Can you use winter tires all year round?

When should you throw away your winter tires? Signs of wear

The winter season is already in full force, and the police have the right to issue a fine to the driver for driving on summer tires. But many car owners still do not drive with peace of mind, since this season they had to install not the best tires for their own safety, but those that were left in the garage. The rise in prices for winter tires turned out to be unexpectedly rapid, so not all drivers were able to purchase a new set to replace the already very old one. Many did not even think about replacement, because the old tires are not yet bald. We need to figure out when is the best time to get rid of winter stingrays. Some will talk about the 6 mm tread, others will grin and tell you that you can safely drive until there are cracks in the cord. Where to look for the truth in these opinions? In fact, even manufacturers are confused about this issue and cannot give a clear and simple answer.

Michelin claims that winter tires retain their properties up to a tread depth of 5 mm. Many Korean manufacturers allow you to reach up to 4 mm. The Chinese don’t give any recommendations at all, so you might think that you can lick the rubber until it becomes slick. But tire production technologies are the same everywhere, why do data on tire wear vary so much from manufacturer to manufacturer? The answer to this question should be sought in folk experience. It is specific facts that will help you understand exactly when it is worth throwing away winter tires and buying new ones. Today we will look at several important recommendations and approach this issue from different angles. If you realize that the installed tires are no longer suitable for use, you should take action and replace the tires this winter, without waiting for trouble. It's cheaper than dealing with the consequences of poor braking in modern traffic conditions.

What is the maximum age for winter tires?

Many owners of cars with low mileage ask the question: after how many years of operation is it better to change winter tires? Manufacturers may tell you all sorts of ridiculous things. For example, the same Michelin says that 5 years after production, rubber loses its properties. But this is not entirely correct. If you bought a cheap Chinese tire, then 5 years is really enough to use it, after which it is better to throw it away and buy a new one. But with good tires things are different.

Here are some tire age criteria:

• with normal storage and optimal use on good roads, winter tires can be used for about 8 years, often they reach this age even without minor damage;
• it is worth taking into account the external condition, monitoring it every year, tires can crack, the tread layer can peel off from the base material, the side parts can be deformed;
• at a tire fitting, it is important to ask a specialist to inspect the tires before installation, so that the specialist can give his opinion on how the wheels are mounted and balanced on your car;
• It is worth taking into account the manufacturers’ recommendations, if any, but the end of the factory expiration date does not always mean that the tires will no longer be able to serve normally;
• look at the release date of the tire - it happens that a person bought tires 5 years ago, but it was produced 8 years ago (this can be seen by the markings on the side of the tire).

The age of tires is given too much attention these days. If you haven't driven the tires much, they will remain in good condition. But in Russia it is very rare when the tires on a car last up to 8 years of use. Most often, in the 3-4 year, potholes and problem roads render the tires unusable. Therefore, talking about age at 8 years old makes no sense. Few drivers will be able to drive so carefully as not to damage the product in any way during operation.

Is Tread Height Another Myth for Boosting Sales?

There is a certain caste of drivers who generally drive on tires for one season, and then get rid of the tires and buy new ones. This causes misunderstandings. In fact, it is quite safe to roll up the tread of winter tires up to 5 mm. Then this tire can still be rolled in cold seasons, but without snow and ice - up to 2 mm of tread remaining. The exception is Chinese tires of the low price segment, which are really better to throw away after one season.

Here are some more facts about tread height:

• many manufacturers put special marks on their tires - these are partitions or a scale with numbers that show exactly when you need to change winter tires or throw them away;
• the height for different tire models may differ; for many types of sports tires, the initial tread height does not exceed 6 mm; special recommendations apply for it;
• You can continue to use tires normally only if the tread is worn evenly; uneven wear immediately indicates that the tire needs to be thrown away;
• studded tires have other indicators of wear, you need to look at the presence of studs, since if metal parts are completely lost, the rubber loses its properties and cannot serve well;
• Many drivers make the mistake of buying budget tires and rolling them up to 2mm, this is suitable for summer tires, but in winter you need good protection and optimal braking quality.

Be careful with tread height issues on car tires. It is worthwhile to better evaluate the tires before each installation. Otherwise, during operation, troubles are possible that will bring very serious costs. It is enough to get into a small accident with an expensive car so that even insurance payments are not enough to cover the damage. And there are more and more such cars on the roads.

