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ACL is seeing ever-increasing interest in all-season tyres. One probable reason is the relatively mild winters.
Average performance
To keep motorists well informed, we have been running comparative tyre tests for many years now, working alongside European automobile clubs. This time, we tested 7 all-season 235/55 R17 V/Y profile tyres for mid-range SUVs and vans/minibuses. Result: 5 “adequate” and 2 “inadequate” tyres.
A good all-season tyre has to combine all the features of a summer and a winter tyre, providing sufficient driver safety across minus temperatures, snow and ice and summer temperatures. For this reason, detailed and rigorous testing covers many different criteria, ranging from braking distance to road-holding on wet surfaces and snow.
Results
The results are disappointing, with tests showing that tyres with good summer performance have weak points on snow, whereas tyres with good winter performance have weak points on dry surfaces. The five models obtaining the score of “satisfactory” or “recommended with reservations” are the Continental AllSeasonContact, Goodyear Vector 4 Season Gen-2, Michelin CrossClimate +, NokianWeatherproof and the Uniroyal AllSeasonExpert 2. The Vredestein Quatrac pro and the Bridgestone Weather Control A005 obtained the grades “unsatisfactory” and “not recommended”.
When it comes down to it, all-season tyres are still a compromise solution. Tests show that they can’t equal the performance of summer and winter tyres in extreme conditions. However, they are still a valid economical alternative for car owners with low annual mileage who are prepared to leave the car at home (in summer or winter, depending on the tyre currently on the vehicle). But people who go on long journeys in summer or head for winter sports resorts in winter should go for seasonal tyres.
The strengths and weaknesses of the 235/55 R17 V/Y profile tyres tested are shown in the table below:
| Result |
Brand and model |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
| ** (3.6) |
CONTINENTAL
AllSeasonContact
|
Best score for snow
Best score for black ice
Best score for fuel consumption
Very good on wear
|
Slight weak points on wet surfaces
Slight weak points on snow
Weak points on dry surfaces
|
| ** (3.8) |
GOODYEAR
Vector 4 Season Gen-2
|
Best score for black ice
Very good on wear
Good on fuel consumption
|
Slight weak points on wet surfaces
Weak points on snow
Weak points on dry surfaces
|
| ** (3.9) |
MICHELIN
CrossClimate +
|
Best score for dry surfaces
Best score for black ice
Best score for wear
Good on fuel consumption
|
Slight weaknesses on dry surfaces
Slight weak points on wet surfaces
Weak points on snow
|
| ** (3.9) |
NOKIAN
Weatherproof
|
Best score for snow
Good on fuel consumption
|
Slight weak points on wet surfaces
Slight weak points on snow and black ice
Noisiest tyre
Weak points on dry surfaces
|
| ** (4.3) |
UNIROYAL
AllSeasonExpert 2
|
Best score for snow and black ice
Best score for noise
Very good on wear
Good on fuel consumption
|
Slight weak points on wet surfaces
Slight weak points on snow
Weak points on dry surfaces
|
| * (5.2) |
VREDESTEIN
Quatrac pro
|
Best score for noise
Very good on wear
Good on fuel consumption
|
Weak points on dry surfaces
Slight weak points on wet surfaces
Slight weak points on black ice
Very weak on snow
|
| * (5.4) |
BRIDGESTONE
Weather Control A005
|
Best score for dry surfaces
Best score for wet surfaces
Best score for black ice
Good on fuel consumption
|
Slight weak points on dry surfaces
Lowest mileage
Very weak on snow
|
Key: ***** = very good (0.6-1.5); **** = good (1.6-2.5) ; *** = satisfactory (2.6-3.5); ** = adequate (3.6-4.5); * = inadequate (4,6-5,5)
Important note:
All-season tyres are generally marked with the letters M+S, M&S or M.S. and are therefore considered as winter tyres by law. But ACL advice is to ensure that the Alpine symbol (3-peak mountain and snowflake) is also on the side of the tyre. The Alpine symbol guarantees that the tyre has passed strict tests in winter conditions.
Our current winter tyre test is featured in the October edition of Autotouring. (page 28+29; in French)
Further information: https://www.acl.lu/en-us/news/archives/les-pneus-d-hiver or call 45 00 45-1.