Best All Season & Purpose Tires

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‍Best All-Season and All-Purpose Tires

All-season tires are suited for a wide range of weather situations, including dry, wet, ice, and snow, but unfortunately, not all of them are created equal. Some are simply better performers than others. Here's a list of the best all season and all-purpose tires:

Michelin Crossclimate2

Michelin Crossclimate2 tires are among the top-ranked all-purpose, all-weather tires, and for a good reason. They come in a wide range of sizes, accommodating sedans, coupes, wagons, crossovers, and SUVs, but they offer exceptional performance on dry, wet, or light-snow-covered surfaces. That also includes surfaces that are known to be extra tough when covered in snow, like pavements.

The improved Michelin tread design reduces noise, and many owners praise the smooth and quiet ride these tires offer. A tiny percentage of reviews claim that the tire's centering is a little unclear or imprecise at highway speeds of 70mph or greater, although this could be due to a number of different factors that aren't specifically related to the centering of the tires.

It's worth noting that this specific model received 9.5 for wet road and 9.4 for dry road performance on Tire Rack's 10-point scale, although most drivers said they would keep the tires on the road and wouldn't advocate venturing too for off-road. For an all-season tire, Crossclimate2's traction in the show for acceleration, turning, and stopping is remarkable, yet some drivers noticed a reduction in fuel economy when compared to their vehicle's original tires.

Pros

The clear leader in both dry and wet conditions
Very short wet braking at warmer temperatures
Low noise
Low rolling resistance

Cons

Pricey

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Defender LTX M/S is a fantastic performer for those in the market for a long-lasting, premium-quality tire that exceptionally handles heavier loads. It's by far one of the best, most powerful, and highly efficient all-season tires for all types of vehicles in a range of 12 to 15-inch wheel diameter, making it suitable for trucks, SUVs, and crossover vehicles.

Compared to its predecessor, the LTX/M S2, the newer model offers a 10% improvement in longevity and better driving dynamics. Evertread's compound features a symmetric tread design that performs wonderfully even in the toughest of conditions. This allows the tire to tackle uneven surfaces and extreme situations like driving on the compacted soil in dry, rainy, or even snowy weather.

The MaxTouch Construction implemented into the tire's design improves contact and overall stability and durability since it disperses the stresses of acceleration, braking, and cornering. This results in lower rolling resistance and higher tread life. However, it should be noted that most all-season tires aren't actually built for extreme weather, especially heavy snow, and Defender LTX M/S is one of those models — so the use of chains in such conditions is still highly recommended.

Pros

All-season safety
Long-lasting tread
Available in many sizes
Short braking distance

Cons

Not budget-friendly
Inadequate traction in heavy snow

Bridgestone Turanza Quiettrack

The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is one of the best all-season highway tires, as it provides good grip in both dry and wet conditions and some solid traction in light snow. It's suitable for luxury cars, family sedans, coupes, crossovers, and minivans It generally offers a smooth, quiet, and pleasant ride, making them suitable for daily commute.

Turanza Quiettrack is praised by drivers for its superb wet and dry road performance, exceptional ride comfort, and impressive tread lifespan. The tire has been shown to improve safety in adverse weather, but it lacks traction to reliably plod through deep snow. However, this is generally a shortcoming of most, if not all, all-season tires — especially if the snow has been compacted and is already slippery.

The Turanza Quiettrack is a luxury tire that has been confirmed to be one of the best in all-season on-road refinement by Tire Rack. It's worth noting that a few drivers have noticed a decrease in overall ride comfort after driving for 30,000 miles or more; however, the cause is difficult to pinpoint. Tire performance can be affected by a number of different factors such as tire pressure and driving style after a certain amount of mileage.

Pros

Exceptional ride comfort
Good tread life
Excellent performance in dry and wet conditions

Cons

Not recommended for heavy snow

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+

The Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is Michelin's latest addition to their all-season lineup. It is arguably their best yet and suits a range of sports cars, coupes, and sedans, especially when drivers demand better wet and dry traction and cornering grips.

The Halio+ compound with a higher percentage of silica is shaped into an aggressive asymmetric tread pattern built on the foundation of Michelin's high-quality best-seller, the Pilot Super Sports tire. However, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ was further enhanced for year-round top performance and handling in both wet and dry conditions.

The added amount of silica within the Helio+ allowed Michelin to increase the depth of the circumferential groove, and variable thickness sipes, resulting in remarkable wet traction, braking, and acceleration. Additionally, Helio+ grants unique biting edges of the treads, which increase snow traction performance by 28% more than the model's predecessor, the Pilot Sport A/S3, which is a noticeable bump-up in the performance.

Pilot Sports A/S 3+ are also equipped with Michelin's Variable Contact Patch 3.0 — a proprietary technology that reduces heat distortion and aids the treaded for increased cornering grip and responsiveness in a wide range of speeds. This is another performance booster for A/S 3+, which comes in a wide range of 16-20inch sizes, and models with either W or Y-speed rating.