When else should you throw away your winter tires?

Very often, accidents occur in winter precisely because of low-quality tires. The problem of cheap and worn-out tires is a whole winter epidemic for Russian roads. Our compatriots often use dubious Chinese tires, push them to the very last line and actively try to save money on this aspect of car operation. But such savings are definitely not worth it, and those who have at least once had a winter accident will prove this to you.

You should throw away your tires if you notice the following features:

• during tire fitting, the specialist drew your attention to cuts, punctures and other troubles that could create obstacles to the normal operation of the tires on the car;
• while inspecting the tires before the season, you noticed hernias and other damage to the side part, this means that the wheel was subject to impacts and could not withstand the increased load on the cord;
• there are large patches on the side or working part of the rubber - vulcanization, unfortunately, will not be able to withstand high pressure for long, so it is better to solve this problem immediately after detection;
• small cracks are visible on the upper part of the tread, which means that the properties of the rubber have completely deteriorated, such a tire will not be able to brake normally even on asphalt;
• damage or cracks are visible on the mounting part of the rubber - such a tire simply will not pass the tire fitting process, it will not be able to maintain the required pressure and will generally tear during installation.

If you notice such troubles, you should prepare to buy new tires. Even an inexpensive set of tires will be much better than worn-out luxury tires. Therefore, find something that suits your budget and get better winter performance of your car. Otherwise, problems during the season will not be avoided. Even if a damaged old tire survives installation, it is unlikely to serve you well in the future. Such rubber should be disposed of as soon as possible, without waiting for problems.

Is it possible to replace just a couple of wheels in winter?

Replacing an incomplete set is a fairly popular feature of preparing for the season in Russia. Considering the surprises on the road in the form of deep potholes at the beginning of the spring season, many drivers break 1-2 wheels and are forced to throw them away. The remaining tires may be in excellent condition, but you need to purchase others to go with them. It is often not possible to find wheels with the same tread, and experts advise installing only an evenly worn set.

Tips in this case will be as follows:

• expert opinions are indeed valid, but only for all-wheel drive vehicles with permanent 4WD, otherwise you can safely put more worn tires on the rear axle;
• it is best to buy a new pair of the same wheels with the same tread pattern, this will ensure normal interaction between the two axles and will not lead to problems in the movement of the car;
• It is impossible to put wheels with different degrees of wear on one axle, this will lead to significant problems in the operation of the car, skidding on any surface, uneven transmission of torque;
• completely different tread patterns are also unacceptable; you need to select at least tires from the same series with the same rubber composition and similar tread pattern;
• When replacing a pair of tires, you should not buy used products from advertisements on various sites on the Internet, such a purchase may turn out to be problematic, you will simply waste time.

In general, you should abandon the idea of ​​buying used tires. The problem is that in Russia tires are rolled almost to the end of the tread; rarely the owner will sell tires in good condition. Stories about how the car was sold but the tires remained are the most popular in this area. It is better to fork out for new tires and get decent quality of car operation. Otherwise, you cannot be sure that your trip will be safe.

We invite you to watch a video about worn-out and worn-out tires:

Let's sum it up

It is worth remembering that the quality of tires is the key to your safety on the road. There are known cases when good tires with a working tread saved the lives of people on the road, diverting them from imminent serious accidents. This safety factor should not be neglected. It is better to use high-quality tire options presented in sellers’ catalogs. This will help you prepare your car for winter to avoid problems in the future. Please note that high-quality tires are not always expensive products from well-known brands. You can find good solutions in the budget segment.

If you see that winter tires are no longer good enough to last another season, just buy new ones. This will help you eliminate troubles in operation and completely protect yourself from ridiculous situations on the road. When buying tires, pay attention to the tread height, reviews, quality of the rubber itself, manufacturer and other factors. This will help you choose exactly the option that satisfies you in terms of reliability, price and properties. What criteria do you use to reject winter tires?

Can winter tires be used all year round?

Are winter tires suitable for summer use?

Each of us would like to save money on servicing our car. Even though savings can often end up in extra expenses on a car. Often, many drivers, trying to save money, drive on winter tires all year round. But this absolutely cannot be done. Why? Our online publication decided to explain.

