Re: Pretty Sure All-Season
ToolmanJohn said:
I think the Revo's are an All-Season tire, anyone who has them can correct me if I'm wrong. I think there are a couple of styles.
I guess it depends on what your definition of an 'all season' tire is. In an earlier life, I used to sell tires, and at that time an all season tire was specifically designed as a passenger tire primarily designed for front wheel drive vehicles. The tread pattern was designed with many small tread cuts to enhance the gripping ability in inclement weather. It was considered an economic compromise between strictly 'summer' road tires and the 'snow' tires most people used to have to install each winter on rear wheel drive vehicles. By virtue of their design, 'snow' tires were not recommended for all-year round use because they didn't provide the same level of traction on dry roads as 'summer' tires did, and they usually were noiser and wore out faster. As I remember it, all season tires evolved about the same time as front wheel drive became popular because putting 'snow' tires on the front wheel drive vehicle often led to customer complaints of poor steering and excessive vibration. In my experience, once an all season tire was about 1/3 worn, the many small tread cuts that gave it its traction advantage were gone, and the tire no longer performed like it was new.
IMHO, there is no substitute for a well designed winter tire for winter use. I also firmly believe that one should have two sets of tires, one for each season (again my opinion). I also understand that not everyone is willing or able to invest in the additional cost to have dedicated tires for each season. That is an individual choice. I think one should assess what they intend to use their vehicle for, and then decide what type of tire or tires best suit their needs.
So, IMHO, the A/T type of tire is not an all season tire by my definition. That doesn't mean one can't choose to use them all year round, if you intend to go off road all year round or you just like the look of them. I also admit that there are probably better 'pure' winter traction tires that the A/T REVO, but they will not also funtion as well as the REVO in off road use. Since all my off roading is done in late fall and winter during hunting season, I feel the REVO is the best all around A/T winter tire I have used. The rest of the year, the OEM Bridgestone Dueler H/Ts work fine for me.