Between you and the road, there's one more vital part to your vehicle – the tires. And when you find yourself driving in less-than-ideal road conditions, your tires are the ones that will either rise to the occasion or die trying.
I get that this sounds a bit too dramatic right now, but if you ever experienced tire-related problems while driving, you know how tricky things can get.
Don't be that guy who waits until things go south to do something about his tires – not when I can help you pick the best all-season tires for the job!
In a Hurry? The Winner after 41 Hours of Research:
How I Picked:
22 Resources | 516 Reviews Compared |
|---|---|
28 Hours Of Research | 52 Popular Products Considered |
Last Updated: June 20, 2021
By James Ruhle:
This article has been updated to reflect the most accurate information regarding all season tires available for those who are interested in the best performance throughout the year without changing tires. The best 5 available have changed, and information has been added to assist individuals in finding the best all season tires currently available on the market. The FAQ has also been updated.
All Season Tire Comparison Table
Product | Tire Size | Section Width | Load Index* | Speed Rating | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Westlake RP18 | 205/55R16 | 205 mm | 16 inches | V | |
SUPERMAX TM-1 | 195/65R15 | 195 mm | 15 inches | T | |
Milestar GRANTLAND | 265/70R16 | 265 mm | 16 inches | T | |
Achilles ATR Sport 2 | 245/40R19XL | 245 mm | 19 inches | W | |
RMilestar MS932 | 215/55R17 | 215 mm | 17 inches | V |
*Load Index At Max Tire Pressure
Best All-Season Tires of 2021 – Reviews & Recommendations
When your current tires get all old and worn down, finding a new – and worthy – all-season tire can turn out to be quite a task. The sheer number of options to sort through is insane, and so are the accompanying price tags on most of them.
But before you start panicking, know that I did the hard work for you:
I dug around the market, and researched and tested the best-selling all season tires – and I narrowed it down to these top 5 picks!
If you know Westlake, then you know that their product line up contains some of the market's most reliable and cost-effective tires. The RP18 blows them all out of the water as Westlake's best-selling all-season tire – and one of the best on the market, too.
If you're ready to learn more about the best all-season tires on the market – the Westlake RP18 – continue reading below!
The RP18 offers versatility as one of its key features:
The tires are designed to fit anything from coupes and sedans to minivans and crossovers. They are available in a variety of sizes, both large and small, which makes them compatible even with older, small-fitment vehicles.
Even more so, the all-season tread compound and symmetrical pattern ensure reliable traction on both dry and wet road conditions. The steering response is improved, and so are the handling and cornering stability, which amounts to much smoother rides and overall safety.
The non-directional tread pattern not only extends tread life but makes rotating the tires a whole lot easier, too.
And while the Westlake RP18 typically handles wet roads with utmost confidence, ice, hard-packed snow, and extreme bouts of weather is not its strongest suit.
In rain and light snow, though, it goes neck-to-neck with much pricier name brand tires, like Michelin Defender.
They do make some noise, but nothing out of the ordinary – more often than not, you're in for smooth riding with this set of tires.
Who's it for?
Don't go and assume that a budget-friendly price tag automatically means less than stellar tire functionality. Sure, that can often be the case, but it doesn't mean that you won't find a safe, reliable tire in this category.
On that note, once you get a chance to drive a car fitted with Westlake RP18, it's relatively easy to see why this tire is considered one of the most popular budget options on the market. The price tag instantly makes them an attractive option for budget-minded drivers, but it's the high-performance levels that give it an edge over the competing models:
Consider fitting your wheels with the RP18 set of tires for every-day, all-season use.
Our Rating: 89/100
Functionality, safety, long mileage, and low cost – these are the four key features that SUPERMAX wanted to achieve with the TM-1 all season tires. The fact that this tire landed second on my round-up of the best all-season tires already says a lot about whether they met these goals or not.
You can find the rest in this review!
The main advantage – and the key features – of these all-season tires are the tread compound and unique pattern, which not only provides reliable driving performance all-season but ensures longer mileage and increased safety, as well.
The reinforced central rib is coupled with several zigzag slots that cross it diagonally to provide excellent dry traction. At the same time, the addition of wide circumferential grooves ensure a dependable performance and hydroplaning resistance in wet road conditions.
