Which tires for which seasons? We explain here what you should look out for when buying tires and what exactly the differences between seasonal tires are.

Summer tires are usually used between Easter and October. The right time to change tires depends less on the month. The actual factor is more about the temperature and the current weather conditions. Summer tires should ideally be fitted when the temperature is above 7° Celsius, as they contain a harder rubber compound and therefore have a high level of grip on dry and wet roads.

For winter tires, however, the optimal time or temperature for changing tires is when the weather is below 7° Celsius. The rubber compound of the tires is much more flexible and softer than that of summer tires. This ensures sufficient grip and better adhesion even on icy roads. Winter tires also have so-called "sipes" that interlock with the snow and thus ensure greater driving stability.

A major advantage of all-weather tires is that they can be driven all year round, saving you a trip to the workshop and storage. The tires must therefore be designed for both cold and warm temperatures. It is therefore obvious that they cannot fully meet all the parameters of winter and summer tires. According to tire tests, most all-weather tires are particularly good in winter and do not have to hide in ice and snow. However, a few compromises have to be made in summer on dry roads and at high speeds. Summer tires are superior, especially in terms of braking distance, rolling resistance and rolling noise. You can read what you should look for in an all-weather tire here.