Are all-season tires winter tires?

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:

During the summer months (June, July, August) only studded tires are prohibited. This requirement applies to all vehicles.
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.
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:

Can all-season tires be used in winter?

Some drivers, in order not to change tires twice a year, drive all year round on universal tires. You can drive in winter on all-season tires, but you need to pay attention to some rules.

What are all-season tires?

All-season tires are considered a compromise between summer and winter tires. In hot weather, all-purpose tires soften faster than summer tires, and in cold weather they harden faster than winter tires. It follows from this that the temperature properties of such tire models are equally suitable for use in both winter and summer.

The tread pattern of all-season tires is selected taking into account summer and winter operation so that the tire provides the best grip on the road in all conditions. Like winter tires, they have deep grooves to keep them from getting clogged with snow. Like summer ones, they are equipped with V-shaped openings for water drainage.

Advantages and disadvantages of all-season

The main advantage of all-season tires is the ability to use them throughout the year. They don't need to be changed. It is enough to regularly check the tire pressure and monitor the tread wear.

The main features of these tires:

Due to the semi-winter tread pattern with its deep grooves on the asphalt, all-season tires are noisy. The noise is especially loud at high speeds.
Compared to seasonal tires, all-season models have a lower coefficient of wheel grip on the road. This leads to an increase in braking distance and a partial deterioration in controllability both in winter and in summer.
Universal tires are recommended for use in mild climates that exclude severe frosts and extreme heat. For example, at an air temperature of -25°C and below, the composition of a universal rubber alloy completely loses its properties and becomes unsafe for use. In extreme heat, all-season tires literally melt into the asphalt, leaving black rubber streaks on it.
The increased elasticity of all-season tires, on the one hand, is needed so that they do not “double” too much in winter. On the other hand, on dry asphalt in the summer they reduce the car's handling.
The shallow tread pattern on year-round tires makes it difficult to get out of drifts.
All-season tires are recommended for inexperienced drivers.
All-season tires are not suitable for sports and racing cars.
For SUVs, instead of universal tires, tires marked All Terrain are better suited, as they work better both on off-road and on snowy surfaces.

According to most experts, it is best to drive on all-season tires in the off-season - in autumn and spring. Especially during periods when weekly and daily fluctuations in ambient temperature lead to a sharp change in tire operating conditions from winter to summer and vice versa.

A few years ago, tire manufacturers began offering a new generation of all-terrain tires. They can automatically change their characteristics, adapting to the climate, air temperature and road surface. But such models are still too expensive for the mass consumer and cannot sufficiently replace seasonal tires.

Is it possible to drive on all-season tires in winter?

From a legislative point of view, the use of all-season tires in winter is not prohibited, but is associated with high risks:

It does not provide good traction between wheels and snow, so it is dangerous for beginners behind the wheel.
At temperatures of -10°C and below, the properties of all-purpose tires quickly decrease. And at -25°C and below, driving on such tires is extremely dangerous.
Many manufacturers establish a temperature range within which the use of all-season wheels from their production is safe. The lower limit of such a corridor is about -5. -7°C.
Universal tires wear out much more intensively than seasonal tires, so the savings from using them are not as noticeable.

Penalty for using all-season tires in winter

According to Russian legislation, it is prohibited to operate cars on summer tires in winter and on winter tires in summer. There is no ban on the use of all-season tires.

But there are some nuances here. All-season tires may have different designations:

AS, or All Season, for any season. Tires with this marking are produced only in Russia and the former republics of the USSR.
AW - for any weather.
M+S, or M&S, for snow and mud. This marking may indicate year-round tires. If along with the marking there is an icon in the form of a mountain and a snowflake, this is winter tires. In Europe, regardless of the additional symbol, such tires are considered winter.
R+W – for road and bad weather. Rare marking used for universal tires for year-round use.

Only wheels marked with the letters M+S or AS are approved for use between December and February inclusive. Universal models with other markings are allowed only from March to November.