First, let's look at why winter tires are better in the cold season. Unlike summer or all-season tires, winter tires remain soft and flexible even in cold weather. In addition, winter tires have a different tread pattern and sipes, which allow them to increase traction on slippery and snowy roads, which also increases vehicle traction.

These features of winter tires allow the vehicle to be efficient on icy roads. The softer the rubber compound, the better the tire grip at temperatures below -7 degrees. The chemical compound of the rubber composition is aimed specifically at low temperatures. Summer and all-season tires harden in the cold and lose their properties, which affect their grip on the road surface.

But in warm weather, winter tires become too soft, which leads to reduced traction. Winter tires also wear out much faster in the summer. They also reduce the traction force of the car. Unlike all-season tires (which don't get too soft in the summer), winter tires are slow to respond to increased torque in warm weather.

It is noteworthy that the grooves in winter tires do not allow the car to maintain stability in warm and dry weather. Please note that using winter tires in summer reduces vehicle safety. The fact is that in addition to traction, when using winter tires in hot weather, the braking distance of the car increases.

In addition, if you decide to use winter tires in the warm season, then you need to know that tread wear will be uneven and premature. But that is not all. Not only does using winter tires in the summer increase wear, but also be prepared for a lot of noise, even if your car has excellent sound insulation.

It is noteworthy that not in all cases the use of winter tires in warm weather is bad. For example, in rainy and humid weather, winter tires behave acceptable, since the tire tread allows water to drain well to prevent aquaplaning.

But summer and all-season tires can also cope with this.

Are there perfect tires?

Of course, nothing in the world is ideal. Likewise, each type of tire has a lot of pros and cons. But if you don’t have the money to buy a set of winter and summer tires, then you can buy all-season tires that can be used all year round. But keep in mind that they do not have the same ideal grip on icy and snowy roads as winter tires. They are also not as ideal for use in warm weather as summer tires.

One of the main advantages of all-season tires is their ability to be used all year round.

Including all-season tires in winter are not as soft as winter tires. The most ideal time to use them is spring and autumn. Therefore, if you live in a region where winters are mild and summers are not hot, then it is most profitable to use all-season tires. But if where you live is very cold and snowy in winter, and in summer the air temperature often rises above +35 degrees, then we still recommend that you use summer and winter tires.

But if you do not have the funds to purchase winter and summer tires, you will have to buy all-season tires, refusing to use winter tires in the summer. The most popular all-weather tires are Nokian WRG2 and WRG3. There is also a Hankook 4S, on a Vredestein Quatrac and a Goodyear Fortera TripleTred.

How many seasons can you drive with winter tires?

How many seasons can you drive on winter tires: studded and velcro ? And when do you need to change your tires? Our article is about this on the eve of Tinsmith Day !

To produce winter tires, rubber compounds with additives are used to make the tread soft and elastic at low temperatures. Even at minus 20 degrees, the elasticity of such rubber remains as at zero. This means that the tread envelops the surface of dry asphalt and spreads over it, creating an enlarged contact patch. The lamella scales, that is, surface notches, diverge under pressure, like suction cups on an octopus, and stick to the surface, creating better wheel grip. The area of ​​contact between the tire and the road increases, which increases the grip.

Is seven years a period for studless winter tires?

There are technical requirements for tire manufacturers. According to the technical regulations of the Customs Union, it is prohibited to work on retreading tires older than seven years. You cannot weld a new tread onto them. This period is not named by chance. It is he who is indicated in the technical specifications for the development of new tire models. Based on a 7-year service life, the working properties of rubber and its resistance to man-made, climatic and temperature factors are calculated.

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For example, during frequent trips around the city, rubber absorbs oils, chemicals, washer fluid residues and other substances that are abundantly spilled on the roads by passing vehicles. Rubber is also exposed to solar radiation. As a result, the consistency of the additives changes, the artificial rubber is destroyed and the structure of the working layer of the tire changes. The tire simply “dumbs” and loses its performance properties over time.

An inelastic tread will no longer be able to envelop the asphalt surface as well and does not provide reliable traction. Therefore, even if a tire has low mileage in the city, after 7 years it must be replaced with a new one.

