The Appeal of All-Season Tires and Choosing Pirelli’s New Model

This time, I replaced the tires on my Tesla Model 3.

I switched to all-season tires for the winter, but this wasn’t just a routine tire wear replacement.
Basically, I believe all-season tires are the best choice for cars other than sports cars (except in heavy snow or cold regions). I even wish all family cars and daily drivers would come standard with all-season tires.

The key feature of all-season tires is that they can be used in summer, winter, and any temperature.

Typical summer tires lose grip drastically when the temperature drops below 7°C. So even if there’s no snow in winter, braking hard on a cold road can significantly increase stopping distances. That’s why some European countries legally require winter tires during the cold season.

Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 block pattern

I think this approach is important in Japan as well.

When winter comes, I want to use tires other than summer tires. However, studded winter tires are not an option for me. While studless tires excel on ice, living in an urban area of Kansai with mild winters means I encounter icy roads less than 1% of the time. Also, studless tires perform terribly in rain, have poor drainage and grip, feel unstable on highways, and don’t allow the car to perform at its best.

So this time, I chose Pirelli’s newly released “Cinturato All Season SF 3”.

When I previously owned a Mercedes GLB, I used Michelin CrossClimate 2, but this time I focused on Pirelli’s new tire. Overseas reviews praise this tire highly, saying it has almost no downsides.

Features and Performance of the Cinturato All Season SF 3

Here are the overseas evaluations of the Cinturato All Season SF 3:

1. Excellent handling and grip on dry roads
2. Better grip on icy roads than other all-season tires
3. Slightly inferior on packed snow compared to others but still above average
4. Very high wet performance

In Kansai, even when it snows, it’s mostly slush, effectively wet roads. In such conditions, studless tires perform very poorly on wet surfaces. That’s why I chose an all-season tire strong in wet conditions.

Features of the Cinturato All Season SF 3

My Tesla Model 3 has 18-inch wheels, so the tire size is 235/45R18 front and rear. Buying online, each tire costs just over 20,000 yen, so a set of four was under 80,000 yen. This is quite affordable compared to the 110,000–120,000 yen for the CrossClimate 2.

Actual Driving Feel and Performance Evaluation

First, the ride comfort is almost the same as the original e-Primacy tires I had before. You wouldn’t notice which tires are on unless told. If anything, the difference is only whether the tire pressure is set a bit higher or lower.

Regarding road noise, it is slightly louder than the e-Primacy.

The e-Primacy was an extremely quiet tire designed for electric vehicles, but the SF3 feels a bit noisier in comparison. However, the difference is less than 10%. It was noticeable right after fitting new tires, but after a few hundred kilometers, as the tire edges softened and settled in, it became hardly noticeable. In fact, this tire is certified as a “low exterior noise tire”, so the e-Primacy is just exceptionally quiet; compared to regular tires, the SF3 is still very quiet.

The handling and grip on dry roads are outstanding. The e-Primacy had critically low grip especially on rainy days, but the SF3 adheres well to the road with a “sticky” feel. There’s minimal slip when cornering, providing stability.

I drove a bit spiritedly on mountain roads, and for the Tesla Model 3 Long Range, it provides ample grip. It’s clearly sportier and more responsive than the e-Primacy, with less understeer on high-speed corners. However, if you drive aggressively like a sports car, the grip is acceptable but the block rigidity might feel a bit weak.

I haven’t encountered heavy rain yet to fully evaluate wet performance, but light rain poses no problem. Especially on slippery spots like highway expansion joints and manhole covers, it grips firmly. With the e-Primacy, regenerative braking on such spots would easily cause tire slip, but the SF3 feels stable.

In fact, the wet grip label for the e-Primacy is “C”, while the SF3 is rated “A”. It’s rare for an all-season tire to get an “A”. This difference is significant; just one grade difference in labeling can mean about half a car length difference in braking distance on wet roads.

Also, this label reflects not only wet performance but also grip on dry roads.

Impact on Energy Efficiency and Seal Inside Technology

Since it’s not an eco tire, the higher grip likely causes a slight drop in energy efficiency.

I haven’t gathered detailed data yet, but I expect a few percent decrease.

This size of SF3 features “Seal Inside” technology. This means a special adhesive substance is applied inside the tire, which automatically seals punctures from nails or similar objects to prevent flats. Unlike run-flat tires, it doesn’t require stiffening the tire itself, so ride comfort is less affected.

The red area is the adhesive substance

However, this technology adds weight to the tire. The tire shop even told me, “This tire is quite heavy.” It’s not as heavy as a run-flat, but somewhere between a normal tire and a run-flat, leaning slightly toward run-flat weight.

The increased tire weight likely causes some energy efficiency loss and a slight decrease in acceleration. While not noticeable in everyday driving, the acceleration feels a bit less lively. On the other hand, the heavier tire gives a more composed ride feel. The e-Primacy felt a bit too light, but the SF3 improves on that.

Overall Evaluation and Recommendation

Overall, the Cinturato All Season SF 3 is a highly satisfying tire. It fully leverages the benefits of all-season tires while delivering excellent grip and handling on dry roads. Its outstanding wet performance is also noteworthy.

Though there is some impact on energy efficiency and a slight increase in road noise, the enhanced safety and peace of mind more than compensate. It’s especially suitable for Japan’s climate, with its distinct seasons and frequent rain.

For Tesla Model 3 owners considering all-season tires, I strongly recommend the Cinturato All Season SF 3. This tire delivers stable performance year-round and reduces the hassle of tire changes, making it an ideal choice for everyday driving.

Finally, adopting all-season tires not only improves safety but also contributes to environmental sustainability. It reduces the environmental impact associated with tire production and disposal, helping to build a more sustainable automotive society.

For reference, here is my Tesla referral link.
You can get a discount on the vehicle price, so it’s a great deal. Please don’t forget to use it if you purchase a Tesla.

テスラ紹介コード

https://www.tesla.com/ja_jp/referral/hirofumi324375

https://www.tesla.com/ja_jp/referral/hirofumi324375

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