When is it legal to remove studded tires?

When to change summer tires to winter ones

The range of tires can be compared to a shoe closet based on their intended purpose. Each car owner has his own set for the vehicle, which can consist of rare sports tires or aggressive off-road tires combined with regular standard tires for quiet trips on smooth roads. This choice is individual. But there are also basic kits that every car enthusiast needs, we are talking about summer and winter tires. Unlike situations with other types of tires, when replacing these “shoes” it is not enough to rely on personal ideas about the timing. Tips from lawyers and weather forecasters will help you navigate correctly.

Question about changing tires

When is it legal to change tires?

Traffic regulations do not regulate the technical condition of a car that is allowed to drive on public roads. Another document is devoted to this side of the issue - the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the Safety of Wheeled Vehicles”. In the list of clause 5 “Requirements for tires and wheels” of Appendix No. 8 to this set of rules there is clause 5.5, which states:

“It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs in the summer (June, July, August).

During the winter period (December, January, February), the operation of vehicles of categories M1 and N1 that are not equipped with winter tires that meet the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this appendix is ​​prohibited. Winter tires are installed on all wheels of these vehicles.”

Vehicles of categories M1 and N1 respectively mean passenger cars and light trucks (with a carrying capacity of up to 3.5 tons). The condition of clause 5.6.3, referred to in the previous paragraph, looks like this:

“The tire is considered unsuitable for use at the Residual tread depth of winter tires intended for use on icy or snowy road surfaces, marked with a sign in the form of a mountain peak with three peaks and a snowflake inside it (Figure 5.1), as well as marked with the signs “M+S” ", "M&S", "MS" (in the absence of wear indicators) during operation on the specified coating - no more than 4.0 mm."

An example of tire markings approved for use in the winter months

In other words, passenger cars and light-duty vehicles are prohibited from driving on studded winter tires all summer, and on summer tires of any type all winter. The Code of Administrative Offenses does not provide for a fine for violating this rule, but the traffic police inspector has the right to impose a penalty for non-compliance with the technical condition of the vehicle due to insufficient tread depth.

And to really use all-season tires all year round, you need to check the following:

• There is a sign on the tires with mountain peaks and a snowflake
• It is accompanied by the marking “M+S”, “M&S” or “MS”
• Tread depth is at least 4 mm

However, the law does not regulate the choice of tires for the spring and autumn months. Therefore, in order not to miss the moment of replacing tires, you need to know the difference between the physical properties of summer and winter tires.

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The difference in the properties of summer and winter tires

There are two main factors that directly influence the seasonal purpose of tires and their behavior on the road:

Tread type (pattern and depth).

If on summer tires the direction of the gutters is designed in such a way as to remove dirt and water from under the wheels, and their small depth is sufficient for traction with the road (7-8 mm on new tires), then the pattern of winter tires is designed to provide the car with maximum stability on a snowy and slippery road.

Hence the wide, deep grooves (9-12 mm), dividing the surface of the products into large blocks, and thin lamellas, making these blocks more plastic.

Composition of the rubber mixture. Both summer and winter tires are based on natural rubber. Its natural properties cannot be improved so that the tire remains plastic and provides the car with stability at both low (below -5°C) and high (above 25°C) temperatures.

All-season tires operate in this range, from -5°C to +25°C. And weather deviations to a lesser or greater extent require the selection of seasonal tires.

1. The composition of the summer one is calculated so that it is soft and does not wear out too quickly at temperatures above +7°C. If you leave it on the car when the thermometer drops below this figure, the tires will become hard, grip will deteriorate, and over time cracks may appear on the surface.
2. And in the case of winter, the priority is the plasticity of the material at low temperatures (up to +7°C). Due to their special softness and stickiness, such tires wear out noticeably faster in warm weather than in cold weather.

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At what temperature is it time to change tires?

The limit point of the thermometer at which both summer and winter tires begin to change their properties and behavior is +7°C. It is at this average daily temperature that it is recommended to change summer tires to winter ones. We are not talking about situations when the night or day temperature drops to +7°C; what is important is the indicator that weather forecasters obtain by measuring the temperature at the same time at regular intervals over several days.

