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“Choosing good winter tires is now easier and more difficult than ever. Due to stricter EU regulations, most of the tires that come to us are relatively safe, but there are so many manufacturers, patterns and mixes that it is very difficult to choose. This is a bigger problem than it seems at first glance, because the increasing variety of tires means that it is easier for drivers to overpay and choose the wrong one, ”says B. Vanagas.
Are tires with the M + S brand suitable for winter?
M + S tires literally mean “dirt and snow” when translated. This is the manufacturer’s statement that such tires will show better grip on dirt and snow than tires without this marking. However, this can be misleading.
For a manufacturer to mark a tire as M + S, it is only necessary to meet a few formal requirements for writing the tire. Furthermore, they are usually made from a very soft mix and the manufacturer is not required to test their effectiveness at low temperatures. Thus, in most cases, the quality of its adherence to the road, which is not very high, decreases with the air temperature.
“Generally speaking, all winter tires are M + S branded, but not all M + S branded tires are suitable for winter use. To make life easier for drivers, a special brand for winter tires was introduced – a three-peaked mountain with a snowflake in the middle. Tires with this brand must have all the characteristics that can be demanded of winter tires, ”says the Pitlane driver of the Inbank team.
The symbol of the three mountain peaks with a snowflake in the middle is standardized and controlled by the EU institutions. Tires marked with it meet rigorous testing requirements and must be suitable for use in adverse weather conditions. Unlike the M + S tires, these must be tested at temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius.
What do the other tire brands mean?
On the sidewall of the tires you will find many codes that reveal their technical characteristics, but perhaps the most important are two: the size of the tire and the date of manufacture. A wrong size tire will be less effective, and an old tire may even be unsafe.
The tire size is indicated by the following code: 225/45 R17. The first number indicates its width, the second the profile height, and R17 the wheel diameter in inches. You can find out which tire size is right for your car from a sticker on the driver’s door sill or in your car’s owner’s manual. You can download it for free from the Internet by entering the car manufacturer, model and year of manufacture in the search.
The date of manufacture is not so easy to identify, but it is on all the tires. This is usually a four-digit combination. The first two digits indicate the manufacturing week and the last two the year. The tire, marked 5219, was manufactured in late 2019.
It is recommended to buy tires manufactured more than five years ago. Don’t be afraid to find out if they have been stored properly, protected from sunlight, moisture, and significant temperature fluctuations.
Which tire mixes are the best and for whom?
“When choosing winter tires, it is worth considering the type of mix. It has a great impact on traction and driving comfort. In addition, if you choose it correctly, you can win economically, and the tires will wear more slowly and the fuel consumption will be lower, ”advises B. Vanagas.
Tire mixes are divided into three categories: hard, medium and soft. Which type of tire is best for a particular driver requires a good assessment of the conditions in which it will be driven. There is no one type of tire combination that is best for all drivers and in all conditions.
If you travel by car most of the time in the city or on major state roads, you should go for a solid combination of winter tires. They are adapted for good roads and that are cleaned frequently. Its grip is better on dry or wet road surfaces, but worse when driving on ice or snow. Compared to other types of tires, they wear out more slowly.
For drivers who drive more frequently on district roads or streets that are not cleaned frequently, tires made from a medium hard compound are best suited. They should handle well both on dry and wet roads, as well as on snow or ice.
Made with a soft compound, winter tires last less and consume a bit more fuel than others, but for those who travel on rough or almost unpaved roads, this is the best option. Its grip is better on snowy or icy roads and worse on wet or dry roads.
Studded tires are an option if you normally travel on unpaved roads. They provide extremely good adhesion on ice or snow covered surfaces when the air temperature is approximately zero degrees Celsius. In other circumstances, their performance is not as good as that of normal winter tires. Especially when the noise emitted by these tires is also evaluated.
When to install winter tires?
Road traffic regulations require winter tires to be available from November 1, but one of the best racers in the country advises to do so earlier. “When the air temperature drops below 7 degrees, summer and all-season tires start to lose their performance. This is due to the fact that the rubber compound hardens at low temperatures and the adhesion of the tires to the road surface is significantly reduced. Generally speaking, as soon as the heating season starts, you also have to think about winter tires, ”says the Pitlane driver of the Inbank team.
It also notes that the formally required tread depth of 3mm for a winter tire is already too small to travel safely. “This depth may be sufficient when driving on dry, clean city streets, but if it suddenly touches, snows or freezes, you are at serious risk. For the tire to effectively remove water and snow and adhere well to the road surface, the depth of the tread should be at least 4.5 millimeters ”, advises B. Vanagas.
The three most damaging myths about tire use
Installing different tires on a car is never a good idea, especially in winter. If the car is driven by the front wheels, better tires mounted on them can make the rear less stable. If the rear wheels and the best tires are mounted on them, you run the risk of the front of the car not sticking enough to the road surface when cornering or maneuvering. Ideally, all four tires should be the same, with the same pattern and wear.
The four-wheel drive system on a car with summer or all-season tires will not replace winter tires in the cold season. Electronic stability, acceleration and other systems will help you move from one place to another, but when you need to stop, the tires are the most important factor. Especially in the worst weather conditions, where a stopping distance of even a few meters can save health or even life.
Used winter tires can save you tens of euros, but you risk buying them. Their origins are unclear, it is not known if they have been stored under proper conditions, and there is a real threat that they may have hidden defects. Better evaluate the possibility of buying new but lesser known tires. If your budget is under a lot of pressure and you still decide to buy them, be sure to pay attention to when they are made.
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