While «all-terrain» implies that A/T tires are good on the highway, too, it really is best to use highway tires if most of your driving is on regular roads.
As the saying goes, «a jack of all trades is a master of none» — and that sentiment fits perfectly in the world of tires. Accordingly, all-season tires can grip decently in both summer and snow but will never do as good a job as ultra-high-performance or winter tires. On the other hand, purpose-built tires, like off-road tires, tend to outperform general-purpose ones in extreme conditions but fall short once taken outside of said environments. All-terrain (A/T) tires fit somewhere between all-season and off-road tires. This inherently means they compromise on both ends to be decent.
According to performance testing, A/T tires have longer stopping distances compared to highway all-season tires, especially in wet conditions. All-terrain tires affect MPG numbers since a more aggressive tread increases the rolling resistance of a tire. Consumer Reports also found that road-focused tires handle better, have more traction, and are quieter, both in wet and dry conditions.