Graph of tire efficiency versus temperature

In the Moscow region, this value is usually set in October - for example, in 2018, already on October 4, the average daily temperature was 6.33°C. And in Kazan, almost the same figure was recorded the next day, October 5, and after that it rarely rose higher.

How to choose winter tires?

Despite the common features (deep tread and soft rubber), different types of winter tires differ in purpose. There are three main ones:

1. Friction. These are tires with deep tread, but without studs. They are divided into two types:
   1. European. From the name it is clear that the depth and location of the lamellas on its surface are intended for warm and slushy European winters - such tires are not suitable for the Russian climate.
   2. Scandinavian. Its primary task is to provide traction on snowy and icy roads. This is achieved due to large contact spots with the canvas, which break through the top layer of ice. It is worth taking a closer look at such tires if you frequently travel on poor-quality roads and those that are rarely maintained and cleaned.
2. Studded . Metal studs on such tires work mainly for contact with ice, so they will not be the best option for snowy tracks and off-road conditions, but will become indispensable in regions with extremely low temperatures and little precipitation.

Examples of winter tire tread patterns

1. All-season. The ideal conditions for such rubber are the off-season and warm winter, because at temperatures below -5°C it loses its plasticity, and in the heat it becomes too soft and wears out quickly.

To make winter trips as comfortable as possible, it is worth analyzing the climatic norms of the region and assessing the frequency of trips into the city or outside of it, and making a choice based on this.

General recommendations

These rules will help make tire replacement convenient and timely, and further trips comfortable and safe:

1. Winter tires should be purchased in advance so as not to miss the right moment to replace them while looking for the best option. This will also help you save money: in summer, such tires usually cost less.
2. It is important to monitor the weather forecast and your own driving sensations.
3. It is better to entrust the replacement of tires to specialists, especially if for this you need to put them on the same disk as the summer one. Among other things, during the procedure they will be able to check and adjust the balance. If you sign up at a large service center, you can immediately rent a place to store summer tires.
4. After installation, it is necessary to monitor the tire pressure: due to temperature changes, it may change, requiring adjustment.

Conclusion

Seasonal tire changes are regulated by law and recommended by weather forecasters, taking into account changes in the physical properties of rubber compounds. What tires are installed on a car directly affects its behavior on the road in winter. Therefore, before choosing and replacing tires, it is important to assess the climate and conditions in which the car will be used.

You can learn more about the technical requirements for seasonal tires and the importance of replacing tires from a video consultation with a TransTechService specialist:

The law on winter tires - what is it, has it been adopted and how does it work?

So, the “ law on winter tires ” is, perhaps, an already established expression this year - a new bill providing for the obligation of drivers to drive, relatively speaking, on summer tires in the summer and on winter tires in the winter. The law on winter tires began to be promoted in 2014 and at the end of the year it acquired official status. As for its status for the current 2019, it has been accepted, it is valid throughout Russia and obliges drivers to drive winter (or all-season in special cases) tires in winter.

But it's not that simple! In recent months, information has increasingly begun to appear in the media about alleged raids by traffic police inspectors to identify drivers of cars with summer tires and a fine of as much as 5 thousand rubles for summer tires. And supposedly the law on winter tires provides for liability for summer tires in winter, starting in November of each year.

Of course, everything is completely different, and let's clarify the situation and analyze this notorious law on winter tires inside and out!

What is the law on winter tires?

Let's start with the definition of the official law itself - it is reflected in the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union on the safety of wheeled vehicles - in paragraph 5.5 of Appendix No. 8. He, indeed, instructs drivers to drive on non-studded tires in the summer (and not on summer tires, contrary to popular belief), and in the winter - on winter tires. Of course, there is no talk about November at all - it prescribes the obligation to drive on winter tires from December to February, and on non-studded tires from June to August. However, these deadlines may be changed by regional authorities:

5.5. It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs 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) . The terms of the ban on exploitation can be changed by regional executive authorities of the states of the Common Economic Space.

