Can you put all season tyres on only one axle?

The actual size and dimensions of your vehicle tyres is set out in your vehicle handbook or is often inscribed on one of the door frames. You can also work out the type and size of tyres you need by looking at the numbers and letters embossed on the sidewalls of your current tyres.

Depending on where and how you drive, you might decide that your car would benefit from having separate winter and summer tyres. Each of these tyre types are carefully designed to cope with specific road and weather conditions. Winter tyres have special grooves and treads which ensure that water is swiftly expelled from underneath the tyre as you drive, minimising the chances of aquaplaning or otherwise losing control of your vehicle in wet and icy conditions.
 
Summer tyres, on the other hand, have been developed to cope with dry and hot road surfaces. Using summer tyres during the winter simply won’t provide the necessary grip to ensure the safety of you and your passengers.
 
But another option is all-season car tyres, which have been designed to offer the best of both worlds. These tyres are designed to cope with most types of weather and road conditions, although they won’t provide the specific benefits that dedicated seasonal tyres bring.

As to whether or not you should put all season tyres on just one axle, the general advice is to avoid doing this. Whether you’ve decided on winter tyres, summer tyres, or the all-season option, each tyre has been created with a specific tread pattern. If you select winter tyres for one axle, those tyres will provide superior braking and grip in wet and icy conditions.
 
However, having an alternative tyre type on one axle will compromise the handling of your vehicle. Insufficient traction or too much traction from one pair of tyres will cause the vehicle to ‘snake’, producing unpredictable movements on the road which could even see your vehicle produce unwanted, and highly dangerous manoeuvres. Your car could even end up spinning 180 degrees, which leaves you, your passengers, and other road users at risk of injury or worse.
 
And don’t be tempted to imagine that the quality of the tyres has much impact. Whether you choose top-of-the-range premium bands – such as Pirelli or Bridgestone – or a budget brand, mixing and matching tyre types remains undesirable and potentially highly dangerous.
 
Most drivers already know that tyres on the same axle need to match up, but few drivers understand that using the same type of tyres across both axles is also important.

Our tyre professionals are always available to answer any questions and address any concerns you might have about your vehicle’s tyres. Why not book a tyre check, just to make sure that your current tyres are in optimum condition, protecting both you and your passengers, as well as other road users? It’s completely free and can be easily booked online at a time and date to suit you.