The thick, reinforced shoulder blocks ensure better tread life, and more importantly, stable cornering, even at higher speeds. Oh, and they ride so smooth that you'll hardly even notice them.
Also, can we appreciate the UTQG of these tires, which, at 600AA, blows most other models I'll show you today out of the water? How's that for quality on a budget?
Plus, you'll get quite a mileage out of them before you wear them down completely.
The one downside worth noting here is that the tire sidewalls feel thin, weak, and cheaply made in general – but then again, we are talking about a low-cost tire here.
Who's it for?
The SUPERMAX TM-1 is not only my runner-up choice but the best budget-friendly tire for all-year use, too. As such, it's an excellent choice that will last you for years – or miles – to come, and offer outstanding value for money.
You'll be hard-pressed to find more reliable tires at a price point as low as this one. These tires meet all the vital criteria, from precise handling and stable cornering to increased traction and smooth driving – and they do it at a meager price.
The SUPERMAX TM-1 is, hands down, the best budget-friendly all season tire for passenger cars, SUVs, and crossovers on the market.
Pros
Cons
Our Rating: 88/100
Whenever I'm talking about tires, the focus of the conversation comes down to quality and performance. Milestar is one of the industry's leading names – and one that continues to impress and improve its products.
The brand offers a wide variety of tire options, from street-performance and all-terrain down to all season tyres, like the GRANTLAND. As you're about to see in my review, the Milestar's specs sheet for this particular model is as simple as they come – and at the same time, oh-so-impressive.
These are all-season tires with 16-inch rims and a speed rating "T," which, as you might know, is commonly seen in tires for more "family-friendly" vehicles, such as sedans and minivans. The real impressive part here is the load index of 111, which amounts to roughly 2400 pounds at maximum tire pressure.
The tires have a radial construction for maximum ground contact and feature three distinctly broad, tightly packed circumferential tread blocks. These give the tires their signature traction, stability, and dry-weather on-road grip; the deep sipes only enhance the traction further.
You may not notice it in ideal road conditions, but you'll learn to appreciate the added ground contact and adhesion on bumpy or slippery roads.
The one thing that didn't quite meet my expectations was the 460AB UTQG, which doesn't seem promising regarding the tire's wear life.
Also, poor traction in winter snow and ice seems to be a common complaint. I don't think of it as a deal-breaker – they never aimed to be snow tires – but it's something to consider if you commonly drive in the heavy winter snow.
Who's it for?
I wouldn't expect these tires to do wonders in extreme weather conditions such as deep snow or ice. However, I'm not going to lie; the GRANTLAND can be an excellent investment for a comfortable and smooth ride – especially when you factor in how quiet these tires are thanks to the minimal road impact.
I mean, who doesn't like noise-free tires?
If you're not strapped for cash, but you don't need anything "too special" to replace your old, worn-out tires, this might be the right choice for you.
Pros
Cons
The ART Sport 2 – the name stands for Advanced Technology Radial 2nd Generation – is designed as a directional, all season tire that offers a low-cost alternative to the more premium options.
The focus, as mentioned, is on delivering reliable performance at an economy tire price point – but what improvements does it offer and how does it compare to the previous generation?
Well, among the key features is the directional tread pattern that boosts both dry and wet traction and handling, with four wide circumferential grooves that ensure a superior grip.
Furthermore, it offers superb water channeling, minimizing the risk of hydroplaning.
At the same time, the solid center rib and interlocking tread blocks work together to improve steering response and cornering stability, especially at higher speeds.
Down to the tiniest of grooves, this tire was designed to deliver responsiveness, stability, and most importantly, driving security – something that's not often seen in a lower-priced tire.
It has a 19-inch rim diameter, a W speed rating, and a load index of 98 at maximum tire pressure – and it's generally best suited for sports cars, sedans, or coupes.
It's clear that it's much better suited for summer conditions, though – icy roads can sometimes feel like you're riding on a pair of skis, rather than in your car. So, I'd recommend going with winter tires for such occasions.
Also, they can be a bit loud – but if you're shopping for pocket-friendly drifting tires, I'm guessing that you're okay with a bit of noise.
Who's it for?
It's relatively easy to classify the ATR Sport 2 tire as yet another decently-performing, cheap all-season tire coming from a second-tier brand. But, to tell you the truth, the functionality that it delivers is quite impressive for what it is.