Actually, here it is, the law on winter tires in all its glory. As of today, December 6, 2019, its text has not changed.

What is the fine for violating the law on winter tires?

But the main thing is not in the law itself, but, one might say, in the “mandatory nature of its implementation” - today there is simply no fine for non-compliance. Neither the 5,000 rubles that traffic police inspectors allegedly threaten, nor 1 ruble is due for evading driving on winter tires in the winter months.

Update from 10/19/2016 :
The Russian State Duma Committee on Transport and Construction approved a bill imposing a fine for violating the law on winter tires. Thus, for using summer tires in winter and studded tires in summer, it is proposed to introduce a fine of 2,000 rubles . If the fine is approved by the authorities, drivers may begin to be fined as early as December 2016.

But let's understand further! As you know, all fines for violations by car drivers are prescribed in the Code of Administrative Offenses (in fact, even in the Criminal Code - but this is not discussed here yet). We do not know what article exactly those who name a fine of 5 thousand rubles for summer tires in winter are attracted to, however, some traffic police inspectors are trying to use in this case article 12.5, part 1, which threatens the driver with a much smaller fine - 500 rubles and sounds like this:

1. Driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which, in accordance with the Basic Provisions and on the admission of vehicles for operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, operation of the vehicle is prohibited, with the exception of malfunctions and conditions specified in parts 2 - 7 of this article, entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five hundred rubles.

It is not for nothing that we emphasized the reference of this article to the Basic Provisions - this is an appendix to the traffic rules. But neither this appendix nor the entire list of traffic rules says a word about the Technical Regulations, which contain the law on winter tires. Even in the Code of Administrative Offences, the only reference to this Technical Regulation is given in the article on tinting. Accordingly, Article 12.5.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses is not applicable here, and a fine of 500 rubles is illegal, since there is simply no liability for violating the new law.

However, the article becomes quite applicable if, in fact, a clause of the Basic Provisions is violated - but a little different. Paragraph 5.1 of this appendix tells us that it is prohibited to operate a car with winter tires if their tread depth is less than 4 mm. And only in this case the driver is subject to a fine of 500 rubles.

Meanwhile, earlier it was not for nothing that we mentioned the criminal code - laws are written for a reason, but to ensure safety - in our case, road traffic. And no one will argue that you need to drive on winter tires in winter. The fact is that if the driver is at fault in an accident, the probability of which increases tenfold when using summer tires in winter, resulting in death or causing serious harm to health, criminal liability already arises. And this responsibility is aggravated if it is proven that the driver violated the “law on winter tires” (Technical Regulations) by using summer tires in winter, and this is what caused the accident. Here it is necessary to grasp the main thing: the fact that there is no fine for violating the law on winter tires does not mean that there is no responsibility for this. As you can see, there may well be liability, so take care, first of all, of your own safety.

So, drawing conclusions, we can briefly summarize this entire law on winter tires as follows:

1. In the summer (June, July, August) we are prohibited from driving on studded tires (but we can use Velcro or all-season tires).
2. In winter (December, January, February) we are required to drive on winter tires (it makes no difference whether they are studded or non-studded).
3. The tread depth of winter tires must be at least 4 mm.
4. There is no fine for violating the law on winter tires as of December 6, 2019 .

When is it legal to install winter tires in 2019?

Good afternoon, dear reader.

Every year, as cold weather approaches, drivers begin to wonder when to put on winter tires. Currently, the answer to this question is partially regulated by a regulatory legal document.

In this article we will talk about the legally established deadlines for changing summer tires to winter ones. In addition, a fine for improper use of tires will be considered.

When is it legal to switch to winter tires?

Let's consider paragraph 5.5 of Appendix 8 to the technical regulations of the customs union TR CU 018/2011 “On the safety of wheeled vehicles”:

5.5. It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs in the summer (June, July, August).

During the winter period ( December, January, February ), the operation of vehicles of categories M1 and N1 that are not equipped with winter tires that meet the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this annex is prohibited. Winter tires are installed on all wheels of these vehicles.

