All-season tyres - one set for the whole year
All-season tyres are designed to deliver acceptable performance in both summer and winter, letting you avoid seasonal tyre changes. They are a compromise solution that is becoming increasingly popular in Latvia too, especially among city drivers.
Are all-season tyres suitable for the Latvian climate
Latvia's climate, with its distinct seasons, poses specific challenges for all-season tyres. The average winter temperature in Rīga is around -5°C in January, while in summer it reaches +18-20°C in July. All-season tyres perform best in the temperature range from -10°C to +30°C. This means that on Latvia's harshest winter days, with temperatures below -15°C, they may not provide the same grip as dedicated winter tyres.
However, the latest generation of all-season tyres marked with the 3PMSF (three-peak mountain snowflake) symbol meets winter tyre testing standards and is legal to use in Latvia during the winter period too (1 December - 1 March), provided the tread depth is at least 4 mm.
Advantages of all-season tyres
- Savings - no need to buy two sets of tyres and pay for a seasonal change twice a year. The savings can reach 200-400 euros over the life of the tyres.
- Convenience - no need to worry about changing tyres on time or storing them. Especially relevant for city dwellers without a garage or storage space.
- A good compromise for mild winters - if your daily route mainly runs along regularly cleared city streets, all-season tyres can be perfectly adequate.
- A greener choice - lower overall tyre consumption, as one set replaces two.
Drawbacks of all-season tyres
- Compromise performance - in summer the braking distance is 5-15% longer than with dedicated summer tyres, and in winter 10-20% longer than with winter tyres.
- Faster wear - the softer rubber compound needed for winter conditions wears out faster in summer.
- Limited capability in extreme conditions - on ice and in deep snow, all-season tyres cannot compete with dedicated winter tyres.
Who all-season tyres are suitable for
All-season tyres are a good choice for drivers who:
- Mainly drive in the city and suburbs, where the roads are cleared regularly.
- Cover relatively few kilometres a year (up to 15,000 km).
- Do not make long journeys on rural roads in winter.
- Want to save time and money on tyre changes and storage.
- Drive cars equipped with modern safety systems (ESP, ABS).
On the other hand, if you regularly drive on roads outside the city, make long journeys or live in a region with harsher winters, dedicated seasonal tyres are the recommended choice.
The best all-season tyres for 2024-2025
Among the best all-season tyre models available in our shop are the Michelin CrossClimate series (one of the first models to carry the 3PMSF marking), Continental AllSeasonContact, Goodyear Vector 4Seasons, Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6, Nokian Seasonproof and Hankook Kinergy 4S. These models regularly receive high ratings in independent tests and offer a good balance between summer and winter performance.
Important considerations before buying
Before buying all-season tyres, make sure the model you choose carries the 3PMSF marking - it is mandatory for the tyres to be legal during the Latvian winter period. Also pay attention to the EU label wet grip rating, as precipitation is frequent in Latvia all year round. Check the tread depth regularly - all-season tyres should be replaced when the tread wears down to 4 mm, not 1.6 mm as with summer tyres, so that they stay safe in winter.