Riding in the cold with Velcro

As a rule, Velcro lasts much longer than studs. Studded tires can retain a full set of studs for a maximum of two seasons. Then the holding hard inner layer loses its grip and the spines fall out. After three years, the studs may be missing up to a third of the studs. This means that the wheels are gradually turning into ordinary Velcro. On average, spikes last up to 30 thousand kilometers.

Winter wheels with sipes and without studs last up to 100 thousand kilometers until the tread wears out.

Studless wheels are good for areas with mild winters. They can be used in cities where snow removal is carried out regularly. They are also better compatible with the ABS and ESP electronic systems.

If you drive on Velcro only for five cold months of the year, that is, from November to April, then tires from famous foreign companies last all seven seasons. If you also ride them in summer weather, which often happens in October and April, then the service life of the tires is sharply reduced. At temperatures above 10 degrees, winter tires become too soft and leave black marks on the asphalt with every braking. In warm weather, the service life is halved.

Some drivers save on summer tires and try to drive with Velcro even in summer. This is not prohibited by traffic rules. However, a studless winter tire softens so much in the summer that it rubs like an eraser on paper. It lasts for a couple of years at most.

Velcro tread depth

In general, according to the appendix to the traffic rules for the safe operation of vehicles, winter non-studded tires can be used until their tread height becomes less than 4 mm. If the grooves are no longer deep, then the wheels need to be changed. In this case, operation of the vehicle is prohibited.

If traffic police officers, when stopping a car for inspection, measure the tread depth and record non-compliance with the requirements, then they have the right, in accordance with Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code, to issue a fine of 500 rubles.

How long do winter tires really last - expert opinion

Compared to summer tires, winter tires are softer and therefore last less. Its durability is influenced by various factors. Humidity, low temperatures, and chemicals on the road are not the only ones. Protectors can become brittle and hard while still in storage if stored improperly or for a long time. According to experts, the aging process is most affected by ozone, which penetrates from the atmosphere into the pores of rubber.

Good tires are the key to safety when driving on snow and ice, so every driver should have a clear idea of ​​when to change tires.

Year of manufacture and signs of wear of winter tires

Despite the declared resource, it is important to constantly monitor the condition of the rubber. The main indicator is the jumpers on the surface of the tires, the wear of which indicates the end of their service life.

You can use a special depth gauge to measure the tread depth. For winter season tires, normal values ​​are at least 4 mm. The focus should also be on deformations, cuts, and bumps that occur after impacts.

Initially, you should focus on the date of manufacture of the product, which is usually applied to the side surface of the tread.

It should be remembered that the performance characteristics of a tire are noticeably reduced during long-term storage without the use of special protective equipment. It is better to give preference to products with the latest release date.

The result of improper storage can be multiple microcracks, which during operation will lead to rapid wear and destruction of the tire material.

The need to replace winter tires is quite easy to determine visually. For example, if more than half of the total number of studs is lost, the tread is worn by 30%, it is definitely necessary to change the wheel.

Depending on the brand, for daily use it is recommended to renew winter tires once every four years.

Thus, the following signs indicate tire wear:

• loss of 60% of spines;
• pattern wear more than 30%;
• tread depth less than 4 mm;
• cuts, deformations;
• bumps from blows.

Experts on service life

Depending on the manufacturer, tires can withstand from two to six seasons. At the same time, European brands are characterized by greater durability than Chinese or Russian ones. It depends on the technological process and the quality of materials. The main thing when purchasing is a careful inspection and assessment of the condition of the tread and its release date.

Manufacturers count the warranty period of their products from the date of manufacture of the tire. Most of them offer a five-year warranty.

In addition, manufacturing countries indicate the service life of their products, which is expressed in mileage figures:

• European protectors – 50,000-60,000 km;
• Russian – 20,000-40,000 km;
• Chinese - 50,000-80,000 km.

Thus, different tires should last at least two seasons.

According to experts, winter tires lose their performance after just four years of use. After this they “glaze over”.

Experts from the German automobile club ADAC reasonably believe that after two years the cost of tires should decrease significantly. The domestic market offers products whose shelf life does not exceed 3-4 years.

Is it possible to increase the service life

Many experts advise not to have any illusions about the acceptable quality of cheap tires from dubious manufacturers. On the other hand, branded rubber lasts much longer without problems.