There is no penalty for using tires out of season. The inspector can only verbally explain all the dangers that come with operating a car on summer tires in winter. It is necessary to ensure that the tread depth is at least 4 mm for winter tires or 1.6 mm for summer tires.

Outside the Russian Federation, in most countries, driving only on seasonal tires is allowed. EU legislation only distinguishes between summer and winter tires.

Recommendations from experienced drivers

When operating a vehicle on all-purpose tires in winter, you must avoid snowy and icy road surfaces. When driving on all-season tires on snowy surfaces and on ice, you must refrain from sudden maneuvers and especially sudden braking. When cornering at high speeds, the risk of getting into a skid increases greatly, and the chances of getting out of a skid are sharply reduced. All steering movements and operation of the gas and braking pedals should be soft and careful.

Does the traffic police allow driving in winter on all-season tires?

All-season tires

Operating a car in most cases requires changing tires twice a year: from summer to winter and vice versa. Not all owners like this. The way out of this situation is to use all-season tires.

Description of all-season tires

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Winter and summer tires differ in the shape of the tread and the composition of the rubber mixture. The reason for this is the different performance requirements for seasonal slopes. Winter tires should provide good elasticity and softness of the tread. Their pronounced blocks should handle snow perfectly, and the use of studs should ensure maintaining control over the car on slippery surfaces. Summer tires should easily withstand heat, be silent, successfully resist hydroplaning and have low rolling resistance.

When creating all-season tires, developers strive to combine all of the above properties of rubber. It is impossible to do this completely, so compromises have to be made, worsening performance indicators. Many leading manufacturers are improving their products. Despite this, no all-season tires can fully replace seasonal tires.

The most popular in the manufacture of all-season tires is the asymmetric tread pattern. This allows you to provide the tire with the performance characteristics required in winter and summer. The inner part of the tread usually has massive blocks. They confidently cling to the snow, preventing slipping. The second half of the tread is usually responsible for good handling on clean and wet asphalt. It has a less pronounced tread pattern filled with drainage grooves.

When inspecting all-season tires, you may see the “M+S” sign. The pictograms indicate “mud + snow”. Such symbols are often present on winter tires. Therefore, when choosing all-season tires, car owners are advised to give preference to slopes that have a large number of pictograms on them. You can also choose tires that have the inscription “All Season” on them.

Peculiarities

An attempt to combine the characteristics of summer and winter tires in one tire led to the creation of slopes that do not tolerate very high or low temperatures. The all-season product performs well in the range from -10 to +10°C. In severe frost, the rubber becomes tanned and ceases to provide normal grip on the road surface. In the summer heat, the slope softens too much and the tread wears out at an accelerated pace.

You should be especially careful with budget all-season vehicles. They can significantly impair driving safety. Tests of budget all-season tires on winter roads often show results close to summer tires.

The most popular are all-season tires, which are more suitable for winter roads. When using them, owners drive very comfortably and safely in urban environments in regions with mild climates. In summer, such tires wear out much faster, and their consumption is slightly higher compared to seasonal tires.

All-season tires, intended more for summer and infrequent trips on cleared winter roads, enjoy considerable success. Such slopes perform well in rain, light snow and when traveling on country roads.

All-season tires for SUVs stand out in a special class. Its use is approved by almost all drivers. The main disadvantage of such tires is the increased noise when driving on asphalt. Otherwise, the tires show good results.

Dimensions

The size of all-season tires produced depends on the vehicles they are intended for. So for SUVs and crossovers, the most popular ramps are from R16 to R23. Passenger cars use smaller diameter tires from R13 to R21. You can see the main tire sizes in the table below.

Table - Main dimensions of all-season tires.

Can all-season tires be used in winter? How big is the risk?

All-season tires are designed for mild climates with a slight difference in summer and winter temperatures, and are not intended for harsh winters. Despite this, many drivers try to save money and use such tires all year round. Let's look at how dangerous it is to use all-season tires in winter in this article.

