowy roads better.
I talked about it more here: https://tiredriver.com/do-all-season-tires-use-more-fuel/
So, when you tally up the longer mileage and improved miles per gallon (mpg) with all-season tires, the long-term savings become quite apparent.
Material and Technology
All-season tires are engineered to handle a variety of road conditions, from wet pavements to light snow. But achieving this jack-of-all-trades status requires some smart material choices and cutting-edge technology, which often ramps up the cost compared to more specialized tires.
A significant factor in their design is meeting specific regulatory standards, such as the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating.
This label is actually pretty crucial, and in some areas, tires without it can’t be used legally. To earn this rating, tires must demonstrate superior snow performance, showing at least a 10% improvement in snow acceleration over standard all-season tires. (I explained it more in the link).
This achievement necessitates a delicate balance, combining the durability and resilience of summer tires with the flexibility and grip of winter tires.
Tread Design
As a tire designer and engineer, I’m well-versed in the intricate art of tread design, especially for all-season tires.
These tires need to be rugged enough to deal with snow and ice, similar to winter tires, but also smooth enough for efficient driving on dry and wet roads, just like summer tires.
And let me tell you, creating this kind of tread isn’t easy or cheap. It involves complex techniques like adding small, detailed cuts (known as 3D siping) and other features to the tread blocks (like snow-vices).
This precision work increases the production costs.
Moreover, as a tire designer, my team and I also focus on creating tires with dual-layered rubber. This essentially gives the lugs (on the tread) support, so they not only last longer but also provide stability, which leads to decent dry performance, especially in warmer weather.
Brand and Quality
The brand name on a tire is a significant indicator of its quality and price.
I mean, premium brands like Michelin and Bridgestone, which lead in market share, are renowned for their reliability and performance. And as these brands have been refining their tire tech for years, their tires typically come with a higher price tag.
Conversely, lesser-known or budget brands may offer all-season tires at more affordable prices, but this could involve compromises in terms of tire quality or durability.
But it’s not a hard and fast rule. I mean, there are plenty of high-quality, affordable options out there that give the premium tires a run for their money.
Take the Michelin Crossclimate 2, for example, where, it’s one of the priciest all-season tires in its class.
Yet, according to my testing, the Kleber Quadraxer 3 is almost on par in terms of overall performance but at a much more accessible price point.
This just goes to show that I am here to provide you with the best value, whatever tire you choose.
By the way, both of these tires are in my list of top grand touring AS tires. See my list here: https://tiredriver.com/best-grand-touring-all-season-tires/
Size and Compatibility
The size of the tire is a straightforward yet significant factor in its cost. Larger tires, which require more material, are generally more expensive.
This is true for all types of tires, including all-season, summer, and winter variants.
Side Note: Diving into the world of all-season tires, you’ll find that standard touring tires are generally the wallet-friendly option. In contrast, if you’re looking at grand touring or ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires, be prepared to spend more. They’re sitting pretty at the top of the price range because of their advanced features and benefits.
See the differences between all these categories here.
R&D Costs
Crafting a tire that’s up for anything the road throws at it is quite a challenge. There’s a ton of research and development (R&D) that goes into making an all-season tire, and let me tell you, it’s neither easy nor cheap.
This R&D isn’t just about making a tire that’s good in different weather conditions.
Essentially, it’s about ensuring it ticks all the boxes for safety standards. And yes, all these efforts and tests do bump up the price a bit.
All-season tires, especially those with fancy ratings like the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF), comfortplus technologies, and so on…have to pass a bunch of safety tests for both summer and winter conditions. This extra testing can make them pricier than specialized tires.
Take, for example, the Michelin Crossclimate 2. It’s on the expensive side, but when you consider all the work and testing that goes into making it, it kind of makes sense why.
It comes with a directional pattern, like a winter tire, with wave-like 3D siping in the middle, and a compound that is thermally adaptive, so it provides top-notch performance, which is very similar to dedicated (average) winter and summer tires.
Seasonal Demand and Availability
Just like any market, the tire world’s also affected by supply and demand, and seasons can really shake things up.
For example, when winter rolls around, everyone rushes to get winter tires, and this surge in demand can jack up the prices.
All-season tires, however, have a more consistent demand throughout the year. This consistency is a plus for buyers who prefer a predictable cost without the seasonal price hikes.
To Sum Things Up
In conclusion, all-season tires can initially seem costlier than seasonal tires due to their advanced technology and ability to cope with various weather conditions.
However, they often emerge as the more economical choice in the long run, offering a single purchase that negates the need for multiple sets, reduces maintenance costs, and minimizes storage issues.
These tires offer better fuel economy and tread life, and although there’s comprehensive R&D behind these tires, they still come out cheaper in the long run (when you run them all year long, I mean).