During operation, it is important to consider the following:

1. Carefully monitor the tread pattern and the condition of its surface. For example, if the outer edges wear more intensely, this indicates insufficient pressure.
2. Tire lip wear on only one side is a clear sign of improper wheel alignment. Uneven deformation of the rubber surface occurs with a predominantly aggressive driving style. If such manifestations are present, then adequate measures should be taken immediately to eliminate them. This will extend the life of the tread.
3. You cannot ignore scheduled technical inspections and maintenance. You should check your tire pressure at least twice a month. It is recommended to carry out wheel balancing every 15,000 km. The service life of winter tires is directly affected by the load. To increase it, you do not need to overload the car.
4. Winter tires should be stored in the summer at a temperature of 5 to 25 degrees Celsius. A cool, dry room is suitable for these purposes, since high humidity negatively affects the condition of the tires.
5. In addition, you need to avoid even the slightest contact of rubber with lubricants and aggressive automotive chemicals.
6. It is not recommended to store tires without rims in a vertical position for a long time. This may lead to deformation.
7. When storing intact wheels, you should regularly check the pressure and pump them up if necessary.

Following these simple rules will help increase the service life of winter tires.

Thus, with the right choice of optimal rubber, careful operation, proper care and storage, it can reliably serve for six or seven seasons.

Ten myths about winter tires – which ones do you believe?

We often fall for myths, fictions that have been repeated so often that they have become perceived as truth. This also applies to winter tires. The Swedish magazine Auto, motor & sport refutes ten of the most common myths in this article. Test yourself to see how accurate your knowledge about winter tires is.

Many self-proclaimed “pros” claim to know the truth about winter tires. And there is a considerable risk of believing in their misconceptions and getting the wrong ideas about studded and non-studded winter tires. The Swedish magazine Auto, motor & sport has collected ten of the most common, stupid and dangerous misconceptions to arm you with reliable knowledge about winter tires.

1. Tires get worse with age.

This is not true. If a tire is stored properly and not exposed to sunlight, heat or ozone, age will not affect its performance. STRO (Scandinavian Tire and Wheel Organization) together with the Swedish State Institute of Roads and Transport VTI tested three models of old tires, and their driving performance was no different from the newly released ones.

Another issue is that the technical development of tires is happening very quickly. The new models have much better features than their predecessors. The performance of worn tires also deteriorates. Therefore, the transition to new tires is perceived as a leap to a qualitatively new level.

Studs often fall out or wear out before the tire tread wears out. It is also better to replace tires with fallen studs with new ones. After all, this is an investment in your safety!

2. Modern non-studded tires are just as good as studded ones.

This is mistake. Engineers continue to develop new types of rubber compounds and improve the design and materials for the frame. The results of their work are applied to both studless and studded tires. That is, the problem of choice remains the same, and each car owner must solve it independently, taking into account how often he has to drive on ice and compacted snow.

3. Winter tires increase fuel consumption.

This is mistake. Today on the market there are many premium winter studless models with very low rolling resistance. In addition, there is a tendency to install narrower tires in the winter - which also helps reduce fuel consumption.

Non-studded tires are sometimes mistakenly called “friction”, although a studded tire is essentially also a friction tire, because otherwise it would not be able to create grip. But the concept of “friction” (friction) is not synonymous with rolling resistance. Driving style (starting with slipping, turning with skidding) may be to blame for the increase in fuel consumption in winter, but not the tires.

Therefore, it is wrong to rush to switch to summer tires in early spring in order to save fuel. This will not only not reduce consumption, but will also create the risk of an accident due to icing during the last spring frosts.

4. Particles from studded tires kill thousands of people every year.

Error. Poor air quality in big cities - especially in winter - poses a health risk that cannot be ignored. But this is a complex problem for which there is no simple explanation, and there is no simple solution.

The ban on studded tires in some regions has not had a drastic effect on improving air quality.
Particles hazardous to health come to us from atmospheric precipitation (they are brought by the wind from other regions), due to the burning of wood stoves for heating, and even from studless tires. The formation of particles hazardous to breathing is influenced by the speed limit: at 30 km/h there are fewer harmful particles in the air than at 50 km/h.
In recent years, debates about air quality in major European cities have focused largely on particulate matter emissions from diesel engines. Diesel particles are smaller (PM 2.5) than road particles (PM10) and enter the bloodstream more easily through the lungs. A 2012 EU report found that air pollution causes an estimated 430,000 premature deaths in the 28 EU countries. Studded tires are used on a small percentage of vehicles in these countries.

