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Last updated 10/17/2022 - Originally published 10/17/2022
Written by SimpleTire
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Tire News & Information
You’ve probably heard the term all-weather tires before, and thought it was just another name for all-season tires. While some drivers use all-season and all-weather interchangeably, they’re actually two different tire types that do similar things but have one big difference: winter traction. Think of an all-weather tire as a cross between an all-season and a winter tire; you get the year-round traction, great ride comfort, and long tread life of an all-season tire with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification and flexible rubber compound of a winter tire for confident performance in difficult ice, slush, and snow. Seems like a tire that makes sense for a lot of drivers, especially those in the Mid-Atlantic and Rust Belt, right?
Well, tire manufacturers are noticing that all-weather tires make sense for a lot of drivers so they’re releasing new ones every year. Tire technology keeps improving too, and these three new all-weather tires give drivers superb traction and performance in whatever weather Mother Nature throws at them.
Founded in Akron, Ohio, General Tire is currently a member of the Continental AG family and has over 100 years of experience in the tire industry. The Altimax 365AW is the first all-weather tire that General (and Continental) has produced, and blends the best of the widely popular Altimax RT43 with the great Altimax Arctic 12 to give drivers excellent performance in all weather conditions.
Who is it for: Coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans such as the Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Ford Escape, Dodge Durango, or [Toyota Sienna(https://simpletire.com/vehicles/toyota-sienna).
Warranty: 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
Key Feature: High void angled grooves and open shoulders that easily funnel water, slush, and melting snow out of the tread for consistent traction and extra hydroplaning resistance on wet and wintry roads.
Other things to know: The Altimax 365AW truly delivers great traction year-round, and that starts with the tire’s special rubber compound that keeps it flexible in dry, wet, and winter weather without sacrificing durability. For winter traction, General added dense siping on the shoulders and tread blocks that bite into ice, slush, and snow to increase grip which, coupled with high void angled grooves, open shoulders, and flexible rubber compound, helped the tire receive a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. Like most General tires, the Altimax 365AW includes the company’s Visual Alignment Indicators which are a series of squares on the shoulder that allow drivers to see if their vehicle needs an alignment to prevent uneven wear.
With over 100 years of experience, General has a long track record of creating best-in-class tires. The Altimax 365AW might be the company’s first entry into the all-weather segment, but the tire truly hits the mark for drivers who want to run one set of tires that can conquer dry, wet, and moderate winter weather conditions.
Nokian is the world’s northernmost tire manufacturer, and their Finnish roots have been utilized to create top-notch winter tires that are sustainably made. Nokian, though, is more than just a winter tire king, as their all-season, all-weather, and all-terrain products are routinely some of the best on the market. New to the market is the Nordman Solstice, which comes in three different options: Asymmetrical, Directional, and Directional CUV.
There’s a lot of great technology within each version of the Nordman Solstice, but let’s first explain the purpose of the different tread patterns.
Nordman Solstice Asymmetrical: designed more for daily drivers, the asymmetrical tread pattern of the Nordman Solstice Asymmetrical increases traction and handling performance on wet and snowy roads while also allowing the tire to be freely rotated for a longer tread life.
Nordman Solstice Directional: ideal for sporty cars, the directional tread pattern of the Nordman Solstice Directional boosts acceleration, braking, and handling performance while also using angled grooves to drain water, slush, and melting snow from the tread.
Nordman Solstice Directional CUV: meant for use on CUVs and SUVs, the Nordman Solstice Directional CUV is able to carry the heavier weight and higher center of gravity that these vehicles possess without sacrificing acceleration, braking, handling, or wet traction.
Like all directional tires, the Nordman Solstice Directional and Directional CUV must be rotated from back to front or from front to back.
Who is it for: Coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans such as the Audi A5, Honda Accord, Toyota RAV4, Ford Explorer, or Chrysler Pacifica.
Warranty: 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
Key Feature: Snow claws within the grooves and tread blocks of the Nordman Solstice that increase grip on ice and snow.
Other things to know: Nokian added a lot of technology to the Nordman Solstice line, starting with groove lifts that boost stability and control while also forcing rocks, stones, snow, and other unwanted debris out of the tread for consistent traction and to protect the casing from damage. Strong traction in different weather conditions isn’t the only focus of the Nordman Solstice, though, as the tire features Nokian’s Silent Groove Design that fights off road noises and vibrations to create a quiet, comfortable ride and an environmentally-friendly, low rolling resistant design that increases fuel efficiency and reduces harmful CO2 emissions. Like the Altimax 365AW, Nokian added a way for drivers to visually see how their tires are wearing in the form of their patented Driving Safety Indicator within the tread of the Nordman Solstice that allows drivers to quickly see how much groove depth is remaining.
A Finnish tire manufacturer, Nokian knows a thing or two about navigating through difficult ice, slush, and snow, and they’ve added that knowledge to their latest all-weather line: the Nordman Solstice. Features a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, the Nordman Solstice Asymmetrical, Directional, and Directional CUV give drivers of almost every vehicle type superior traction and performance in any weather condition.
Based in Seoul, South Korea, Hankook was founded in 1941 and is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. Hankook is known for their ability to produce high-quality tires for everything from coupes and sedans all the way up to commercial vehicles, which gives them a unique understanding of tire construction.
Like General, Hankook recently entered the all-weather tire scene with the Kinergy 4S2 (H750) and Kinergy 4S2 X (H750A). The difference between the two tires is fitment, as the Kinergy 4S2 (H750) is meant for use on coupes, sedans, and minivans while the Kinergy 4S2 X (H750A) is built for CUVs and SUVs.
Who is it for: Coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans such as the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Tucson, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Yukon, or Honda Odyssey.
Warranty: 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
Key Feature: High-density winter and summer sipes throughout the tread that keep the tread blocks stiff under different weather conditions for consistent grip.
Other things to know: Hankook packed a lot of technology into the Kinergy 4S2 (H750) and Kinergy 4S2 X (H750A), starting with wide lateral grooves, a directional tread pattern, open shoulders, and a two-step aqua slant that work together to drain water from the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads. For dry performance, the Kinergy 4S2 (H750) and Kinergy 4S2 X (H750A) feature the above-mentioned summer sipes plus a concave tie-bar that stiffens the tread blocks for better handling performance. In terms of winter traction, 3D winter-specific sipes and serrated edge grooves boost handling, and the Kinergy 4S2 (H750) and Kinergy 4S2 X (H750A) also features a special slush edge that enhances cornering performance by removing slush from the shoulders.
Hankook has a lot of experience in making tires for every application, and their first entry into the all-weather space is proof that experience helps. Featuring a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, the Kinergy 4S2 (H750) won Auto Express magazine’s 2021 Tyre Test Award while the Kinergy 4S2 X (H750A) won Auto Bild Allrad magazine’s 2021 Test Award. Exceptional performance in every weather condition is hard to find, but Hankook hit the mark with the Kinergy 4S2 (H750) and Kinergy 4S2 X (H750A).
Most drivers only use one set of tires, which makes all-season tires a popular choice. Unfortunately, all-season tires can struggle in moderate to severe winter weather conditions, which is where all-weather tires come in. The all-weather segment continues to grow in popularity, and manufacturers are consistently offering new products that utilize the latest and greatest in tire technology to give drivers the true year-round performance that they need.
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