The days are getting shorter, the outside temperature is dropping. It's a clear sign that winter is approaching.
This brings back the question of why it is essential to switch to winter tyres on to your car The internet is full of articles emphasizing its importance for road safety, and we want to highlight it as well.
However, to save your valuable time, we have prepared the key features of winter tyres, ensuring reliable handling in all conditions.
Now that we know the types of winter tyres you can install on your car, let's talk a bit about pressure. Adequate tyre pressure is crucial not only for driving safety but also for the comfort and durability of the tyres themselves. Overinflating the tyres prematurely wears out the central part of the tread.
Underinflation is not "better" – quite the opposite because, in addition to premature wear (in this case, the side parts of the tread), there is a risk of overheating the tyre, which can lead to its rupture even during faster driving. That's why the tyre pressure should neither be too high nor too low.
There is no single, universal value suitable for every car. However, you don't have to browse the automotive encyclopaedia now in search of the secret number. The correct values for your car model can be found in the owner's manual and on the sticker, which is usually placed either on the driver's door pillar or on the inner side of the fuel filler flap.
Importantly, each car requires the correct tyre pressure adjustment depending on the driving conditions. As a rule, heavier loads and longer drives at motorway speeds may require higher tyre pressure.
You probably know what a tyre looks like... but can you decipher the signs and symbols on the sidewall of winter tyres? Among these signs and symbols, you will find information about the manufacturer's name, model, and tyre size, the aforementioned indication of the inner and outer side (in the case of asymmetric tyres), as well as the production date (DOT).
While we can't say much about the model and manufacturer designation of the tyre at this moment, as each case should be treated individually in such situations, it's worth delving into perhaps the most crucial of markings, namely the size.
On the side of the tyre, you will probably encounter various configurations such as: 205/45/R17 91V.
91
The load index indicates the maximum load a tyre can withstand
V
denotes the maximum speed at which you can drive without risking tyre damage.
Another crucial marking is the production date, as mentioned earlier. You can find it in the four-digit DOT (Department of Transportation) code on the side of the tyre. The first two digits represent the week, and the subsequent two digits represent the year in which the tyre was manufactured. For example, the code 4123 signifies that the tyre was produced in the 41st week of the year 2018. This information is essential for understanding the capabilities and age of the tyre.
Every winter tyre is marked with a label containing basic information about its parameters. The appearance of the label is standardized by EU regulations, and you can read from it:
- manufacturer's name
- size
- fuel efficiency index
- wet grip braking index
- noise level index
Although, except for the noise level, these data are presented in an arbitrary manner (by assigning to one of several categories), EU labels allow for quick and easy comparison of several models from different manufacturers without delving into technical documentation.
- check the tread
New winter tyres usually have a tread depth of 8 to 9 millimeters – depending on the model. Regulations allow use if the tyres still have at least 1.6 millimeters of tread – but in practice, in winter conditions, this is definitely too little. Therefore, it is considered that winter tyres should be replaced with new ones if the tread becomes shallower than 4.5 millimeters.
- mechanical damage
Winter tyres are susceptible to mechanical damage. You don't always know what you'll find under the fresh layer of snow... Of course, in most cases, a visit to a tyre specialist is sufficient. However, there can be serious damages that most often concern the sidewall of the tyre – for example, the formation of bubbles, cracking, or tearing of the sidewall. Such damages are absolutely not suitable for repair. Therefore, before you go to the tyre specialist, inspect your tyres for bubbles or cracks.
Now learn how to take care of them!
The most important thing is to maintain the correct tyre pressure. In addition, it is advisable to, whenever possible, avoid driving with surface damage or reduce speed with such damage – when you don't know what the surface is under the snow, it's better to slow down. A similar caution applies, for example, when approaching curbs – this should be done at a low speed and by turning the wheels appropriately.
A good habit is also to use special products for tyre maintenance. Often, Tyre protection can come in the form of an easy-to-apply aerosol or foam and, in addition to protecting the rubber from rapid aging, they also provide an additional visual effect in the form of "shining" the tyre, making it look almost like new.
It is absolutely necessary to avoid parking and storing winter tyres in places contaminated with various chemicals, such as oils or greases. Such substances have a very harmful effect on tyres.
