Whether you’re screaming down the highway on a hot summer’s day or whether you’re driving a snow-covered back road on a cold winter night there is always something you can count on being different, the weather! And with all the changes in weather conditions, a lot of people are looking for a tire that can tackle them all. Fortunately, there are plenty of competent tires on the market that can handle whatever all-season conditions you drive them into and I want to help you find the one that’s right for you.
So today we are going to cover the “Best All-Season Tires in 2022” according to an experienced Tire Technician and Mechanic. How I will reach these conclusions will be based on my own experiences with the tires, what the promises the companies make about their products, and the countless in-person customer reviews that I have collected over years of working in the shop. I will also factor in cost of course and what I think would be the best bang for your buck. This post, however, will mostly be targeting individuals with cars whether compact to full-size sedans, compact SUV’s, crossovers and minivans, although some of the tires listed can be found with “Light Truck” options for truck owners out there and of course this information will be valid for you as well.
Before I begin there may be some terminology, acronyms, and symbols like (DOT, load rating, speed rating, etc.) that might seem confusing but I will do my best to provide clear information and tell you which terms and information you want to look for when picking the right tire for you and your vehicle. Below, in the “Buying Guide” section, I have provided a short explanation of some of the key points of information about tires that you will need to know to go ahead and choose the right tire for you.
***Lastly and also VERY important, although these tires are numbered from 1-17 it does NOT mean that the tire in the #1 spot is better than the last tire on the list. This is because when selecting a tire there are too many variables that come into play when finding the right tire for you (i.e. your vehicle type, what type of driver you are, and what type of climate you drive in). So what I have done is list what each tire does better than the others on the list while also providing information on what tires work best for some vehicles. So all in all these are the 17 best all-season tires on the all-season tire market in general and I am confident that you will find the right tire for you and your vehicle on the list below!***
Here Are the Best All-Season Tires in 2022
1. Goodyear Assurance All-Season
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 9/32 of tread depth
- 60,000 Mile Warranty
- Treadwear Rating 600
- Traction Grade A
- Around $110 a tire
If you’re looking for some of the highest quality tires on the market Goodyear is always a safe bet. They have been in the tire manufacturing business for over 120 years and counting. Quality goes without question with their tires and that applies to this product as well.
The Goodyear Assurance All-Season tire confidently checks all the boxes when it comes to performance in all seasons with its four wide tread groove system that keeps water away from the tread for a high degree of traction. It also has a dense network of sipes built into the tread design for ample bite on a multitude of surfaces. Goodyear has also added a decent mileage warranty at 60,000 miles and that applies to all sizes of this product.
My Review: This particular tire in my experience is in the top 5 highest selling all-season tires at the location I work at. The price is a very attractive selling point for many of the customers I’ve had over the years with cost averaging around $110 a tire, and this is very reasonable for what you are getting. Additionally, depending on the distributor that you are purchasing from, Goodyear normally keeps some sort of incentive running all year round like a possible $80 off your overall price when you purchase 4 tires. When customers ask me about this tire I always tell them that for that price range it’s probably one of the best budget tires we install. You get competent performance rain, snow, and shine and also a very decent mileage warranty to boot.
2. Goodyear Eagle Touring
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 8/32 of tread depth
- No Mileage Warranty
- Treadwear Rating 500
- Traction Grade A
- Around $150 a tire
Moving on to the Goodyear Eagle Touring we find a multitude of changes from the Goodyear Assurance family geared towards a more luxurious ride while still keeping that Goodyear performance in all-season conditions. Staying true to the Goodyear Eagle family these tires aim more towards high performance and luxury vehicles to provide both a smooth ride while also providing a high degree of response while cornering. The Goodyear Eagle Touring is a high durability tire that offers an H-speed rating and above for those performance car gurus out there.
My Review: Anytime one of you car guys or girls come into the shop I can normally spot what type of tire you are there for based on what kind of vehicle they are stepping out of. When I see performance rims, a low ride, spoilers or a luxury vehicle pull into the lot I immediately think of the Goodyear Eagle family of tires among others. The Goodyear Eagle Touring is one of my go-to for customers requesting a performance tire while also staying anchored to the road even when conditions become less favorable. I also make sure to explain that with the Goodyear Eagle Touring Goodyear designed this tire for enhanced responsiveness, maximum contact with the road, and with aggressive biting edges for confident traction in all seasons. For around $150 you’re getting a confident performance all-season tire with premiere handling and maximum traction.
