The tire changing season starts in autumn. And for many, the question will arise again: Does it have to be at all or is it not a set of all-season tires?
One set of tires instead of two in rotation - that saves two workshop appointments per year or your own effort when changing tires. And you don't have to worry about the right time to switch. "If you are surprised by the onset of winter, then you already have the tires on it," says Vincenzo Lucà from TÜV Süd. Because when there is snow and mud on the roads, summer tires are no longer allowed in Germany - fines threaten.
With the all-rounders, drivers can also save on the costs of possible storage. Or they save space in the basement.
According to Lucà, on the other hand, there are no significant savings in terms of tire costs. "All-season tires also have their price, and you drive them all year round," says the TÜV spokesman. "So they shut down faster and have to be replaced more often."
Motorists must be aware that all-season tires always try to do a balancing act. They have their strength either in winter or summer. But even an all-weather tire with good winter suitability is not enough for a pure winter tire. "If you want to go skiing in the Austrian Alps, you can't avoid winter tires," says Lucà.
On the other hand, if you drive a lot in high heat, you are probably better off with summer tyres. "For extremes, you have to take the specialist," said the expert.
For whom are all-season tires suitable? Basically for cars to which the following points apply: They are not driven too many kilometers a year, are mainly on the flat without large amounts of snow and mostly in the city.
If this is the case, owners are still spoiled for choice: Which all-season tire is the best? This in turn depends on the specific application. The EU tire label attached to the tire offers a first clue.
The criteria presented there include rolling resistance, wet grip and exterior road noise. The rolling resistance, for example, allows conclusions to be drawn about how much fuel the car consumes more or less with a certain tire.
Lucà recommends that buyers weigh these aspects for themselves. "If you want to know the details, you should look at the tire tests of automobile clubs or in trade journals."
