After giving it a lot of thought and reading a thousand reviews I decided to get a set of Goodyear vector 4seasons.

Now I discover that they don't make them big enough. Then I discover that there aren't hardly any 18 inch all season tyres.

THEN I discover that my current tyres, michelin pilot exalto's get some good reviews! - IMHO they are great on slick, warm, dry tarmac, average at best everywhere else; except in wet or uneven ground where they suck. So, if my current tyre gets 81% wet grip, I shudder to think what the lower grade tyres are like to drive!

Anyway; I live atop a hill, and every day, at least twice - often more, I have to drive here and there. These are country roads, potholed and uneven. the roads bend, often whilst inclining - coupled with water, mucky run-off and generally low temperatures. England. Not ideal for a 200 HP FWD diesel with 18 inch alloys.

I do not want a spare set of steels and I do not want to change my tyres as often as the weather. Basically, I think we have English weather with a few weeks of seasons here and there. I have snow socks for snow. And I want all season tyres for all seasons.

Anyone know anything about all season tyres? Lots of info winter and summer...

Cheers

Don't know what size 18s you need, but on another car I've used 245/40 R 18 Maxxis MAZ4S Victra. They're inexpensive and were more than adequate last wnter (admitedly a mild one). Although they don't have a conventional all-season patter, the Maxxis website confirms their silica-rich compound, and snow biting qualities even though most online sites sell them as summer tyres probably due to their conventional directional pattern. I've just bought another set as I have been happy with them.

For 235/40 R18 look at Pirelli P6 Four Seasons for £135 at Pneusonline.

Don't know what size 18s you need, but on another car I've used 245/40 R 18 Maxxis MAZ4S Victra. They're inexpensive and were more than adequate last wnter (admitedly a mild one). Although they don't have a conventional all-season patter, the Maxxis website confirms their silica-rich compound, and snow biting qualities even though most online sites sell them as summer tyres probably due to their conventional directional pattern. I've just bought another set as I have been happy with them.

For 235/40 R18 look at Pirelli P6 Four Seasons for £135 at Pneusonline.

Thanks for the info - wildo cheers

All our company vehicles run on all seasons M&S all year round and no problems at all only one vehicle became stuck and it was a RWD that was snowed in, in the Alps. No accidents or damage what so ever during winter months. Getting about 45000km-55000km out of them. I have a set of all seasons on what I refer to as my winter alloys. On a car like a VRS with low profile wide tyres on the 18" rims I have with summer tyres not had any dramas last winter but would have been a lot better to have something more appropriate on like the 205/55/16's I have purchased since.

I've spent hours reading every review about winter/all seasons.

The all seasons are a compramise tyre. Half winter, half summer both in tread pattern and composition.

Not as good as a normal summer in summer.

Not as good as a normal winter in winter.

Plenty of cornering and stopping videos on You Tube.

Its like anything else - If you want the best buy it (or in this case two).

On balance for the sake of £ 60 a year (what it costs me to have the rubbers swapped twice) I'm a dual tyre driver.

On balance for the sake of £ 60 a year (what it costs me to have the rubbers swapped twice) I'm a dual tyre driver.

I am perfectly happy with a compromise! And I do not want to have to store tyres or wheels. Also - this is the UK!

Example:

Today was 16 degrees air temp, dry conditions; over 20 degrees on black asphalt if not higher in places. Lovely for my current tyres.

If I were to pop out now, the temperature is 9 degrees and falling, damp conditions, under dew point with a road surface temperature getting close to 4 degrees. Horrible driving in current tyres.

I have driven winter tyres in the summer at 25+ degrees air temperature and never thought I might slide into a ditch on country roads; but on the motorway things did seem wobbly.

The choice is also less when you use larger sized wheels. For example my first winter tyres were 20" and my car took half of Conti's entire UK stock. Things have improved since then, but there are valid reasons for wanting all-season tyres, especially when they are available in your rim size but winters are harder to find. Hankook Optimo 4S are excellent, beating some conventional winter tyres in last year's Auto Express tests- I use them on a Clio 172 Cup- but are not available in 18" (yet).