When is the best time to change your car's shoes for the summer?

Prepare your tires before summer: when is the best time to re-shoe your car?

Replacing tires twice a year adds headaches to car enthusiasts. In spring and autumn the weather is changeable. Many drivers are in no hurry to go to car repair shops - what if there is frost and ice?

“It’s already possible to change your shoes, if you have pure winter tires with spikes, then it’s time to change your shoes. Because the spikes tend to fly out, wear off on the asphalt, and so on. The spikes just fly out, break the windows of other cars, a spike just flew out of the wheel and flies into another car driving behind, breaking the windshield,” says car service owner Andrei Glazunov.

Photo source: TV channel “360”

In addition, in the warm season, demi-season wheels with a tread of 5-6 mm are demolished in a couple of months. And the car itself will “swim” at speeds of more than 100 km/h. Whether to change shoes or not remains on the conscience of the car owner himself. The law does not regulate this in any way.

Photo source: TV channel “360”

“A driver who drives on winter tires in the summer puts both himself and other road users at risk. Winter tires used in summer do not provide safety when braking and maneuvering. “Exactly the same as summer tires in winter,” said Alexey Shashilin, senior inspector of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Odintsovskoye Municipal Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Photo source: TV channel “360”

When it's warm outside, winter tires begin to melt. It's not so scary. But cars with bald tires on slippery asphalt increase the number of accidents by up to one hundred percent. Most drivers know this and change their cars only when the temperature is above zero.

Photo source: TV channel “360”

“It’s still quite early to change the tires on your car, because there is no stable +5 degrees outside, and it’s better to plan this matter so that you can really get in without a queue, change your shoes, well, it’s still about two weeks too early,” says driver Vladimir Kuleshov.

Photo source: TV channel “360”

Typically, it is in April that the average daily temperature in Moscow and the region reaches +5 degrees recommended by the traffic police. Then you can go to a car service center, say the installers.

When to change tires to summer tires in 2020 according to the law

Does this mean that you need to change your tires as soon as the snow melts? No! It is important to be patient and wait not only for a stable “plus” during the day, but for the absence of overnight (and sometimes daily) short-term frosts that are quite possible in our climate. In this sense, as they say, it is better to “move.”

This is especially true for those who travel along suburban secondary roads (and icy yards). Because city streets and highways are actively treated with de-icing reagents.

Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” 018/2011, in particular paragraph 5.5, prescribes: “ The operation of vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs is prohibited in the summer ( June, July, August ).

It is prohibited to operate vehicles that are not equipped with winter tires that meet the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this appendix during the winter period ( December, January, February ). Winter tires are installed on all wheels of the vehicle.

The terms of the operation ban may be changed upward by regional government bodies of the member states of the Customs Union.”

But let's return to the timing of replacement. In your region (more southern warmer) the authorities may prohibit the use of winter tires, for example, from March to November. Or in the northern regions - order the use of winter tires from September to May. At the same time, authorities at the regional level cannot limit the duration of the ban in force on the “union” territory: from December to February, cars throughout the Customs Union must use only winter tires, and from June to August - only summer tires.

Thus, if we proceed strictly from the deadlines specified in the Technical Regulations, we get:

When to change your car's shoes for winter 2019

With the onset of mid-autumn or spring, every caring motorist thinks about seasonal tire replacement. Let's figure out together when is the best time to change your car's shoes for the winter of 2019.

The onset of autumn means the approaching period of changing tires from summer to winter. The question of the timing of the mandatory transition to winter tires worries almost every motorist, since the rules in different regions can differ significantly.

General recommendation: “When the average daily temperature reaches +5 Celsius!” That is why on many modern cars, when the temperature drops to +4 C°, a warning appears on the instrument panel in the form of flashing this very value, accompanied by a sound signal.

Therefore, if for one reason or another you find yourself with your four-wheeled friend in an area exposed to such temperatures, especially on the highway, it is better to mount winter tires in advance.

In populated areas (excluding mountainous and very hilly areas), it is possible to drive on summer tires even until the first frost. I cannot recommend this, but as a necessary measure it is quite viable. From experience, I also cannot help but notice that in the case of terrain with a significant difference in elevation or long gentle descents/ascents, especially when driving at speeds of more than 80-90 km/h, it is safer to switch to winter wheels in advance. Firstly, you will have time to get used to the peculiarities of the behavior of your iron horse on soft tires. Secondly, as always, the “unexpected” glaciation will not take you by surprise. Winter wheels will leave precious seconds (and fractions thereof) for maneuver and will allow you to overcome the extreme meters of a steep climb.

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When is it legal to change tires to winter tires in 2019?

According to the current edition of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union (which operates in Russia), all cars must be “shod” with winter tires after December 1, 2019. However, you should not rely on this regulation when choosing the period for switching to winter tires - it imposes formal requirements on the service life of winter tires (all winter months - December, January, February). Considering that by December 1, winter has long been in control over almost the entire territory of our country, you need to switch to winter tires earlier. When?

