How to choose winter tires that won't let you down

Why do you need winter tires at all

Winter tires are different from summer ones, and it's not just a tread pattern. Manufacturers select the chemical composition for a certain temperature range, therefore, when outside of this range, tires lose their properties. At low temperatures, summer tires become less elastic and can no longer provide adequate grip, minimum braking distances and other inherent characteristics.

Contrary to popular belief, all-season tires are not made for real winter.

They are designed for moderate weather conditions and quality road surfaces that are usually dry and only occasionally wet. In an amicable way, they can only be used in the off-season as an addition to winter and summer tires.

That is why it is imperative to change tires depending on the season. As a rule, it is recommended to replace the car with winter tires if the air temperature does not rise above 5–7 ° C during the week. This is usually late October or early November.

As in the case of summer tires, you need to choose winter tires taking into account several important criteria and nuances. Let's try to figure them out together.

What type of tires to choose

There are two main types of tires: studded and friction tires. The latter, in turn, are divided into tires of the Scandinavian and European type. As a result, there are only three types of winter tires, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for certain climatic conditions.

1. Studded tires

Thanks to their metal anti-skid studs, these tires provide better grip and effective braking. They are designed for driving on hard dry ice and are used in countries with harsh winters. Due to their specific nature, tires of this type are quite noisy. When driving on dry asphalt, they lose their advantages and quickly wear off. In some European countries, studded tires are prohibited.

These tires are suitable for everyone who spends a lot of time outside the city and lives in regions where there is ice. Residents of megalopolises with roads that are regularly sprinkled with reagents do not need studded tires.

2. Scandinavian type friction tires

They are similar in their properties to studded tires and for the most part differ from them only in the absence of studs. Tires of this type are designed to operate at low temperatures and a large amount of snow and provide the necessary traction with the road due to the many sipes on the tread, which push snow and crust. Due to their softness, Scandinavian tires do not behave in the best way on ice and also quickly wear off on dry asphalt, literally starting to swim.

Scandinavian tires are suitable for snowy areas with long and cold winters. With such tires, you can not be afraid of snowdrifts and shifting, but you have to observe the speed limit, be more careful when entering corners, as well as sharp acceleration and braking.

3. Friction tires of European type

This is the complete opposite of Scandinavian. These tires are ideal for regions with mild, wet winters where sleet and rain are more common. They do an excellent job with slush and are able to provide safety when driving at higher speeds. But in ice and on packed snow with such tires you should be careful.

They are suitable for driving within the city, where you can often find slush than ice, as well as when driving on clean asphalt at low temperatures.

How to read the label

Having decided on the type of tires, you can move on to considering specific models from different manufacturers. To compare tires and choose the most suitable ones, you need to be able to read the markings in which the features of a particular tire are encrypted. Let's understand the conventions using a specific example.

P- standard size of the tire. In this case, it is an abbreviation for Passenger, which indicates a tire for a passenger car.
215- profile width in millimeters.
65- profile height in percent.
R - radial design.
15 is the landing diameter in inches.
95 - load index.
T - speed index.
M + S - Mud + Snow, winter or all-season tires.
Treadwear 220 - wear index (the higher the better).
Traction A - an indicator of the effectiveness of braking. Marked from A to C, where A is the best.
Temperature A - an indicator of resistance to heat. Marked from A to C, where A is the best.

Additional Information:

All seasons (or AS) - all-season tires.
Snowflake icon - winter tire.
Tubeless - tubeless tire.
Max pressure - maximum pressure.
Outside and Inside - markings on the outside and inside on asymmetric tires.
Rotation - direction of rotation for directional tires.
Water, Rain, Aqua, umbrella icon - resistance to aquaplaning.

Most of the designations when choosing are only for informational purposes, but some are worth paying close attention to. These parameters include section width and height, load and speed indices, as well as wear and braking indicators.

How to choose the size

When choosing a tire size, it is worth setting aside all the myths and advice of garage neighbors describing the advantages of a low profile or an increased diameter. You should not deviate from the recommendations of the car manufacturer: he has already calculated everything, found the best option and indicated it in the owner's manual.

If you want to save money, get a second set of rims for winter tires with a smaller rim. Buying such rubber will be cheaper.

How to check the production date

Before buying, be sure to check when the tires were manufactured. The fact is that manufacturers guarantee the unchanged properties of the tire for two years of storage. If the tires are in the warehouse longer, then the rubber loses its quality and the tires will no longer be able to fully provide traction and effective braking.

How to check the manufacturing date of winter tires

Finding out the date of manufacture and understanding whether it is worth taking the set of tires you like is quite simple. Manufacturers indicate it on the side surface of the tire using a four-digit code. The first two represent the week and the second represents the year of issue. For example, 5016 is Week 50 or Mid December 2016.

What else needs to be considered

And a few useful tips in the end:

Stop buying used tires. Over time, rubber loses its properties, which, coupled with the existing wear and tear, can nullify all the savings.
Under no circumstances should you buy tires only for the drive axle of a car. The uneven traction of wheels on different axles increases the risk of skidding.
To prolong the life of your tires, it is recommended to move them from the front axle to the rear axle and vice versa every 8,000 km.
If you have been using a set of tires for more than a year, install the best pair on the rear axle of the car to eliminate the possibility of skidding.
Buy a second set of rims specifically for winter tires so you can change shoes yourself and not waste time in the tire line.