All weather tires effects gas mileage?

[bdc101]

Personally I would choose stopping distance over MPGs and day of the week and twice on Sunday. It rains often where I live but not so much in eastern Washington.

I agree, especially when it's your family in the car.

I read a detailed road test from Edmunds years ago that pre-dates the development of all-weather tires. But it tested all three types of tires (summer, all-season, and studless winter tires) from Michelin against each other in three conditions: Hot & dry pavement, wet pavement, and snow.

Oddly enough the summer tire significantly outperformed the all-season in both hot and dry conditions. The winter tire also significantly outperformed the all-season tire in not just snow, but also wet conditions! The all-season tire had the least amount of grip in wet conditions. I have been looking for another similar test with all-weather tires, but most of what I find on youtube tire testing (other than Tyre Reviews) is bad testing.

Here is a great article from an actual tire engineer that indicates that all-weather tires are basically just a little bit better all-season tire, and still seem to have the same compromises that all-season tires have: https://barrystiretech.com/winter-and-all-weather-tires/

I'm open-minded about all-weather tires, or at least I'm reserving judgment until I can find the data. I also don't believe they are any good in snow after a couple years of driving -- because winter tires are considered worn out by somewhere between 5/32 to 7/32s, it seems that an all-weather tire couldn't possibly be better than a studless winter tire once it's worn down to the same level. So, consider me open-minded but also skeptical.

 

[CapriRacer]

@bdc101

Thanks for the plug. Some more comments.

I hope everyone knows that it would be impossible for me to actually test each All Weather tire. I am basing my opinion on how I would design an All Weather tire.

And that opinion is that All Weather tires are going to be slightly worse for rolling resistance compared to All Season tires - but that difference is likely to get lost in the variability of fuel economy measurements (range).

HOWEVER, OE tires (the ones that come on new cars!) are designed for good rolling resistance, so replacing those with All Weather tires is going to be noticeable.

 

[andrew_j]

I was considering all weather tires instead of all season tires but wanted to know if anyone here has noticed reduced MPG's by using them. Thanks.

I noticed we lost about 1-1.5 MPG on our 18 VW Tiguan going from general RT45 to CC2. Used to be 30-31 MPG and seems to however now a 29 MPG.

In short slight loss.

 

[bdc101]

@bdc101

Thanks for the plug. Some more comments.

I hope everyone knows that it would be impossible for me to actually test each All Weather tire. I am basing my opinion on how I would design an All Weather tire.

And that opinion is that All Weather tires are going to be slightly worse for rolling resistance compared to All Season tires - but that difference is likely to get lost in the variability of fuel economy measurements (range).

HOWEVER, OE tires (the ones that come on new cars!) are designed for good rolling resistance, so replacing those with All Weather tires is going to be noticeable.

I didn't even know you were the guy writing those articles! I find them very interesting. (I am a BSME who did a lot of FSAE and vehicle dynamics in college, and a bit of racing, but never worked in the automotive industry)

Anyways I am eagerly looking for some all-weather tire tests that show whether they are worth buying over studless tires. I live in an area that gets a fair amount of snow in the winter and I've just had to deal with two sets of wheels and tires for my cars for a long time. A lot of CC2s are showing up around here but I am just very skeptical that they provide much of a benefit over all-seasons in actual snow conditions (and also, if they provide those benefits for more than a year or two of year-round driving).

 

[grabgears6]

On the Crosstrek, I ditched the OEM Falkens within the first 2k miles and replaced them with Michelin CC2. Fuel economy hit was noticeable, although it was to be expected since most factory tires are geared toward fuel economy. It's possible I would have noticed similar fuel economy reduction with pretty much any after market tires.

Regardless of whatever the fuel economy penalty is, it's worth it for the added benefits that AW tires provide, IMO.

Our 2025 came with Yokohama geolander AT. So did the previous Forester wilderness. I liked them so much that I had them put on the 2024 Acent, improve ride over what subaru put on, mileage was not affected, But the #1 thing for me was being able to pull my boats off the ramp... I continue to test and push the Crosstrek W, with the Yokos, and This small CUV just goes and goes.

 

[nthach]

No significant difference in MPG between a “traditional” AS(Pirelli Scorpion AS3+) and AW(Michelin CC2) on a Lexus RXh. Now, compared to the OEM LRR tires(Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus, same tires Toyota uses on the Prius as OE), yes.

 

[burnbomber]

Here's another kudo for understanding the rolling resistance rating that Consumer Reports puts in their ratings. I was considering all-weathers from SE Asia, but declined due to their uncertain qualities. Their testing showed SE Asian tires were low rated in some important categories--gas mileage (from LOW rolling resistance ratings) became important as I investigated deeper. I was considering a Pirelli tire that's been around for 20 years. There were no current reviews--I had to pull up archived tests and found that tire had the WORST rating for rolling resistance. Comments from users about their tires (published by the tire retailers) talked about their tires effecting their gas economy and I realized we did NOT want that. One particular comment talked about the cost of losing a few miles per gallon, over the course of the 35,000 mile life of the tires. I did look at a Bridgestone Ecopia tire but found it was being discontinued; nor could I find any "deals" on Bridgestone tires. I picked a General tire that came with a killer deal, and had much better than average rolling resistance, tire comfort, and tire noise ratings.

