Non-winter driving: All-Season vs. Performance tires

[Cronzor]

Hi RFDers, I have a question regarding the choice between all-seasons and performance tires for summer driving.

- I live in Quebec so we have Winter tires for winter
- I would be using these tires for everything but winter
- I drive 60 km highway a day so durability might be a factor
- The car is a Civic and it's just being used to get from A to B for work

Any opinions? And while I'm at it, are prices better now than after winter? Thanks.

[Pete_Coach]

Hi RFDers, I have a question regarding the choice between all-seasons and performance tires for summer driving.

- I live in Quebec so we have Winter tires for winter
- I would be using these tires for everything but winter
- I drive 60 km highway a day so durability might be a factor
- The car is a Civic and it's just being used to get from A to B for work

Any opinions? And while I'm at it, are prices better now than after winter? Thanks.

Here is my opinion. I would not get performance tires. they are for handling and cornering therefore use a much softer rubber compound. they will
wear down fast, especially on the highway.
I would get a mid level tire, it does not have to be all season nor a performance tire. There are summer tires out there.
A harder tire, for durability will be noisy and may not have good wet weather performance so I would stay away from those 120,000 km tires.
Like you said, you have a Civic and you use it for A to B so, guage your purchase based on that.
I would not even begin to suggest a brand as there are hundreds (and more arriving every day) out there with everyone having their own allegiances and alienations, likes and dislikes that it quickly becomes a brand name thread. Just get something you can afford and will work for you. Asking which one is best will only confuse you more than anything. Get a known brand name and you should be just fine.

[trucanuck]

Yokohama TRZ

Start shopping now.

[ES_Revenge]

Hi RFDers, I have a question regarding the choice between all-seasons and performance tires for summer driving.

All-seasons blow, end of story.

There is no comparison. Friends do not let friends buy them, and you should stay far, far away. All-seasons are not really tyres, they are rather garbage that should have been banned a long time ago.

[fastlayne]

All-seasons blow, end of story.

There is no comparison. Friends do not let friends buy them, and you should stay far, far away. All-seasons are not really tyres, they are rather garbage that should have been banned a long time ago.

ES_Revenge, tell us how you really feel.

OP, ignore the man behind the curtain. ;-)

Of course, ride softness/harhness, handling, and tread wear rating are factors that you'll have to balance, I would focus on a tire that has above average wet weather performance. Hydroplaning resistance and general wet road traction would be at the top of my list, especially with a highway commute.

I would suggest the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred and keep an eye out for any spring sales.

Beware, the TripleTred is an all-season tire, but a summer-only tire is going to be either a low-cost, poor performing, excuse for a tire, or a more costly, performance specific tire, that is likely out of place on your Civic, if not less appropriate for your driving needs (again, tread wear and comfort).

[ES_Revenge]

ES_Revenge, tell us how you really feel.

I guess I need to bold this:

All-seasons blow, end of story.

There is no comparison. Friends do not let friends buy them, and you should stay far, far away. All-seasons are not really tyres, they are rather garbage that should have been banned a long time ago.

but a summer-only tire is going to be either a low-cost, poor performing, excuse for a tire, or a more costly, performance specific tire, that is likely out of place on your Civic, if not less appropriate for your driving needs (again, tread wear and comfort).

Spoken by someone that either:
i. Knows little about tyres
ii. Knows little about actually driving a vehicle

The talk of low-cost tyres is outside the scope of an all-seaons v. tyres comparison. Cheap out on tyres (as with any vital safety component) and you're asking for trouble. Also there are summer tyres that have good treadwear characteristics. Perhaps not the silly 160,000km treadwear "warranties" you see on craptastic so-called "high-end all-seasons" :cough: oxymoron :cough: , but decent treadwear nonetheless.

If you put convenience (tread wear ) ahead of safety, you just contribute to the problems with road safety that are already rampant. No, roads are not unsafe mainly because of speeders or "street racers" or young people as the government or the laissez-faire "it's not me" attitude towards driving the general population has, would have you believe. It's because of those exact same attidues where scapegoating and convenience trump safety, skill, and proper equipment.