5. All-season tires are the best choice.

This is mistake. Firstly, all-season or all-weather tires are not considered winter tires in Sweden. True, technological development has benefited all-season tires - they have become significantly better than 10 or 15 years ago. But on snow and ice they are significantly inferior to studded and non-studded northern tires. And the use of such tires in winter in Sweden is in most cases illegal.

6. Budget tires are suitable for older car models.

It is not true. The ride quality of budget tires is usually not very good - even when the tread is brand new. And older cars do not have any auxiliary electronic systems, and often do not even have ABS. The combination of an old car and cheap tread can be very dangerous.

We recommend choosing premium tires in any case. If you have two cars in the family, they should both be equipped with good tires. And a driver with less driving experience needs better tires.

7. Budget tires allow you to save money.

This is not true.
Although economy class tires are cheaper to buy, they often have significantly increased rolling resistance, which leads to increased fuel consumption. And wear resistance is usually lower than that of expensive premium tires. Nokian Tires compared the two tires, during the test the tires drove 5,000 miles, and thanks to the lower rolling resistance of the car with premium tires, the fuel savings amounted to SEK 3,500 (about RUB 24,500).

The price difference between premium and budget tires is usually not that big. And given the high rolling resistance and short service life of economy tires, premium tires can be quite a profitable investment - especially since they provide increased safety and more pleasant driving dynamics.

8. Studless winter tires can be used perfectly all year round.

This is a misconception, and a rather dangerous one at that!
Last summer, Auto, motor & sport tested winter tires - their braking distance on wet asphalt was 42 percent longer than that of summer tires. On dry asphalt the difference was 39 percent. The percentage comparison may be a bit difficult to understand.
Here's another explanation: in the place where the car on summer tires stopped, the car with winter tires continued to move at a speed of 60 km/h. A pedestrian struck at this speed is likely to die. At the same time, about 250,000 cars continue to drive in Sweden every summer on winter tires.

9. Higher tire pressure saves more fuel.

This is mistake.
If the pressure is too low, the tires wear out faster and fuel consumption increases significantly. But at high pressure, fuel consumption decreases slightly. As our measurements show, reducing the pressure by 0.5 bar below the recommended one increases fuel consumption by 3-4 percent.
When the pressure decreases by 1 bar, fuel consumption increases by 6-8 percent. If you increase tire pressure by 0.5 bar, this will reduce fuel consumption by only 1.2 percent. Even if you increase the pressure by 2 bar above normal, this will reduce fuel consumption by only 3.3 percent, but will deprive the driver and passengers of even minimal comfort.

10. Winter tires are only needed when the temperature drops below zero.

This is one of the most dangerous myths, because most car enthusiasts do not pay any attention to how temperature changes affect the grip properties of the tire.

If the asphalt is completely dry, grip remains good even in sub-zero temperatures. But in the autumn-winter period, dry asphalt is a rarity. On cold wet roads, summer tires lose traction quite quickly. Salted roads are especially dangerous at temperatures below zero. Salt dissolves ice and promotes the formation of a slippery, oily residue. Under such conditions, summer tires and tires for the central European region cannot provide sufficient grip. Such tires will have a braking distance under such conditions two or even three times longer than studded or non-studded northern tires.

At even lower temperatures from −5-10 degrees, the grip of winter tires relative to summer tires improves. In the most extreme cold, −20-30 degrees, you can only rely on northern winter tires.

Testers are well aware of this relationship between grip and temperature. To obtain stable results, the temperature must be at least 5 degrees below zero. At temperatures around zero, the indicators will be so unstable that they cannot be taken seriously.

11. Tire tests published in magazines and newspapers are completely unreliable.

Some tire salesmen actively promote the myth that all automotive journalists are liars. Tire manufacturers are often considered deceivers by advertising tests in which their products have won. But that's not true.

Test results vary between publications because the tests are conducted under different conditions. As mentioned above, temperature and other circumstances are of great importance. Tire testing is a complex process with many factors to consider and preparation that is costly.