Winter and all-season tires in extreme conditions

Let's take a closer look at how tires labeled “All weather” and just winter tires will behave in snowy and icy road conditions.

Let's make a comparison using the example of a Toyota RAV4, with Goodyear Ultra Grip SUV (winter) and Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons G2 (all-season) tires/

· Differs in directional stability

· Does not slip and skid on snow and ice

· At a speed of 40 km/h it starts sliding

Reacts slowly when turning the steering wheel

As can be seen from the comparison, all-season tires are inferior to winter tires in all respects. They do not provide comfortable and safe movement on slippery surfaces and can lead to the car getting stuck in the snow or getting into an accident.

All-season on snow

Can all-season tires be used in winter?

In 2018, in Russia and Ukraine, the use of all-season tires in winter does not contradict the rules of the road. In this case, the tires must have markings indicating the possibility of their use in winter conditions.

Wheels marked as follows are allowed for use:

M+S
M&S
MS
Snowflake inside a pictogram in the form of a mountain peak.

M+S marking

The M+S (Mud+Snow) marking indicates that the tread design allows you to move through mud and snow. The snowflake indicates the possibility of use at subzero temperatures.

The law regulates the minimum tread depth - 4 mm. This applies to cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles.

Advantages and disadvantages of traveling on an all-season vehicle in winter

2. Less wheel weight

3. Savings on seasonal changes and the purchase of a second set

4. No need to store a second set of tires

2. Chance of getting stuck in snow drifts

3. Long braking distance

4. Heavy acceleration and slipping

It is advisable to use all-season tires in winter only at average temperatures (not lower than -7°C) and in the absence of high snow cover and icing.

Pros and cons of all-season

How much does the braking distance increase?

The health and life of road users depends on the length of the braking distance. Let's look at how much this indicator differs between all-season tires and winter tires using an example.

* the initial speed of the car is 50 km/h.

Braking distance largely depends on the car model and the condition of the braking system. But in any case, all-season tires have longer braking times.

What do the traffic rules in Ukraine require?

Ukrainian traffic regulations force drivers to use season-appropriate tires. In winter (from December 1 to March 31) you need to drive on winter tires, and in summer - on summer tires. At the same time, the law does not mention all-season tires, so the inspector has no right to make a remark or even issue a fine regarding the non-compliance of all-season tires. The decision to use such tires remains only with the driver.

What does the Russian traffic rules say?

Since 2015, the technical regulations of the Customs Union “On Security” have been in force on the territory of the Russian Federation (as well as Belarus and Kazakhstan). This document regulates the use of tires in accordance with the time of year. It says the following:

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 (from December to February inclusive). Winter tires are installed on all wheels of the car.

The requirements of paragraph 5.63 are as follows:

5.6.3. The remaining tread height of winter tires intended for use on icy or snowy road surfaces, marked with a snowflake inside a mountain peak with three peaks, as well as the signs “M+S”, “M&S”, “MS” during operation on the specified surface, is no more than 4.0 mm.

It follows from this that all-season tires are allowed in winter in Russia only if the indicated signs are present on them and the tread depth corresponds to the required one.

Tread difference

Driver reviews about using all-season tires in winter

*Reviews taken from the sites: www.drive2.ru, motorstory.ru, auto.ria.com, http://davto.com.ua/.

All-season tires are not prohibited by law either in Russia or in Ukraine. You can drive them in winter with a tread depth of at least 4 mm. When using this type of tire the driver does not face any fine.

The quality of steering, braking and acceleration of a car on AllSeason tires is significantly worse than on winter tires. This has been proven experimentally.

Driving on all-season tires in snowfall, ice and severe frost (more than -7 °C) is dangerous. Even an experienced driver will not be able to predict how a tread that is not adapted to severe weather conditions will behave and get into an accident. Therefore, driving in winter on all-season tires is an extremely risky decision.