A period different from that specified in paragraph one of this paragraph may be established by the legislation of a member state of the Eurasian Economic Union in connection with climatic and geographical factors characteristic of member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

So, what can be understood from this paragraph:

1. During the summer months (June, July, August) only studded tires are prohibited. This requirement applies to all vehicles.
2. During the winter months (December, January, February), only winter tires are permitted. You can put both studded and non-studded tires on your car. The main thing is that they are marked “M+S”, “M&S” or “MS” and the corresponding drawing (in the picture on the left). The requirement applies only to category B (M1 cars and N1 trucks). The restriction does not apply to other vehicles from November 11, 2018.
3. The terms of the ban on exploitation can only be increased by the legislative authority of any level (federal, regional) and cannot be reduced. Those. In your region, for example, the use of studded tires may be prohibited from May to September. At the same time, regional authorities cannot reduce the period of the ban, i.e. From June to August, cars in all regions must not use studs.

Thus, there are the following intervals for using car tires:

• Summer tires (without M+S marking, etc.) can be used from March to November.
• Winter studded tires (marked M+S, etc.) can be used from September to May.
• Winter studless tires (marked M+S, etc.) can be used all year round.

Let's look at a table with periods of possible tire use throughout the year:

Timing for replacing winter tires with summer tires in 2018

Untimely replacement of seasonal tires dramatically reduces driving safety, shortens the life of the tires and may result in a fine. Weather conditions (temperature levels and road surface conditions) indicate to the motorist the need to visit a car service center. However, for regions of the Russian Federation, the time for replacing tires is different.

There are statutory deadlines for replacing winter tires with summer tires and vice versa. They do not apply to universal all-season tires, but they prohibit the use of studded tires in the summer.

Official dates for replacing winter tires with summer tires

In 2015, the Technical Regulations, mandatory for all countries of the Customs Union, came into force. Russia signed the document back in 2011, but its effect was postponed for 4 years so that tire manufacturers could increase their production volume. According to the Technical Regulations “On the Safety of Wheeled Vehicles” No. 018/2011 (Appendix No. 8):

• from 01.06 to 31.08, the use of cars and other vehicles with studded tires is prohibited;
• from 01.12 to 28(29.02) it is prohibited to operate vehicles without winter tires;
• The timing (increasingly) may be changed by regional authorities depending on climatic conditions.

The Technical Regulations do not indicate a specific date by which winter tires must be replaced with summer tires. Moreover, the ban applies only to studded tires in the summer, and there is no mention of friction tires (in common parlance – “Velcro”).

However, there is a characteristic prescribed in the Technical Regulations and the “Basic Provisions for the Admission of Vehicles to Operation”, which the traffic police will focus on when checking a vehicle. This is the depth of the tire tread pattern, which should not be less than 1.6 mm on passenger cars. For mopeds and motorcycles, a residual tread depth of 0.8 mm is provided, for buses - 2 mm, for freight vehicles (over 3.5 tons) - 1 mm. If there is a wear indicator on the tire, then the suitability of the tire will be determined by it. Failure to comply with these parameters will result in a fine or a verbal warning during inspection (the penalty is chosen by the inspector).

When to switch to summer tires?

The optimal transition date should be determined by common sense and experience. Tires are changed later in the northern regions of the Russian Federation (where such a procedure generally makes sense), and drivers in the Krasnodar Territory often install summer tires in early March. In central Russia, it is not recommended to “change shoes” for a car before March 15th. Frequent frosts in the first month of spring and an unexpected change from thaw to snowfall can cause vehicles with summer tires to skid on the road, and the braking distance will increase by several meters. It’s more difficult for car owners who use studded tires in winter. Driving on such tires in wet snow or puddles is risky: the hydroplaning effect can lead to an emergency.

Replacing winter tires with summer tires depends on:

• average daily air temperature. If for several days the column confidently moves above +7 degrees, and the night temperature is at 0, then you can already change the tires;
• condition of the road surface. This factor is individual for each driver. Driving on city roads during the day can be safe, in contrast to operating a vehicle on icy surfaces on country roads in the early morning or at night.
• type of tires Friction tires show better results on wet roads, while studded tires perform better on ice (research results from Test World from Finland). You need to change studded tires to the summer version earlier than friction tires.

