Tires by Season
Temperature — not the calendar — decides which tire keeps you safe. Here is how the four families compare.
All-Season
Best for: Mild winters, year-round driving
The default choice for most drivers in the southern and coastal US. Balanced tread compound that works from hot summer pavement down to cool, wet fall roads. Not designed for sustained snow or ice.
Shop all-season tiresWinter
Best for: Snow, ice, sustained cold
Soft compound stays pliable below 7 °C and thousands of sipes bite into snow and ice. On a cold road a winter tire can stop many car lengths shorter than an all-season. Look for the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol.
Shop winter tiresAll-Weather
Best for: One set, four seasons
A true hybrid: severe-snow rated like a winter tire, but built to run all year. The right compromise if you see real snow a few weeks a year and do not want to swap sets.
Shop all-weather tiresSummer & Performance
Best for: Dry and wet grip, warm climates
Maximum dry cornering, braking and steering response. Grip falls off sharply below about 7 °C, so these are a warm-weather-only tire — never run them through a freeze.
Shop summer & performance tiresWhen should I switch?
Use the 7 °C rule. Once daily highs sit consistently below about 45 °F (7 °C), winter rubber outperforms an all-season even on dry pavement. Switch back in spring when nights stop dropping near freezing. Running a dedicated winter set also means your summer or all-season tires last longer, so the long-run cost is smaller than it looks.
Buying a second set? A winter package on its own wheels is faster and cheaper to swap each year than remounting tires — browse wheels or read the buying guide.