3. Goodyear Assurance Maxlife
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 11/32 of tread depth
- 85,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 820
- Traction Grade A
- Around $130 a tire
Next we have one of Goodyear’s newest tires to the market with the Goodyear Assurance Maxlife tire. This tire boasts one of the highest mileage warranties on the market to date with a super impressive 85,000 mile warranty. Its symmetrical tread pattern provides confident handling in all-season conditions and with such a thick tread depth the cost per mile is one of the lowest that Goodyear offers. With a very reasonable cost of around $130 per tire you are you get a great all-season tire, incredibly thick tread, and a very high treadwear rating.
My Review: To be quite honest when Goodyear announced this tire I was reading manufacturer reviews before it was even released. When I heard they were going to be shipping us a new all-season tire with their highest mileage warranty I was all ears but not just for my customers but for myself as well. You see, when this tire arrived at my shop not only was I excited to tell my customers about it, I straight up bought a set for my everyday commuter vehicle! 30,000 miles into this tire and three different seasons including winter I can tell you that it is one of the smoothest and quietest rides I have experienced. Rain snow or shine I have yet to see or feel this tire falter in any way and for the price of around $130 a tire you are getting an exceptionally well made all-season tire.
4. Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 10/32 of tread depth
- 65,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 620
- Traction Grade A
- Around $130 a tire
Next in the Goodyear Assurance family we have the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max. When Goodyear designed this tire they took a slightly different approach versus the other tires in the Assurance family. They focused on fuel efficiency in the form of slightly adjusting the rubber compound of this mid-tier all-season tire. The result was a tire with a significantly lower rolling resistance compared to other all-season tires in the same class. Additionally Goodyear paid close attention to keeping this tire all-season ready by manufacturing a rigid outer shoulder for improved handling on dry pavement and an internally horizontally notched center rib to help quickly evacuate snow and rain out from under the tire.
My Review: In my experience the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tire has been one of those “tried and true” tires that are quite popular among customers with many returning for a new set when the previous ones wear out. I believe that is because after one gains better fuel efficiency with their vehicle because of this tire it is hard to justify moving away from it. I’ve had some customers tell me they noticed an improvement in fuel efficiency as high as 3 miles per gallon! That remains true to small to mid-sized sedans, compact SUVs, and minivans. For around $130 a tire you will get a deep tread designed to maximize fuel efficiency with an impressive 65,000 mile warranty for and overall well rounded all-season tire.
5. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 11/32 of tread depth
- 60,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 700
- Traction Grade A
- Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rated
- Around $140 a tire
Next we have the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady. As one of the newer additions to the Goodyear Assurance family this tire was designed with maximum traction in mind when the takes a turn for the worst. At a glance you may notice that there is a very noticeable asymmetrical tread pattern that is geared towards conquering severe weather conditions while also providing a smooth ride. The asymmetry and strategically placed sipes in this tread pattern expertly channel snow, slush, and rain out from under the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady faster than any other all-season tire in its class. For a price of around $150 a tire you can rest assured that you are getting Goodyear’s highest performing all-season tire in severe weather conditions.
My Review: Not too long ago I was introduced to the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady and at first I was a little skeptical with what Goodyear insisted this tire could accomplish in severe road conditions. It just so happened that at the time of release I was up for a new set of tires and decided to give the WeatherReady a try and received many positive results. This tire is definitely a beast in severe weather conditions allowing me to confidently navigate the highway in torrential rain and snow-covered back roads with more peace of mind than I have experienced with any other all-season tire I have ever tried. With a more aggressive tread pattern however you may notice a slight increase in road noise which can easily go unnoticed over time or drowned out with a slight volume adjustment on the radio.
When a customer asks me for “the best” all-season tire that we carry I always immediately direct their attention to the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady. This premium all-season tire retails for around $140 a tire and while you might be trading a slightly more quiet ride with this tire what you gain in severe weather control is unmatched and well worth the cost.
6. Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 11/32 of tread depth
- 80,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 740
- Traction Grade A
- Around $130 a tire
Switching gears to the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring it’s no wonder Goodyear gave this tire this name because they designed it with one thing in mind, Comfort! The Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring combines a sleek and elegant looking sidewall with the smoothest and quietest ride the company offers. With characteristics like these this tire is a go-to for luxury car owners that want a near silent cabin while navigating the highway on the way to or from the workplace. As always Goodyear also did their homework when it comes to performance in all-season conditions with an asymmetrical tread pattern for confident navigation on wet roads and frigid conditions. This comfortable all-season tire boasts a very reasonable retail price around $130 a tire and also holds one of Goodyear’s highest mileage warranties at 80,000 miles.
My Review: There are two types of customers that come to my mind when I see the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring tire and those are the soccer mom’s looking for a quiet cabin in the minivan in hopes that the little ones might fall asleep and the luxury air suspended car or SUV drivers looking for maximum peace of mind for the morning commute. Upon reflection, while researching this tire it felt like I was learning more about a mattress cushion rather than an all-season tire! Goodyear applied a dual comfort approach with this tire simultaneously combining an extra cushion layer to the tread pattern and added cushion to the sidewall of the tire to provide as much as 20% less road noise compared to other tires in its class. What this tire accomplishes in a quiet ride it also accomplishes in all-season conditions. With a well-groomed asymmetrical design you can be sure that the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring performs confidently rain, snow, and shine.
7. Goodyear Assurance Eagle RS-A
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 10/32 of tread depth
- No Mileage Warranty
- Treadwear Rating 260
- Traction Grade A
- Around $150 a tire
Speeding up to the Goodyear Eagle RS-A we return to the Goodyear Eagle family which are designed with one thing in mind, SPEED! The Goodyear Eagle RS-A boasts some of the boldest outer shoulders on the inside and outside of the asymmetrical tread design for maximum grip at high speed and confident cornering. This tire also sports a diligent four groove tread pattern designed to push water out from under the tire for enhanced wet road performance. Everything about this tire exudes confidence and handling for the driver that isn’t afraid to lean a little more on the throttle.
My Review: I think I should have said “slowing down” on the intro above because there is one small bit of information I have left out. That is that this tire might look a little familiar to our men and women in blue! Yes that’s right! The Goodyear Eagle RS-A is the tire you are most likely going to see on a police cruiser sitting at a stoplight or unfortunately rolling up behind you on the highway. With that kind of clientele you can be sure that this tire has undergone extensive testing at high rates of speed while also keeping safety and security in mind in all-season conditions. Sporting a rigid sidewall and an extensively dense sipe network in the asymmetrical design this tire was made to excel on the highway no matter the weather and with a retail price around $150 a tire you receive one of the best performance tires Goodyear has to offer.
8. Goodyear Assurance Eagle Sport All-Season
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 10/32 of tread depth
- 50,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 560
- Traction Grade A
- Around $125 a tire
Steering into the next tire we have the Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season. Goodyear adjusted the rubber composition for this particular tire and made calculated changes to its tread design to offer something that other tires in the Goodyear Eagle family don’t, and that is grip! This all-season tire was designed with corners in mind rain, snow, and shine. Goodyear went to great lengths to pit the Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season against its competitors in this category and didn’t settle for anything less than victory. This tire steered clear of all the competitors and pulled ahead with its asymmetrical tread design, strong shoulder blocks that allow for superior cornering and four wide tread grooves for exceptional handling in all weather conditions.
My Review: If you are one of those drivers that routinely find yourself on a winding road or a person that doesn’t shy away from a day at the track then the Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season is the tire for you. Over the years I have heard customers describe this tire multiple times on separate occasions with one word. “Fun!” The Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season was made for the driver who might be willing to take their ride to the limit when cornering while also retaining confident handling on wet or icy roads. This performance tire comes in with a very reasonable retail price of around $125 a tire and with that you are getting Goodyear’s most agile tire to date.
9. BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 9.5/32 of tread depth
- 60,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 600
- Traction Grade A
- Around $100 a tire
BFGoodrich is no stranger to the spotlight when it comes to the top-ranked tire manufacturers around. They have been in business for 150 years and counting, and with that kind of experience you can expect nothing less than perfection with the tires this company produces.
The BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport was designed specifically to check off every box when it comes to all-season performance while also offering an outstanding 60,000 mile warranty. This tire sports very wide tread sipes for optimal grip on pavement and even dirt and gravel roads! Additionally it has a solid center tread design for a smooth ride and minimal road noise while up to speed.
My Review: Ah yes, the BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport, I could make this review as short as possible by simply saying that this is the highest selling tire our facility installs and leave it at that, but instead I will tell you why. In my opinion BFGoodrich hit the nail on the head with every factor of this all-season tire. Outstanding dry and wet road handling, exceptionally short stopping distance, and responsive handling make this tire lion among sheep in my opinion. Not to mention how incredibly inexpensive this tire is, at around $100 a tire you are getting a HUGE bang for your buck! I know I have blown this tire up with this review so far but that’s just it, it’s hard for me to think of any negative reviews I have heard or seen over the years. Although this tire may not be the certain best at any one category it certainly holds its own alongside its competitors in all categories. In short, an outstandingly affordable and well-performing all-season tire. Period.
10. BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 All-Season
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 9/32 of tread depth
- 45,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 400
- Traction Grade AA
- Around $120 a tire
Accelerating into the next tire we have the BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 All-Season tire and right off the bat there is a stark difference with this tire to the ones previous. That notable difference is the “directional” tread pattern. This tire is geared towards ultra-high-performance vehicles with well above average horsepower and handling because that is exactly what this tire was designed for. Its unique tread pattern provides nothing less than superior handling at high speed while also staying glued to the road when cornering. BFGoodrich offers this tire for the sports car owner that isn’t afraid to drive all year round without sacrificing too much performance verses specifically designed racing tires. The BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 All-Season sports an exceedingly high traction rating of AA and roughly retails for a very reasonable $120 a tire.
My Review: While we do not sell too many of these tires at my shop there are a select few individuals that this tire works perfectly for. The BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 All-Season is perfect for that Audi, Mustang, or Corvette owner that isn’t afraid to drive their baby no matter the season or weather conditions. This tire performs quite favorably in all-season conditions while still accomplishing ultra-high-performance handling, acceleration and stopping power with its powerful symmetrical and directional tread pattern. Additionally, it is also very rare to see tire manufacturers include a mileage warranty with a high-performance tire but BFGoodrich went out of their way and offers a nice 45,000 mile warranty to boot.
11. Pirelli P4 Four Season Plus
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 12/32 of tread depth
- 90,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 620
- Traction Grade A
- Around $100 a tire
Here we have another exceptionally talented tire manufacturer that we have not forgotten about. Pirelli has been around for nearly 150 years and just like its competitors they should not be mistaken for lesser when it comes to experience in making quality tires.
This leads us to the Pirelli P4 Four Season Plus which is a very competent touring tire that stays true to its name by performing exceptionally well in all seasons. It’s specifically designed for low road noise with its solid center tread design while also maintaining traction on wet or snow with its symmetrical tread grooves. This tire also boasts our highest mileage warranty of the list with a staggering 90,000 mile warranty.
My Review: In the not so distant past the Pirelli P4 Four Season Plus was one of the front runners for our highest selling tires at my shop but in recent years I think it has been overshadowed by the vast amount of tires that have entered the market in recent years. But I am here to shine the light back on this very capable very seasoned all-season tire because even with the overwhelming volume of all-season tires entering the market this tire still offers befits the other cannot touch. Namely the insanely high 90,000 mile warranty Pirelli offers still makes me double-take when I look at their flyers. Imagine not changing a set of tires for nearly 100,000 miles! Some vehicle transmissions don’t even last that long! Yes these tires may outlive your vehicle but I don’t want to neglect the other benefits it offers like exceptionally quiet road noise, confident handling in wet weather, and deep tread design. Finally let’s not forget the Pirelli P4 Four Season Plus does all of this for only around $100 a tire!
12. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 10/32 of tread depth
- 70,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 700
- Traction Grade A
- Around $150 a tire
Next up we have Pirelli’s answer to its competitors when it comes to the luxury and sports vehicle market with the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II tire. Pirelli designed this tire with sport performance and luxury riding in mind while also offering a few things over its competitors. For starters this tire offers an outstanding 70,000 mile warranty which sets it well above the other tires in its class as well as scientifically tested all-season performance. Additionally the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II offers a 15% reduction in rolling resistance for better fuel efficiency designed to help reduce time and money at the pump. It achieves all of these standards while also keeping road noise to a minimum which is always a plus.