 

[Geekhead]

I didn't even know you were the guy writing those articles! I find them very interesting. (I am a BSME who did a lot of FSAE and vehicle dynamics in college, and a bit of racing, but never worked in the automotive industry)

Anyways I am eagerly looking for some all-weather tire tests that show whether they are worth buying over studless tires. I live in an area that gets a fair amount of snow in the winter and I've just had to deal with two sets of wheels and tires for my cars for a long time. A lot of CC2s are showing up around here but I am just very skeptical that they provide much of a benefit over all-seasons in actual snow conditions (and also, if they provide those benefits for more than a year or two of year-round driving).

My CC2's were a huge improvement in all snow conditions compared to OEM Nexen 621 tires on my Kia.

 

[bdc101]

My CC2's were a huge improvement in all snow conditions compared to OEM Nexen 621 tires on my Kia.

Thank you for your anecdotal experience.

Any new all-season will also offer much better snow performance than any worn all-season, though. Wear greatly affects snow performance on all kinds of tires as it's mostly an effect of the ridges and sipes on a tire.

I don't doubt that the CC2s are better when new than other all-season tires, but "how much" is the question, and for how long (with respect to wear).

All wheel drive pollutes the question since it helps so much with acceleration yet doesn't help at all with safety (braking and turning).

 

[Patman]

Nov 2024 was when I got my Nokian WRG5s and I was immediately impressed with their snow performance. Much better than the previous all weathers (Minerva), even comparing the full tread performance of each. And the Minerva’s were absolutely terrible in the second winter with them, even though they still had way more than half their tread. My WRG5s went through a pretty brutal winter this year and even with about 20,000 miles on them they performed just as well as they did when new. I’m hoping they won’t lose too much snow performance in the 2026/2027 season (or better yet I hope we have a very mild winter, because we’ve had two bad ones!)

Many years ago I put Nokian WRG3s on my ex wife’s BMW and they were fantastic even when they had less than half the original tread. I think Nokian has a long history of making some of the best all weather tires.

 

[Geekhead]

Thank you for your anecdotal experience.

Any new all-season will also offer much better snow performance than any worn all-season, though. Wear greatly affects snow performance on all kinds of tires as it's mostly an effect of the ridges and sipes on a tire.

I don't doubt that the CC2s are better when new than other all-season tires, but "how much" is the question, and for how long (with respect to wear).

All wheel drive pollutes the question since it helps so much with acceleration yet doesn't help at all with safety (braking and turning).

Well, maybe my real world experience having driven for 52 years in winter conditions in Toronto/Quebec/New England on numerous types of tires from summer/"all seasons"/dedicated winter tires qualifies me only as an anecdotal reviewer in your opinion. I have only driven 2 wheel drive vehicles if it matters in my observations. So far they are doing the job during one of the harshest/coldest winters we have had in years. As always time will tell for future performance as they wear.

 

[meep]

I recently put a set of CC2s on a friends car and paid attention to her mpg. At first the CC2 did cost her between 1-2 mpg.

Her mpg returned to about normal after about a month, or a thousand miles.

I paid attention after suggesting them to one of her friends last year with a hybrid. The RAV4 H lost 2-3 mpg at first, a pretty big hit. Hers allegedly also improved “back to normal” after 2-3 months driving. Take that for what it’s worth…

 

[jadmt]

I recently put a set of CC2s on a friends car and paid attention to her mpg. At first the CC2 did cost her between 1-2 mpg.

Her mpg returned to about normal after about a month, or a thousand miles.

I paid attention after suggesting them to one of her friends last year with a hybrid. The RAV4 H lost 2-3 mpg at first, a pretty big hit. Hers allegedly also improved “back to normal” after 2-3 months driving. Take that for what it’s worth…

mine has not returned in the last 18,000 miles so I have kind of given up on it returning still no other tire I would swap them for.

 

[meep]

mine has not returned in the last 18,000 miles so I have kind of given up on it returning still no other tire I would swap them for.

Did they come back at all?

 

[jadmt]

Did they come back at all?

no. but I am ok with that.

 

[meep]

no. but I am ok with that.

I’m weighing those options as I consider the replacement of the oem Michelin primacies on the Tacoma. Even my trusted continental AT eats a solid mpg or more… and the sturdier tires will consume more than that.

 

[odie]

The GENERAL Altimax 365AW 205/60-16 ( V ) don't have any impact on F.E. with the '25 KIA Soul . The new CONTINENTAL SecureContact AW is supposed to be fuel efficient and is E.V. friendly . May purchase those for the other car . Getting great reviews by tire testers and owners in CANADA and here . Second to the MICHELIN CrossClimate 2 by tire-reviews ( Y.T. video and website ) .