How do winter tires behave in summer?

The main difference between the winter version is the chemical composition of the rubber mixture. It is adapted for use at sub-zero temperatures, so it does not harden, providing reliable grip on the road. If such tires are installed on a car in the summer, then under the influence of hot asphalt or above-zero temperatures the tread becomes soft and wears off (at an air temperature of +30, the asphalt heats up by 20-25 degrees or more). Manufacturers claim that rubber begins to deform already at +7. Hitting a sharp protrusion or rock often causes a tire to burst.

Driving on winter tires increases fuel consumption as engine power increases. Refueling a car will cost 10% more. Other vehicle systems also suffer. The main load falls on the chassis and suspension, which may require serious repairs after driving in the summer on winter tires.

Tire wear increases several times, as the tread begins to wear out intensively at temperatures above +15. The residual depth may be less than 1.6 mm, which will result in a penalty during inspection. After this, you will not only have to pay the receipt, but also buy a new set of tires.

Conclusion

Safety on the road depends on the attentiveness of the pedestrian, the skill of the driver and the operational characteristics of the car, which includes timely installation of tires in accordance with the season. In the summer it is prohibited to drive on studded tires, and the legislation is still silent about friction tires. In the near future, an amended bill is being prepared for consideration in the State Duma, which provides for substantial fines for the use of winter tires in the summer.

When do you need to switch to summer tires from winter tires according to the new law?

When to change your shoes for the summer?

Seasonal tire changes give you peace of mind in the safety of not only your own health and property as a result of an accident, but also your state of mind due to the inability of the inspector to issue a fine. But is there such a fine? And, most importantly, when do you need to change tires from winter to summer according to the law of 2019, that is, in the current season? Many sources say as early as March, others in April and May. But we will find out where the truth is in the article.

When can you drive on summer tires?

Obviously in the summer. It is for this season that it was created. But you can also drive a car on summer tires in spring and autumn - respectively, in March, April, May, September, October and November.

And if a traffic police inspector on the road tries to fine you for using out-of-season tires during these months, then he is acting outside the scope of the law, and even if a decision is issued, it must be challenged. But for what reasons, we will now find out!

When to change your shoes for the summer?

Tires need to be changed to summer ones in Russia in June 2019.

This is what current legislation says, and only if you have studded tires. And even this is relative - we will find out why below. And this issue is not regulated by traffic rules, as many believe. The rules for the use of tires on wheels are regulated by Section 5 of the Basic Provisions (Appendix to the Traffic Regulations), and not a word is said here about the seasonality of the use of rubber.

The prescription of the seasons when it is necessary to install winter tires, and when to install summer tires, is contained in the Technical Regulations - this is today a variation of GOST on the technical equipment of modern cars. But there is not a word in it about the date when you need to switch to summer tires according to the law. It only talks about prohibitions on using winter tires in certain seasons and only with studs:

5.5. It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid studs in the summer ( June, July, August ).

Thus, the legal acts of 2019 do not establish a rule at all when to install summer tires after winter. Only one of them stipulates that you cannot drive in the “winter” during the 3 summer months – from June to August inclusive.

But there is an important subtlety!

It consists in the fact that the same Technical Regulations contain a note indicating that in each city it is possible to change such a ban, but only upward:

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

Regional bodies are regions, subjects of Russia. You can find out whether such changes have been made specifically in your region from the official websites of road services or the traffic police of your city. But, as a rule, their appearance is widely covered in the local press.

One thing we can say for sure is that in March, April and May of this year there are none in the largest cities.

• In Moscow, there is a general rule for the Russian Federation - you can legally switch to summer tires in June 2019.
• In St. Petersburg, the ban period was also not changed, and here it operates according to the general rules of the Technical Regulations.
• Even in the warm Crimea and Sochi (as well as throughout the Krasnodar Territory) the period has not been increased.