My Review: Pirelli always seems to be that sometimes silent manufacturer that shows up to the party and drops an incredible product into the lineup without warning. Well, this also holds true for the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II and with all the competitive tires in its class it’s important not to forget this behemoth. It offers exceptional performance at high speed while also maintaining excellent handling and short stopping distance. Pirelli also went out of their way to make this tire a smooth and quiet ride even under the toughest of weather conditions. Lastly Pirelli seems to be one of the only tire manufacturers to make it a point to be as green as possible using as much as 6% less raw materials to produce their tires than their competitors. This tire retails for roughly $150 a tire.
13. Michelin Defender T+H
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 10/32 of tread depth
- 80,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 820
- Traction Grade A
- Around $170 a tire
The name Michelin without a doubt is one of the most recognizable names when it comes to tire manufactures the world over. They are synonymous with quality tires from the start of the company to 130 years at the present. They nearly dominate tire marketing in the US with billboards, television commercials, and internet ads which makes it hard to not instantly recognize the name when seen. That isn’t a bad thing because when you purchase Michelin tires you always get an exceedingly well-engineered product.
Starting off the Michelin Defender T+H is one of the most popular tires manufactured by Michelin. In fact, they were rated “the best” all-season tire in 2016 by consumer reviews so they aren’t anything to scoff at. Additionally Michelin provides an incredible 80,000 mile warranty with this specific tire as well. Furthermore, being one of the most manufactured tires by Michelin chances are that you will be able to find this tire in almost all car and small SUV sizes. The Defender series has also been around for quite some time and with that Michelin has been able to whittle out any imperfections with older Defender designs. Over the last couple iterations Michelin has paid close attention to what they call their “IntelliSipe technology” which boasts the best wet road performance while also reducing the amount of road noise inside the cabin of the vehicle.
My Review: Michelin, another big boy on the block and I’m not just talking about the Michelin Man. The Michelin Defender series tires have to be the most recognizable tires made by Michelin with incredible popularity with compact car owners to light truck owners and everything in between. Michelin does well to provide some of the most size selections with the Defender tires so chances are you will always be able to find a tire to fit any vehicle.
The Michelin Defender T+H all-season tire has gone through a few iterations over the years with previous models falling short in my opinion. But I am happy to announce that the most recent model listed here has done well to deliver on what it promises. Quiet ride, great fuel economy, exceptional wet road performance, and an impressive mileage warranty the Michelin Defender T+H confidently checks all of these boxes and then some. Its popularity is undeniable with this tire being one of our facilities’ highest-selling tires with a vast amount of very happy repeat customers. This $170 tire is also one of the highest consumer reviewed tires on the market which is always a reassuring point when you’re in the market for a new all-season tire.
14. Michelin Premier LTX
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 8.5/32 of tread depth
- 60,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 620
- Traction Grade A
- Around $170 a tire
Michelin’s Premier LTX tire is for small trucks and crossover SUVs and was engineered with one thing in mind, wet weather traction. Specifically Michelin designed and developed what they call their “Ever Grip Technology” which focuses on superior long-lasting wet road performance even at the end of the lifespan of the tires. This technology incorporates Expanding Rain Grooves and Emerging Grooves that appear as the tire wears to ensure wet weather performance no matter what. Michelin also issues its “total performance” rating that guarantees great control when maneuvering corners, a smoother quieter ride than its competitors, and maximum fuel efficiency built-in. The Premier LTX retails for around $170 a tire.
My Review: Over the years I’ve heard nothing but good things about this tire from my customers with many returning for the same tire which says a lot. Just like the information provided above the Michelin Premier LTX tire is probably one of the best wet weather performing tires on the market which is an important characteristic sought after by many consumers. The Premier LTX comes with a 60,000 mile warranty and only about 8/32 of tread depth but Michelin insists that with this tread design a thicker tread isn’t important for the performance they guarantee.