Again all-seasons are, by and large, garbage and have absolutely no place on the road for anyone that thinks seriously about road safety and the safety of themselves, their loved ones, and others. The end.

[BartBandy]

All-seasons blow, end of story.

There is no comparison. Friends do not let friends buy them, and you should stay far, far away. All-seasons are not really tyres, they are rather garbage that should have been banned a long time ago.

QFT.

That said, I'll use my OEM tires that came with my car, but I'll replace them well before the wear bars.

All-seasons are a compromise tire. They suck in the winter, and they under perform in the summer. If you have winter tires and you need new tires for spring-summer-fall, there is no need to buy all-seasons. The problem is, true summer tires are harder to come by for high-profile tires - everybody wants all seasons for their minivans. In that case, you might be stuck buying an all season tire.

[rfdrfd]

Also think about days when it rains. Put that into consideration as well.

You have winter tires for snow months, but in the other months, there are wet days as well.

[thephenom]

QFT.

That said, I'll use my OEM tires that came with my car, but I'll replace them well before the wear bars.

All-seasons are a compromise tire. They suck in the winter, and they under perform in the summer. If you have winter tires and you need new tires for spring-summer-fall, there is no need to buy all-seasons. The problem is, true summer tires are harder to come by for high-profile tires - everybody wants all seasons for their minivans. In that case, you might be stuck buying an all season tire.

x2

I sold my pos Michelin MXM4 or whatever it was that came with my car only after 1500km. They weren't good in the dry, wet, and light snow. I replaced my summer tires with some cheap Nexen N3000, yes, they were cheap, but they still feel a hell lot better than MXM4 in the dry and wet, for snow and in the cold, that's where my winter tires come in. And yes, I've driven on "top notch" a-s tires like the tripletred and hydroedge, while they are decent, they aren't great in anything in particular.

[gamer123]

oh o, my bfg traction ta is rated high performance all season lol

[untaka]

Summer tires are really awesome I had a pair on my civic. Handling and just overall control was fantastic.






However ... If it rained or coming into Nov the surprise snowfall you were so fked!!! I remember it was raining so bad and my tires just couldn't handle it well. I think I'll be going with all season this summer, because I don't really care because my car is just a daily driver.

@ES

Please prove your statements, I'm still open on the idea but I just can't take your word saying they are garbage. If you can prove it and that summers are the better value and are worth getting then (since I already have winters) would prefer those again.

[jhardy]

Tripletreds have served me well, in areas that require winter tires or chains in winter, too. And they do have the snowflake, in case anyone else copies the Quebec law.

[bahasad]

Since your driving your Civic from Point A to Point B, I would get whatever is cheaper - I think A/S are generally cheaper than performance tires, no?. When it rains or w.e., which it will, you will appreciate it more. Maybe if you do high speed driving or w.e. (which because it is a Civic, I doubt), then summer tires might make sense.
You are not a race car driver - just a regular one, AFAIK, a/s is good enough. ES_revenge - I don't know man, you aren't thinking in really practical terms. Performance tires are not for cars don't drive hard - they are stiff, will cause a worse ride, make more sound and will wear quickly. Just cause you think every car should be a performance machine, doesn't mean everyone does so. Geeze.
FYI, I have a 1996 Honda Civic Coupe and my father has a 2004 Acura TL, neither which will have a Summer tire in the summer - I don't see the point, plus it's just a waste of money from my pocket IMO. Winter tires already cost a bucketload.
As for safety, it all depends on the driver. A driver with A/S who is experienced will be far more cautious/better than a driver with Summer...or vice versa. OP, up to you..but my final recommendation are good A/S tires for Summer and Spring, and definitely Snow tires for Winter.

[Flyer]

To me, all-season tires are for that annoying three week span whent he temperature changes between -10 to 20, with a nice mix of both rain and snow...

[hightech]

Since I own a Civic (09 EX-L), if I was in the market for tire that is good in wet, highway, and lasts some time, I would get one of these tires:

Bridgestone Turanza with Serenity Technology

Michelin Primacy MXV4

Some tests:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=112

The civic has good handling so these tires will make it quiet, comfortable, great in wet weather, and maintain the handling capabilities.