All-season tyres are one of those sensible automotive decisions that rarely excite but often impress. As part of the winterisation of the Tatty Camry, a set of Davanti Alltoura 4-Seasons arrived at just the right time – and recent snow on Dartmoor finally gave them a proper test.
The context
I’ve long been a fan of winter and all-season tyres. Years ago, on a cold morning with fresh, even snow covering my local A-road, I found myself the first car through in my Saab 9000i – premium winter tyres inspiring so much confidence that I briefly forgot I was driving on snow at all. For a moment, I was Erik Carlsson in a Saab 96, mistaking mechanical sympathy for heroism.
Proper winter tyres are often misunderstood in the UK. They’re not just for snow; they work best below 7°C and are particularly effective in drizzle, slush and cold, greasy conditions. The problem is practicality: you need to swap them when temperatures rise, which puts many people off.
That’s where all-season tyres make sense. In a country where winters are inconsistent and mild spells interrupt cold snaps, the ability to fit one set and leave them on all year is a compelling compromise.
Transparency and disclosure
Disclosure:
These Davanti Alltoura 4-Season tyres were supplied free of charge by Davanti. They had no editorial input and have not seen this article before publication. All opinions are my own.
The product
- Davanti Alltoura 4-Seasons
- All-season tyre designed for year-round UK use
- Winter-rated and suitable for cold, wet and mixed conditions
- Positioned as a value-focused alternative to premium all-season tyres
Davanti’s pitch is refreshingly straightforward: sensible money, sensible performance, fewer seasonal compromises.
Fitting and first impressions
The tyres were fitted by ETB Autocentres in Launceston, which required a brief but scenic trip over the Devon-Cornwall border. The service was quick, friendly and efficient, although I’ll need to pop back, as both they and I forgot to return the locking wheel nut key to the glovebox. File under: shared responsibility.
Despite December being relatively mild, the first impressions were immediately positive. They were significantly quieter than the old summer tyres they replaced – tyres which, in fairness, were cracked, tired and overdue retirement. There’s something deeply reassuring about driving home on a fresh set of tyres, even if most people understandably see them as little more than a dent in the household budget.
On the road: snow, slush and steep hills
Recent snowfall on Dartmoor finally provided a proper test. We live at the bottom of a hill that can be effectively impassable in wintry conditions without four-wheel drive. Minutes before I ventured out, a fully laden DPD delivery van was struggling for traction – a useful reminder that these conditions aren't trivial.
The Camry on Davantis? No drama. It dug in and coasted up the hill without fuss. In short, doing what the Camry does best, only this time on snow.
This wasn’t heroic, axle-deep snow – no snowplough required – but the awkward stuff: a mix of compacted snow, slush and ice. The kind that’s difficult to walk on, where your shoes scrabble for grip while you regain your balance. Some roads were treated, the lanes weren’t; sun-exposed sections were thawing while shaded areas still held a couple of centimetres of snow.
To push things a little further, I headed into a forest car park accessed via a half-mile unmade track. The experience was uncannily normal. At the bottom, I stopped and tried a couple of foot-to-the-floor starts. Both times the tyres slipped briefly, then bit and hauled the car uphill. Heavy braking tests were equally uneventful.
Which, in winter, is exactly what you want.
The Petrolblog bit
The Tatty Camry already has all the hallmarks of a perfect winter beater, and the all-season tyres only reinforce that role. All it really needs now is a set of black steelies, aftermarket heated seats and a snow shovel strapped to the roof – assuming I remember to buy a roof rack first.
What I don’t know yet
This is still a first-impressions piece. I can’t yet comment on:
- Long-term wear rates
- Fuel economy impact
- Performance after many thousands of miles
- How they’ll feel once the novelty of fresh rubber fades
Those answers will come with time.
Early verdict
First impressions are excellent. The Davanti Alltoura 4-Seasons have transformed the Camry’s winter confidence without introducing noise, fuss or obvious compromises. They feel well-judged for real UK conditions rather than extreme scenarios – which is where most people actually live.
They're good value, too. In the Camry's size (195/65/R15), each tyre costs between £85 and £100 including fitting.
Update promise
I’ll update this review after more miles and a full winter’s use, once there’s something meaningful to report beyond early confidence.
A quick note on all-season tyres
All-season tyres sit between summer and winter tyres, combining tread patterns and rubber compounds designed to work across a broader temperature range. They’re particularly well-suited to the UK, where winters are often cold and wet rather than consistently snowy. For drivers who don’t want the hassle of seasonal tyre changes – but still want extra reassurance when temperatures drop – they’re often the most pragmatic choice.
One final, very Petrolblog update
There is, however, a slight sting in the tale. In the latest issue of Classic.Retro.Modern., I wrote a heartfelt love letter to the Camry’s unwavering dependability; the car that always works when others don’t. Naturally, just before Christmas, it struggled to start for the first time ever, illuminating the dashboard with warning lights for the rear lights, battery, oil pressure and brakes.
A new Varta battery (a bargain via eBay) has improved matters but hasn’t banished the lights, suggesting an auxiliary belt or alternator issue. Happy New Problems. The tyres, at least, remain blameless.
