For many, a one-size-fits-all approach to their tyre choice is the natural way forward – swapping tyres with the seasons may not make economic sense unless you’re driving in the more extreme climes, but having summer or winter tyres fitted could help improve your motoring experience.
Summer tyres have a number of different qualities over a winter or all-weather tyre; they are designed to be used in temperatures exceeding 7°C (anything less and the compounds aren’t achieving their optimum working temperature). They generally have fewer sipes and grooves in them as water dispersal isn’t key to their performance and thanks partly to that (larger contact area) and the compound used, offer a greater degree of grip.
Despite not having the same water clearing ability as their winter counterpart, they are surprisingly efficient and offer good grip levels in the inevitable summer showers that we get here in the UK.
It should also be noted that road noise is generally lessened, especially when compared to more extreme winter tyres, and you may even find better fuel consumption, although comparisons can be difficult because of different driving styles needed.
While some summer tyres may improve the ride and comfort of your vehicle, you should also remember that the more ‘sporty’ versions will generally have a stiffer sidewall, which could lead to a slightly firmer ride.