When to change tires to winter tires in 2019: advice from tire manufacturers and weather forecasters
Tire manufacturers give clear recommendations on switching to winter tires: when the average daily temperature drops below +7 degrees Celsius.

At this temperature, summer tires “tan”, become hard and behave worse even on dry, clean asphalt, not to mention wet surfaces with snow or ice. That is why the above temperature was chosen. However, this recommendation again does not provide a specific calendar date for the transition to winter tires in 2019. How to be?

It is prohibited to operate vehicles that are not equipped with winter tires that meet the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this appendix during the winter period (December, January, February). Winter tires are installed on all wheels of the vehicle.

The terms of the operation ban may be changed upward by regional government bodies of the member states of the Customs Union.”

As the snow actively melts under the gentle spring sun, every zealous car owner thinks about replacing winter tires with summer tires. When is the best time to change to summer tires?

During the winter months: December, January and February, only winter tires are permitted. It is allowed to install both studded and non-studded tires on the car. It is important that they have an index: “M+S”, “M&S” or “MS”. The legally established periods for banning the use of summer tires by local authorities can only increase, but cannot be reduced. For example, your region may prohibit the use of summer tires from October to April. At the same time, authorities at the regional level cannot reduce the period of the ban in force on the “union” territory: from December to February, cars throughout the Customs Union must use only winter tires.

Thus, if we proceed strictly from the deadlines specified in the Technical Regulations, it turns out:

7 degree rule. What every driver should know about changing tires

“Is it time yet or is it too early?” Motorists face this question twice a year: in the fall before the onset of serious cold weather and in the spring.

Often the decision to change tires is made at random. Drivers simply rely on intuition. It seems that the sun has warmed up, the asphalt has begun to show - it’s time. Is it possible to do this? Let's look at what you need to remember when changing tires together with the automaker Ravon.

What does the law say?

How simple it would be if the law prescribed something like: change winter tires to summer tires on April 1st. However, there are no clear instructions on exactly when to change the shoes of the car. The only thing it is proposed to focus on is the technical regulations of the Customs Union.

From January 1, 2015, the document prohibits the use of summer tires in the three winter months (December, January and February) and winter tires with studs in the summer months (June, July, August).

In other words, the regulations allow driving on winter tires with studs from September to May. An important point: the document allows you to ride on tires without spikes, so-called “Velcro”, all year round.

What should the temperature be?

Considering that Russia is a country of weather surprises, it would be imprudent to focus only on the regulations. Tire manufacturers and experts advise relying primarily on temperature conditions.

The Tire Manufacturers Association recommends changing your car's shoes in winter, when the average daily temperature drops below 7 degrees. Accordingly, as soon as the temperature outside becomes 7 degrees or higher in the spring, you can unpack your summer set. The risk of night frosts by this time is minimized.

In addition, at this temperature, summer tires, which differ in composition from winter tires, will not harden, which means that road grip will not become worse.

What happens if you drive in the summer on winter tires?

One of the main differences between winter tires and summer tires is the degree of softness of the rubber compound. Summer tires are much tougher. Therefore, in the cold it quickly becomes dull, loses its properties, and the car begins to behave unpredictably. At the same time, winter tires turn out to be helpless in a sense in the warm season. When there is no frost outside, the softness coupled with the winter tread pattern makes the ride more dangerous and uncomfortable.

If you ignore the recommendations and drive on winter tires in the summer, you will not be able to avoid troubles. This is especially true when traveling on wet roads. Under these conditions, winter tires behave worst of all - road traction becomes less reliable, vehicle stability deteriorates, and the steering also changes for the worse.

If you give a list of key problems that the use of winter tires in summer promises, it will be something like this.

— Poor traction, especially if it’s raining and the asphalt is wet, deterioration in handling.

— Increased braking distance.

— Increased fuel consumption.

— Deterioration of the car’s response to steering.

— Quick erasing of tread patterns not intended for summer roads. If you drive with “winter” all summer, then the tires most likely will not survive until the next snowfall.

How to check if tires can be used in the new season?

Before going to a tire shop, conduct a visual inspection of the tires. The main thing you need to pay attention to is the remaining tread height. It should be no lower than 1.6 millimeters. It is better to take measurements in several places at once.

After checking the tread height, it is a good idea to inspect the tires for mechanical damage. It is also important to consider how the rubber was stored. The surest and safest way is horizontal, when the tires lie on top of each other.

In any case, a control check of the combat readiness of the rubber must be carried out at a tire station. If there are any doubts, it is better to specifically ask the technician to carefully inspect the tires.

Maybe change it yourself?

In theory, you can change your shoes yourself. Especially if the summer tires have not been removed from the rims, and you have a jack and wheel wrench at hand. Only in this case there is a risk of missing a couple of important manipulations and adding to your problems with further driving.