15. Michelin Premier A/S
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 8.5/32 of tread depth
- 60,000 mile warranty
- Treadwear Rating 640
- Traction Grade A
- Around $180 a tire
Sticking with Michelin’s Premier series tires we move onto the Michelin Premier A/S tire. This is Michelin’s newest addition to their grand touring tires and the little brother to the Premier LTX with one exception. The Michelin Premier LTX was so popular with light truck and crossover vehicles that they redesigned the tire for coupes, sedans, and minivans. Michelin incorporated all the wet weather traction technology used in the very popular Premier LTX to produce near-identical performances for smaller lighter vehicles with this tire. That being said the tire specifications are nearly all identical except for the sizes available.
My Review: Simply put, this is the compact version of the Michelin Premier LTX with all the same technologies and performances. You still get a 60,000 mile warranty and a similar retail price of $180 a tire.
16. Michelin Primacy MXV4
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 10/32 of tread depth
- 55,000 mile warranty (H&V ratings)
- 45,000 mile warranty (W, Y and Z ratings)
- Treadwear Rating 500
- Traction Grade AA
- Around $200 a tire
Next we have Michelin’s luxury coupe and car tire that is sure to get you ahead of the competition. This all-season touring tire that has capable performance and handling in all weather conditions including light snow. The Primacy MXM4 hosts a unique locking tread design that aids in powerful traction under intense acceleration while also allowing water to escape efficiently. Michelin also incorporated sunflower oil in the rubber compound which is said to provide increased traction in rain and snow while also aiding in the reduction of road noise inside the cabin. This tire retails for around $200 a tire and with that you’re getting a supreme competitor in the performance/luxury car tire market.
My Review: The Michelin Primacy MXM4 might seem pretty pricey at first but in all the years I have been installing them I have yet to hear any negative reviews. I find these tires to be extremely popular among BMW, Audi, and Mercedes owners with many of them exclaiming how well these tires perform under stress for an all-season touring tire. Lastly, if you are in the market for a performance tire like these you might notice that its competitors might not offer a mileage warranty with their performance tire. That is where Michelin stands apart from the competition by offering a 55,000 mile warranty for H and V rating as well as an adjusted 45,000 mile warranty for the W, Y, and Z ratings which you will be hard-pressed to match with other tires in this category.
17. Michelin Latitude Tour HP
Key Specifications:
- Comes with 10/32 of tread depth
- 55,000 mile warranty (H&V ratings)
- 45,000 mile warranty (W, Y and Z ratings)
- Treadwear Rating 500
- Traction Grade AA
- Around $200 a tire
Last but certainly not least we have the Michelin Latitude Tour HP tire which is Michelin’s crossover and luxury SUV all-season touring tire. This tire was specifically designed with Michelin’s “Secure Lock Tread Block Technology” which allows the tire to have a thicker tread depth without losing any performance when cornering. This design also allows for improved traction on wet and snow-covered roads by allowing the tread sipes to stay open while moving for maximum water and snow evacuation out from under the tire while also locking together for shorter stopping distance and better control compared to the competitors.
Additionally, the Michelin Latitude Tour HP tire uses two types of rubber compound in this tire with the outer tread having a more dense composition for added dry road performance and handling and the inner tread having a less dense composition for improved wet road handling. Retailing for around $200 a tire, this luxury crossover, and SUV tire will not disappoint.
My Review: Bringing up the rear is the Michelin Latitude Tour HP tire which is more a niche tire to the market but if you own a luxury crossover or SUV then you’ve come to the right place. This tire lends itself incredibly well to all weather conditions and believe it or not I have also heard this tire isn’t too shabby off the beaten path as well! Michelin also went out of their way to add an additional ply to this tire making it more puncture resistant than its competitor if you find yourself on a rocky back road or trail which is always a plus. I have also been told by customers that they noticed a significant improvement in fuel economy after using this tire and wouldn’t trade it for any other tire in its class.
Choosing the Best All-Season Tire (Buying Guide)
Knowing Your Tire Size
The size of the tire is easy enough. The important part is that you match the size specification of your vehicle. This can be located in a number of places, the main location is a sticker normally located on the driver side inside lower door panel below the locking mechanism of the door. The sticker will provide the size appropriate for the front and rear of the vehicle. For foreign cars such as BMW and Volkswagen, this sticker may also be located on the passenger door panel in the same general location. Some performance vehicles require different front and rear sized tires so be aware of that.
