When we have the air conditioner is on in the summer it always smells like tar even if we are no where near tar being poured what could be causing this?

 

Try putting it on recirc That will eliminate the smell coming from the engine compartment,.
If you cant smell it when in recirc then you could be smelling it from the engine compartment,and the only thing I can think of that would give that smell is either a belt slipping(burning rubber)
or a oil leak on your exhaust manifold.