Sure, there are far better options on the market that provide much higher performance levels – but none of them can deliver it while saving you a substantial amount of money in the process.
If you want a responsive drift tire with sharp steering and improved traction – and on a budget, too – it doesn't get much better than this.
I'm sure that you're well aware of this by now, but not all high-performance all-season tires are created equal. Take the Milestar MS932 – which, by the way, is one of the best cheap sporty all-season tires on the market – as an example:
What level of performance can you realistically hope to get out of a set of these relatively affordable tires? Stick around and find out!
Let's start with the obvious – these Milestar all season tires are cheaper than a lot of budget-oriented options. But at the same time, for such a low-priced tire, it does deliver dependable all-season traction and cornering performance, comfortable ride, and increased responsiveness.
The optimized tread pattern with wide circumferential ribs is a key feature here, as it ensures an overall improvement in the stability, handling, and the lateral grip. Furthermore, they work to expel water from under the tires, reducing the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads.
The tires boast a radial construction suitable for 17-inch rims, a UTQG of 540AA, a V speed rating, and a load index of 98 – 1653 pounds at maximum tire pressure – which is an impressive round-up of specs and features for a tire this cheap.
Their performance goes down to average at best in winter, as they can't precisely handle ice or winter snow. Then again, extreme winter conditions are something only snow tires can handle, so I'm not sure if this counts as a downside.
Who's it for?
If you know anything about tires, the low price tag will be a good enough indicator that something's off here. I'm not saying that they're bad or that they're not worth considering at all – but we all know that premium-quality tires rarely come this cheap. You get what you paid for; it's that simple.
That said, there's still a market for an all season tire like the MS932 – and if you keep your expectations in check, you might be quite impressed with their overall performance in both wet and dry conditions, too.
This tire is a good fit for tight budgets, and more importantly, older vehicles. So, if you don't feel like investing too much money in new tires for your already worn-down car, the MS932 is worth considering.
All Season Tires – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are good all season tires for the winter?
A: Winter roads can be extremely unpredictable; there's a reason why there are snow tires specifically designed for driving in winter weather and snow. If you're going to face a combination of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, winter tires – which are specifically engineered for real winter snow – are your safest bet.
If your area doesn't see much winter snow during the colder months, and icy roads are nowhere near an annual ordeal, all-season tires can be an excellent choice, even during winter months. The Westlake RP18 tire and the Michelin Defender tire are best examples of safe and reliable all season tires, even in winter snow conditions.
Q: What is better all-season or all-weather tires?
A: At first glance, it seems like all season and all weather tires are the same things, but they deliver drastically different results – and only one of them is genuinely suitable for year-round use. If you'll be driving your car in winter weather – in snow and below-freezing temperatures – an all-weather tire will be a much better choice than an all-season tire.
The thing is, all weather tyres are hybrids of sorts – a cross between an all-season tire and snow tires that offer the best of both worlds. Granted, the only actual difference in tire performance all-season is visible in snow and wet roads, and extreme winter conditions. But ultimately, best all-weather tires are a superior option, even if they don't last as long as all season ones.
Q: Are all season tires worth it?
A: There's a reason why most vehicles leave the factory fitted with a set of all seasons tyres – and that's a versatile operation in both wet and dry conditions. The best all-season tires are made for year-round use and will meet the needs of the average driver who lives in moderate climates and not-too-extreme driving conditions.
Their most significant benefit is that they offer a unique balance of performance all-season:
Unlike proper snow tires, they may not be the best choice for extreme weather conditions and snow. However, all-season tires can still provide a comfortable and overall satisfying ride, sufficient grip, and sharp handling – and in that sense, yes, all-season tires are worth it.
After It's All Said and Done, I Recommend:
Conclusion
Seasons change, and so do road conditions, but your car's tires don't have to – not if you play it smart and choose the best all season tires for the job.
A tire with a low price tag is always attractive, which is why I tried to keep things in the pocket-friendly range where budget-minded drivers could find some excellent options, like the Westlake RP18 tire.
Now, as I've hopefully shown you today, "budget-friendly" doesn't necessarily mean "less than stellar performance." Each of these options is considered affordable by industry's standards – and every single one of them is worth considering!