Will swapping to all-season tyres benefit road noise, handling and fuel economy?

The original 195/65 R15 Michelin Energy Saver tyres fitted to my hybrid Hyundai Ionic have 3mm on the front and 5mm on the rears after 17k miles. Whilst looking online for new front tyres, I noticed some attractive discounts on Michelin Cross Climates with a free dashcam (worth £100) when buying four tyres. The Energy Saver tyres don’t seem particularly noisy except on rough road surfaces, so would there be an advantage to switch to the all-season Cross Climates in terms of road noise, handling and mpg? Many thanks.

Asked on 5 August 2021 by Robert McLean

Answered by Georgia Petrie
There are two parts to this. The first is in regards to the dash camera. I would look into the brand (you haven't mentioned what it is so I can't help) but, generally speaking, these offers appear better than they are because the dash cam is potentially not very good. I'd argue you could probably find something decent - dash camera wise - without spending too much and without changing all four tyres. With that said, CrossClimate+ is a good tyre if you think it'll suit your needs. Most drivers get all-season tyres to prevent them from having to switch from summer to winter tyres. Essentially, these tyres are able to grip the warm dry roads of summer but also work well on colder winter days. The rubber mix used in these tyres is designed to function well at temperatures both below and above zero degrees Celsius. In milder climates such as that of the UK, where the summers are rarely exceptionally hot and winter snowfall is light in most regions, these tyres are seen as a good compromise. They also work very well in the wet. All-season tyres can also be more comfortable and offer longer tread-wear, too.

However, there are a few factors you should take into consideration before you decide whether all-season tyres are right for you. Firstly, if winter conditions are harsh and result in frequent snow or ice in your location, then it's probably wiser to opt for winter tyres. Secondly, all-season tyres are a compromise as they don’t need to be changed every six months or so when the seasons change — which can result in lower costs — but means they won't match the performance of winter tyres in wintry conditions or of summer tyres in dry conditions. If you don't need to change all four tyres yet and your happy with the current Energy Savers fitted, I wouldn't personally suggest changing them.
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