Pros

Fantastic wet and dry performance
Great responsiveness
Cornering grip and stability
Long-lasting treads

Cons

Not as comfortable as other models

Firestone Weathergrip

To cut through the water and resist hydroplaning, Firestone Weathergrip tires combine the company's HydroGrip tread technology with full-depth grooves. In wet and slippery situations, high-density zig-zag sipes and interlocking grooves also give consistent traction that works even in the heaviest downpour — granting drivers an enjoyable, confident, and pleasant ride throughout the season.

The Weathergrip resembles a winter tire in appearance, which is both good and, well, not so good. This tire is said to provide a grounded and grippy feeling in corners and quick maneuvers, but it might also cause heavy delay reactions in the steering. Dedicated winter tires share these characteristics, so they're likely to affect spirited summer drivers the most.

Some drivers complained about a bit of extra road noise; however, that's an entirely normal trade-off if you're looking for a tire with absolutely exceptional wet-weather performance. This is facilitated by the HydroGrip Technology Package, which employs a rounded footprint that cuts through still water, and evacuates it from the treads using full-depth grooves and an open shoulder slot, granting outstanding hydroplaning resistance.

Admittedly, the performance of Firestone Weathergrip is subpar to that of Michelin Crossclimate2 or Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack, but the traction and grip they offer are more than good enough for daily driving in all conditions at legal speeds.

Pros

Severe snow service rating
Hydroplane resistant
Traction in light snow

Cons

Dampens steering response
Road noise

Hankook Kinergy PT

Hankook Kinergy PT is a fantastic touring tire for all seasons and all terrains, which poses no match for this tire. Admittedly, we had no big expectations from this model, but it did surprise us across all metrics. One segment where we expected it to perform was off-road driving — our expectations weren't met. They were exceeded.

The tire's sidewall and tread patterns pride an exceptional off-road grip and handling, while the infused anti-abrasion compound helps to extend thread life on off-road surfaces even after prolonged use. Performance in snow and on ice is surprising, to say the least. Kinergy PT's tread pattern improves grip and traction, while the outside lateral grooves grant fantastic braking capabilities on both snow and ice.

Like its performance on snow and ice, Kinergy PT excels in driving on wet and slippery surfaces, as its wide circumferential grooves aid water evacuation, significantly lowering the risk of hydroplaning. The same can be said for driving in dry conditions, in which Kinergy PT performs admirably due to its robust, jointless belt and increased thickness of its sidewalls.

These fantastic performances must have a trade-off to justify the price point, and steering isn't one of them. The Kinergy PT has excellent steering responses across all surfaces and conditions. So, what's the trade-off? Noise — Kinergy PT generates plenty of noise, and driving at high speeds produces a humming sound.

Pros

Fantastic performance across all metrics
90,000 miles warranty

Cons

Noisy

Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

Goodyear's Assurance WeatherReady tire is a good choice if you want a tire that performs well in both summer and winter. Goodyear's Weather Reactive Technology uses center 3D Tredlock Technology Blades and outside treads for steady cornering and braking in slippery conditions, making it better in snow than the average all-season tire.

With Goodyear's Evolving Traction Grooves, high levels of grip are maintained as the treads deteriorate. Although drivers complained that their tires had worn down to the low tread indicators as early as 40,000 miles, these tires came with a 6-year, 60,000-mile warranty. This is an essential distinction, as the tires are mounted through all four seasons, allowing drivers to maximize the year-round milage granted by the tires.

It's worth noting that these come with a 1,000 miles break-in period, after which Assurance WeatherReady provides a straight-line tracking at legal speeds. Warmer seasons mean warm roads, resulting in more noise and rougher drive, which is the price you pay for better traction on wet, slushy, or snowy roads. In addition, the dry grip on gravel or dirt roads is lacking and can trigger your vehicle's traction control system.

Pros

Exceptional snow service ratings
Hydroplane resistant
60,000 miles warranty

Cons

A 1,000 miles break-in period
Low gravel and dirt performance
Noise

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season

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The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season is an ultra-high performance (UHP) tire intended to give impeccable traction, handling, and driving throughout the year. This Goodyear tire, designed exclusively for sports cars, coupes, and sedans, amalgamates different technologies for high-performance driving.

The tire has an asymmetric tread design and a specific tread compound that provides grip and traction in all situations, including dry, wet, and snowy conditions. Its outer tread blocks provide greater traction on dry roads, while the inner All-Season Zone traction teeth clear snow, slush, and ice particles during the colder winter months.

Tredlock Technology from Goodyear improves cornering grip and precision handling. It makes use of micro-grooves that interlock during tight cornering to provide the tire with extra rigidity and stability. Dual steel belts are strengthened with polyamide cord cap plies on the inside of the tire for improved tread endurance and strength. The tires are available in 16-20inch diameters and have a W or Y speed rating. Goodyear also includes a 45-kilo-mile treadwear warranty.

Pros

All-season traction and performance
Very good cornering grip
Durable

Cons

Could be more comfortable

These seven all-season and all-purpose tires are among the highest rated products according to Tire Rack's performance score charts, and are bound to offer great performance in all seasons and conditions. However, please keep in mind that all-season tires aren't a suitable replacement for winter gear, and if the temperatures in your area drop significantly under 42°F or 5.5°C, you should consider swapping your tires for a winter set.

About The Author

Charles Redding

I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.