It is worth remembering: in addition to installation, the tires must be properly inflated - it is better if this is done in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Controllability, wear, and braking depend on this point.

When changing tires, you must do balancing. It does not matter whether the tires were removed from the rims during storage or not. This moment also affects handling, braking and tire wear.

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When should I buy a new kit?

And finally, one more important issue that has long divided the drivers into two warring teams. Representatives of the first are confident that you can drive on the same tires a little bit at a time for the rest of your life, if they are not worn out. The latter disagree: they say it needs to be changed every few seasons.

If we consider the issue based on security considerations, the second opinion is closer to the truth. The fact is that most tire manufacturers advise using rubber for no more than 10 years. After this period, it is recommended to change the set even if the tires are not worn out. The reason is that the condition of tires is affected not only by damage, but also by age. Over time, rubber loses its properties, becomes less elastic and less resistant to deformation, and as a result, the car’s handling deteriorates.

There is another figure: after 4-5 years of using rubber, manufacturers recommend inspecting the set more carefully before seasonal re-shoeing. If you have any doubts about the quality, it’s time to update the kit.

Tires in the off-season: when to change shoes?

“Kitty, buy winter tires for my swallow. Just not studded ones, so they don’t itch while walking.” It is useless to argue with my dear, and the household is replenished with a set of “Velcro” devices mounted on disks.

Darling thinks about safety and even looks through the automotive press. But, unfortunately, the advertising thesis “at temperatures below plus seven degrees Celsius, the properties of summer tires deteriorate and driving becomes unsafe” is taken too literally. She is ready to change the car’s shoes almost in the first ten days of October, when there are no queues at the tire shops. And then he torments the winter wheels until the May holidays, because in the spring there is always not enough time for such trifles as changing the shoes of the car. The shortcomings of a summer wheel on ice and snow are immediately noticeable to her, but a winter “Velcro” wheel rolls and rolls on the asphalt.

Shock therapy in this case works better than words. Hyundai Solaris and its owner are invited to the Smolensk Ring race track, where serious men are testing equally serious equipment. The car is shod with Michelin X-Ice 185/65R15 winter tires, and in the trunk is a set of Hankook Optimo K415 summer tires of the same size.

The weather is ideal: cloudy, no precipitation, air temperature +4 ºС. It is at plus four that the snowflake symbol lights up on the dashboard of many cars - they say, be careful, it can be slippery! Meanwhile, dry asphalt and snow are not expected under the wheels in the near future.

The lesson begins with braking. A strong blow to the pedal at a speed of 100 km/h and the accompanying chatter of ABS make a much greater impression on the female psyche than the numbers on the display of a high-precision measuring device. We don’t torment the lady with intermediate results, quickly change the wheels - and the next series of braking. Then a short calculation and announcement of the result: winter tires in these conditions are inferior to summer tires by four meters of braking distance! This is only a palm less than the length of the Solaris hatchback.

Perhaps on other asphalt and with other tires the difference will be different, but in this case it is not the absolute indicators that are more important, but the trend.

Measurements and assessment of controllability are underway. You can see genuine interest in the woman’s eyes – Hyundai has never driven her so vigorously before!

After the races on the ring track, the test driver shares his impressions. So, on summer tires, the car brakes better and responds quickly to steering turns, but when accelerating on curves, the unloaded front wheel slips. Hence the unpleasant squeal of skidding tires.

On winter tires, the ABS kicks in earlier and you have to brake early; reactions to steering wheel turns are not so clear, but the Solaris accelerates well out of corners. Under traction, an unloaded wheel, shod with Velcro, clings to the asphalt better.

Then we invite the guest to look at the lap time. Winter tires beat summer tires! Maybe not by much, just a second per lap, but they are consistently faster. And of course, there is a question from the male part of the population: what is more important for a beautiful lady - a small increase in acceleration dynamics or a noticeably shorter braking distance? No additional arguments were needed - priority was given to braking.

The lady made her own conclusions. Replacing wheels is not only a physical, but also a mental transition to winter operation. Even in the autumn or spring off-season, when there is no snowfall or ice, the braking distance on clean asphalt is no longer the same as in the summer. Therefore, only those who do not think about their own safety and the safety of others ride on winter Velcro in late spring, and even more so all year round.

– It was interesting, thanks for the science!

When to change tires according to the new law?

On January 1 of this year, the technical regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” came into force. It follows from it that from the beginning of December to the end of February, winter tires must be installed on all wheels of the car. Any – studded or non-studded. The main thing is that they are marked M + S. By decision of regional authorities, the seasonal period can be extended. In addition, the law prohibits the use of studded tires in the summer (from June to August inclusive). Formally, “Velcro” cars do not fall under this clause of the law, but we strongly recommend not to ride them in the heat. How to act in the off-season? According to actual weather, taking into account the long-term forecast. In central Russia, winter tires are usually appropriate from late October to mid-April.