Al Volante: All-Season Tire Test R17 2024

Al Volante: All-Season Tire Test R17

More drivers are turning to all-season tires to avoid the hassle of swapping between summer and winter sets or using snow chains. These tires perform well on snowy roads and are marked with the M+S symbol. However, most of the time, these tires are used on dry or wet roads. So, how do they handle these conditions?

This test compares seven popular all-season tires in size 225/50 R17 98V (or similar if the exact size was unavailable). The lineup includes well-known brands like Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, and Vredestein, plus a budget model, the Star Performer Solar 4S, to see if lower cost compromises safety.

  1. Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 - Winner
    Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3
    N/A 41
    · All Season · 2024 · Passenger - Premium Touring All-Season
    Verdict:

    Snow: Strong traction and precise control during acceleration, braking, and cornering. Consistent performance across snowy conditions.
    Wet: Excellent hydroplaning resistance and confident braking. Secure rear stability when cornering.
    Dry: Short braking distances and reliable grip in corners. Composed and predictable handling, even during emergency maneuvers.

    Wet Lateral Stability   Ride Quality   Wet Handling   Snow Traction   Snow Handling   Driving Safety   Wet Traction   Wet Braking   Dry Handling   Snow Lateral Stability   Snow Braking   Cornering Stability   Snow Acceleration   Lateral Hydroplaning   Dry Braking   Rolling Resistance   Price  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    97.5
  2. Michelin CrossClimate 2
    Michelin CrossClimate 2
    86 54
    · All Season · 2020 · Passenger - Performance All-Season
    Verdict:

    Snow: Superior grip and braking, outperforms competitors with ease. Easy to control, offering safe and confident driving.
    Wet: Balanced performance, but slightly lower grip. Handles light understeer well, with stable rear behavior.
    Dry: Good grip during braking, with a well-balanced rear axle response in emergency situations.

    Wet Lateral Stability   Comfort   Ride Quality   Wet Handling   Snow Traction   Snow Handling   Driving Safety   Subj. Snow Handling   Dry Handling   Snow Braking   Snow Lateral Stability   Subj. Wet Handling   Snow Acceleration   Dry Braking   Rolling Resistance   Price   Dry Traction   Wet Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan
    Test Score:
    94.9
  3. Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
    Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
    96 41
    · All Season · 2023 · Passenger - Premium Touring All-Season
    Verdict:

    Snow: Lacks standout performance, making it challenging to drive due to low responsiveness. Occasional rear-end skidding observed.
    Wet: Good grip and secure handling, with quick, composed reactions that are easy to manage.
    Dry: Smooth response and high stability, with the rear wheels staying firmly planted.

    Dry Lateral Stability   Wet Lateral Stability   Comfort   Wet Handling   Wet Traction   Subj. Steering Response   Wet Braking   Dry Handling   Cornering Stability   Driving Safety   Snow Handling   Steering Response   Snow Traction   Price   Snow Lateral Stability  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    94.6
  4. Continental AllSeasonContact 2
    Continental AllSeasonContact 2
    88 43
    · All Season · 2023 · Passenger - Premium Touring All-Season
    Verdict:

    Snow: Provides a secure feel with decent grip and balanced behavior. No abrupt reactions, ensuring smooth handling.
    Wet: Stands out slightly in braking tests but underperforms in cornering hydroplaning. Stability is satisfactory.
    Dry: Longer braking distances, but offers safe handling with good grip and high stability through corners.

    Dry Lateral Stability   Comfort   Wet Handling   Snow Traction   Snow Handling   Subj. Snow Handling   Wet Braking   Dry Handling   Snow Lateral Stability   Driving Safety   Rolling Resistance   Dry Braking   Price  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    94.2
  5. Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3
    Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3
    91 59
    · All Season · 2020 · Passenger - Premium Touring All-Season
    Verdict:

    Snow: Grip is mediocre, especially when steering and accelerating simultaneously. The front end tends to slide sideways easily.
    Wet: High lateral grip, providing good safety margins even at high speeds, although better performance is seen in hydroplaning tests.
    Dry: Adhesion, stability, and response are average, with braking performance below expectations.

    Wet Lateral Stability   Subj. Comfort   Ride Quality   Snow Traction   Wet Handling   Snow Handling   Dry Handling   Subj. Wet Handling   Wet Acceleration   Driving Safety   Dry Lateral Stability   Steering Response   Snow Traction   Wet Traction   Price   Rolling Resistance   Dry Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan · South Africa South Africa
    Test Score:
    93.5
  6. Vredestein Quatrac Pro+
    Vredestein Quatrac Pro+
    N/A 30
    · All Season · 2023 · Passenger - Ultra High Performance All-Season
    Verdict:

    Snow: Long braking distances and significant sliding in corners, affecting both front and rear stability. Demands careful handling.
    Wet: Balanced performance that keeps the driver in control. Decent cornering entry, offering predictable behavior.
    Dry: Balanced, but braking distances are extended, and the front end lacks quick and consistent response in corners.

    Wet Lateral Stability   Comfort   Subj. Comfort   Wet Handling   Dry Handling   Noise   Subj. Wet Handling   Subj. Comfort / Noise   Driving Safety   Snow Handling   Snow Traction   Wet Braking   Price   Snow Braking   Rolling Resistance   Snow Lateral Stability   Cornering Stability   Dry Traction   Dry Braking  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    90
  7. Star Performer Solar 4S
    Star Performer Solar 4S
    N/A 14
    · Winter · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    Snow: Decent straight-line grip, and manageable understeer in corners. However, the rear can lose traction abruptly.
    Wet: Extremely poor grip in all conditions, with sudden understeer or oversteer. Lacks control and stability.
    Dry: Longer braking distances. Steering feels light, making it difficult to manage the pronounced understeer in mixed conditions.

    Subj. Snow Handling   Snow Traction   Price   Comfort   Ride Quality   Wet Handling   Snow Handling   Driving Safety   Wet Traction   Wet Braking   Dry Handling   Snow Braking   Rolling Resistance   Noise   Cornering Stability   Dry Traction   Dry Braking  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    87.4
Year
2024
Tire Test Original Link
Visit Website
Max Score, points
100
Tire Size
225/50R17
Season
All-Season
Auto Type
Passenger
List Type
Professional Tire Test
Region
Europe
Date added
May 20, 2024
Date updated
Sep 21, 2024

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