Until the release of the winter tyre, summer tyres were known simply as regular tyres. Where winter tyres are optimised to deliver a safe drive in snowy and icy conditions, summer tyres are specifically designed to provide high performance, superior aquaplaning resistance and shorter braking distances when temperatures reach 7°c or higher.

There are many differences between summer and winter tyres as each has been specifically designed to meet seasonal demands.

Summer tyres are designed with a softer rubber compound than winter tyres, which allows them to grip the ground more tightly - enhancing stability and offering higher levels of performance. When temperatures drop below 7°c, however, this compound will stiffen whereas the compound used in winter tyres will retain its flexibility. Winter tyres are designed with more grooves so that they have better traction on snow.

In addition, tread patterns differ between winter and summer tyres. Surprisingly, summer tyres offer a greater performance in wet conditions as the tread pattern is optimised to help evacuate water and reduce the risk of aquaplaning.