Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 vs Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 — Compared

“After my last post , I went out and got a set of Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 XL All Season tyres, for my Yaris.”

“Tyre symbols - Goodyear VECTOR 4SEASONS GEN-3 - are they all season or, as mechanic claims, actually winter tyres being mis-sold as all season? I had 4 Goodyear VECTOR 4SEASONS GEN-3 fitted a few months ago at Costco, prior to my service today. They are clearly advertised as all season tyres on every website including Costco 's. When I took the car in for the service the mechanic was adamant that they are winter tyres and not all season, because the symbols on the tyre are for winter only. They show a "mountain" with a snow flake inside it, and M + S which means Mud + Snow. He says these are the winter tyre symbols, and that if they were actually all season there should be a sun symbol also, and that noone should really be using winter tyres in the south of England given the very few days it's actually needed (if at all) and the compromise of reduced grip in normal conditions. Is he correct or is he mistaken on the symbols/claim that these are winter tyres? I've included the relevant part from a stock image for this model and I have the same. I noticed that underneath the model name (Vector) it says 4seasons. I would've thought no tyre fitter or manufacturer would mislead customers and there must be regulations around this kind of stuff so am inclined to think the mechanic is mistaken and presumably the symbols are just showing that it's rated for certain winter conditions, but just wanted to double check on the off chance he's right.”