Load index & Speed rating of a Tire
This part is VERY important and in my experience, I have seen various companies and garages not pay attention to these values. They are important because each vehicle manufacturer actually specifies what value of load index and speed rating required for the given vehicle for “Optimal Performance”. These values will be located directly after the size written on the tire. For example (P205/60/16 99H), these values are the “99H” values and can be found in your vehicle manual for what range your vehicle needs to be within for the best performance of the vehicle.
DOT Number of a Tire
Finally, this piece of information may be small but is still of great importance because the “DOT” of the tire will tell you the age of the tire in question. The US Department of Transportation(DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) requires tire manufacturers to print the “birth date” of the tire if you will, so that the consumer, as well as professionals, know that the tire is still safe for sale and use. This information will be located on every tire on the perimeter of the inner hole of the tire where the rim is mounted. It will always start with DOT followed by a mix of eight to thirteen numbers and letters.
The numbers that will give you the production date, or “birth date”, of the tire, however, will be the final four numbers (DOT*********1221). In this example, we see “1221” as the final four numbers in the sequence. The first two numbers “12” refers to the 12th week of the year it was manufactured and the “21” refers to the year 2021 that it was manufactured. This is important because the US Department of Transportation recommends that no tires be sold as new if they are older than 6 years old.
Mileage Warranty of a Tire
As you search through different tires you might notice that some tires will include a “Mileage Warranty”. Simply explained this warranty is what the manufacturer guarantees their product will reach before it needs to be replaced. For example, if a tire specifies a 50,000 miles warranty this means that the manufacturer guarantees the tire will get at least 50,000 miles before needing replacement. Additionally, this warranty is important because depending on your place of purchase, if the tire does not meet the warranty then usually the provider will offer a replacement tire at a discounted or “pro-rated” price. If the place of purchase does not honor manufacturer warranties then a claim can always be taken to the manufacturer themselves with the appropriate paperwork for compensation. In short, when searching for a tire, if possible, you want to find a tire with a mileage warranty.
Tire Tread Design
It is common when searching the internet for tires to find terminologies like “symmetrical”, “asymmetrical”, and “directional” when talking about tire tread patterns and here I will briefly explain each. “Symmetrical” will be the most common of the three and it simply means that if you drew a vertical line through a tire tread longways you would notice that the tread pattern is the same on the left side that it is on the right. These tires are easy to install because it does not matter which side of the tire is facing outward, both sides are the same.
Next is “Asymmetrical”, this means that if you drew the same line dividing the tread you would have two different designs on either side of your line. Asymmetrical tires will have a designated “inner” and “outer” wall that will have to be noticed to be installed properly. Lastly, we have “directional”, this means that the tires have to be mounted on a vehicle usually pointed in the forward direction. These tires are easy to spot because the tread designs normally have a “V” shape to them and the sidewalls will have an arrow indicating which direction the tire has to be facing whether it is mounted on the driver side of a vehicle or the passenger side of a vehicle.
One of these is not better than the other, it just means that when the manufactures designed a tires’ tread it was formulated a specific way so that the tire performed the exact actions they needed it to, whatever they may be.
Tire Tread Depth
This refers to the amount of tread depth that comes with all new tires. This will always be provided in 32nds of an inch in the United States, for example, 9/32 is a common depth found with new tires. This measurement is subject to change depending on the type of tire one might be searching for with All-Terrain tires having the deepest and thickest tread as deep as 16/32. In my opinion, when looking for all-season tires you want to see at least 10/32 of tread or very close to that. This will guarantee the most amount of use in the form of miles driven for the tire.
Tire Treadwear Rating
This bit of information is usually a bit more confusing for tire buyers and even the most qualified technicians. This value is usually found on the product sticker found on all new tires. In short the higher the value the longer the tire will last over time when driven on its’ intended surface. Unfortunately, these values are not universal between companies which can create confusion. So if you are keeping track of these values when searching for the right tire I urge you to compare the ratings only when looking at tires from the same manufacturer.
