Tyre News

For the last couple of years, the latest third-party research has shown that the SUV tyre space has increasingly become an all-season domain (see “The increasingly all-season SUV tyre market: Budget share grows in premium-dominated segment” – Tyres & Accessories magazine, March 2024 or online at tyrepress.com). And that’s why we have again trawled our database of over 300,000 tyres for the best products that qualify both as all-season and SUV tyres.

A relatively rarity a few years ago, the latest generations of all-season products have changed the face of markets across Europe. That might sound like an overstatement, but the latest market research shows that both the value and the volume of all-season tyre sales increased last year. At the same time, while the best-known names out there may have pioneered the breakthrough design of year-round tyres, many more tyremakers are attempting to follow suit. The question is: who is making the best all-season tyres currently on the market?

The pinnacle of the performance tyre spectrum belongs to the Supersports or ultra-ultra-high performance (UUHP) tyre. While fully road legal, these tyres are meticulously engineered to deliver unparalleled performance on the track. Yet their primary mission is to offer a dynamic and safe driving experience for the world's most powerful cars, excelling in both wet and dry conditions. WhatTyre has spotlighted six Supersports tyres that epitomise excellence in this demanding category.

Budget brands now account for 34 per cent of 17-inch and larger rim diameter tyre purchases in the UK. However, cheaper options may not always offer the best handling and stopping power. Choosing the right tyre is crucial for safety and performance. Numerous UHP tyres are available in the UK, with significant performance differences. WhatTyre aims to help drivers “find the best tyres for you.” We therefore relied on WhatTyre’s unique TyreScore comparison algorithm for selecting award nominees.

Approximately 35 million passenger car tyres are sold annually in the UK, though figures vary depending on the sources and metrics considered. Despite the steady growth in the all-season tyre segment, most of these 35 million are summer tyres, which, despite their name and design for optimal performance in warmer conditions, are typically used year-round. Therefore, selecting tyres that provide excellent performance come rain, hail or shine, along with durability and efficiency, is essential. Both the European tyre label and various magazine and association tests are a useful aid for tyre buyers in this regard.

An estimated 316,850 UK 18-year-olds have applied for higher education this year. Many will have cars of their own and all of them have to get there safely. However, three- in- five young drivers admit they never check their tyres. And around 6 million tyres with illegal tread are currently on UK roads, according to TyreSafe’s 2023 Tread Depth Survey.