Hankook Tire Gauge Index Survey Reveals Growing Interest in All-Weather Tires
Demand for all-weather tires is poised to grow, as the most recent Hankook Tire Gauge Index Survey highlights customer loyalty and a growing interest in the enhanced safety, performance and versatility of all-weather tires.
Current all-weather tire users showed unwavering loyalty, with 99% of them reporting they plan to continue using them, according to the survey, which was conducted in October and polled 1,000 randomly-selected adult American drivers.
Dealers could also see an uptick in all-weather tire sales as 90% of drivers without all-weather tires plan to research them before their next purchase, valuing their enhanced performance in adverse weather conditions.
When compared to all-season tires, 56% of respondents said all-weather tires performed better on wet roads, and 52% said they performed better on snowy and icy terrain.
Cost, convenience and comfort were the key considerations that influenced respondents to choose all-season tires over all-weather tires. The survey reported 29% cited the cost of specialized tires as the main drawback, 24% credited the inconvenience of switching tires as the biggest downside and 21% believed all-season tires provide a quieter ride with reduced road noise.
However, perceptions are changing as 62% of Baby Boomers credited all-weather tires for the convenience of a single year-round solution, 35% of Millennials preferred all-weather options, and Gen Z drivers associated all-weather tires with their versatility across both wet (56%) and dry (46%) road conditions.
Midwestern, Southern and Northeastern drivers appear the most open to choosing all-weather tires when making future purchasing decisions. Sixty percent of Midwestern drivers believed all-weather tires are the most effective option for wet roads. Southern drivers valued enhanced safety in a variety of driving conditions more than others. Northeastern drivers were more likely to select all-weather tires for effective dry-weather driving.