Tire Traction Grade
This system of grading refers to how the tire performs under high stress. Specifically, these coefficients refer to how a tire performed when forcefully stopping on wet asphalt and concrete. Simply put there are four different grading coefficients (AA, A, B, and C) with AA providing the best performance and C having the lowest performance. Unfortunately, this universal standard was only applied semi-recently so this will only apply to tires manufactured after the standard was placed.
Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol (3PMSF)
As you navigate the tires on this list you will notice this phrase or acronym numerous times. In short, this symbol is only branded on the sidewall of tires that meet the severe winter weather performance standards of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RCA). These test standards take place on medium-packed snow only and any tire that holds this badge can be expected to have enhanced snow traction beyond any M+S branded all-season tire.
Pricing of a Tire
As you read through my reviews you will notice that I will list a given tire as “around” a certain price. This is because when it comes to averaging tire cost it is quite difficult and this is why. More common sizes are priced much cheaper than larger rim sizes and also there are the more uncommon performance tire sizes with inflated pricing for the added difficulty to manufacture and install. I have done my best to average together an all-encompassing price tag but don’t be alarmed if your tire size is $50 or more above my average price.
Final Thoughts
It is imperative that you as a consumer take all of this information into account before purchasing any tire. Knowing this key information will not only create the safest driving environment for you but also for your passengers. Regretfully, I have witnessed even trained professionals in the automotive industry lacking knowledge on this type of subject matter. So you can never be sure who you can trust, that is why I believe everyone should use the information above to be your own advocate when choosing the right tire for you. Here at Mechanic Approved, I hope that we have helped narrow your search down to the tire that best suits both you and your vehicle!
My name is Codi and I have been interested in automotive mechanics for as long as I can remember. Today I am a professional mechanic as well as a certified tire technician with over 10 years of combined professional experience.
I started this website because over the years I have noticed an increasing trend of false information among customers and automotive professionals alike. So I have gone to great lengths to provide the most factual information about tools, vehicles, companies, and other automotive products so that anyone can be provided with solid information on what they might be looking for.
I was born in South Florida and am currently located in Western Pennsylvania. I have seen how vehicles and tools respond to all types of weather conditions and scenarios over the years and I am happy to share every bit of automotive and mechanical knowledge I possess to help better inform the general public. Here at Mechanic Approved, our goal is to provide the best automotive mechanic information so that both customers and professionals can make better-informed purchases.
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Very Informative Codi , I wasn’t the mechanic on our 210 acre 100 head dairy farm. I was the herdsman. My Brother was the mechanic, However your tire information was very helpful before I go tire hunting tomorrow. Thank You for bringing this information to to us who are willing to learn and who are very thankful you did.
Take Care ! Ranz 6/26/22
No problem Ranz! Glad you found this page useful. Please feel free to share this page with any other people you may know that are looking for up-to-date and great tire information. Take care!
Thank you Jay! I’m assuming you found this page informative. Take care!
Hi Codi… This site is GREAT, very informative. I was hoping I could bend your ear and get your opinion on some tires before I actually break out my wallet. The car the new tires are going on is a 2013 Lexus ES350. Tire size is 225/45R/18 91V. The more I research tires, the more confused I get. So I’ve narrowed my choices to the following: Goodyear Comfortdrive, Goodyear MaxLife, Michelin MXM4, the new Pirelli P7 AS PLUS 3, as well as a couple of YOKOHAMA TIRES, THE AVID ASCEND LX AND THE AVID ASCEND GT. The absolute main thing I want from a new set of tires is the softest / cushiest ride I can get. I’m leaning toward the GOODYEAR COMFORTDRIVE or the PIRELLI P7 AS PLUS 3. But would love to hear your thoughts. fyi, I’m closer to 70 than 30 so my days of sliding around corners are gone. As such I really am looking for the most comfortable ride I can get. Thank you for your time and I look forward from hearing from you… thanks again.
Hello Roland, in my professional experience I would recommend the Goodyear Comfortred or the new Goodyear Comfortdrive. Both provide an exceptionally smooth ride while also having great tread in all-season conditions. A close third would be the BFGoodrich Advantage TA Sport, an overall great tire that is one of my highest sellers amongst my customers. Thank you for reading and asking questions Roland, I hope I have answered your question for you. Take care and have a great day!