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“In our geographical area, the weather conditions change at fairly wide intervals: in summer, the road surface warms up to +50 or even more degrees Celsius, and in winter the temperature can drop to -30 degrees. In addition, the surface of the road is often covered with a larger or smaller layer of water, wet mud, snow or even ice. In these conditions, car tires must ensure sufficient contact with the road and driving safety ” says the associate professor, adding that one type of tire cannot technologically guarantee this, so it is common to use them differently in the winter and summer seasons.
What are winter tires for?
Winter tires are distinguished primarily by the properties of the rubber compound and the tread pattern. The rubber compound in these tires is medium to soft and is adapted to provide sufficient contact properties when the air temperature drops below 0 degrees. The tread pattern is often offered in a directional type, as it ensures more efficient removal of snow and wet dirt from the road contact area of the tire. The tread depth of winter tires is also slightly greater.
“When choosing winter tires, drivers should consider which roads they travel most often: only on city streets and main rural roads, or on regional roads with less maintenance, sometimes unpaved. Accordingly, you should choose medium-soft or soft tires. If good traceability is especially important, studded tires can also be considered “, says V. Žuraulis.
Audrius Bartkus, Chief Inspector of the Kaunas Branch of the Kaunas Supervision Department of the Lithuanian Transport Security Administration (LTSA), replaces the associate professor. According to him, it is very important to remember that the soft rubber compound and studded tires are more effective in winter conditions. They stick better on snowy or icy surfaces, but have lower braking performance on wet surfaces.
The second aid for drivers when choosing tires should be a sticker showing the energy efficiency, wet braking and acoustic performance of the tires. It is mandatory on new tires sold in the European Union.
Winter tires or universal?
The associate professor jokes that universal tires can only be chosen by those drivers who, after assessing the weather conditions, can choose whether or not to drive. For example, in heavy snow or icy road surfaces, you can leave your own car in the garage and reach your destination by public transport.
“Winter tires are designed for this season’s conditions, especially at low temperatures. Universal tires are far from offering the best grip and stability properties in adverse conditions or extreme situations,” says V. Žuraulis.
Tire operation
On average, a car’s set of tires wears out in 5-6 seasons, so manufacturers aim to ensure that the basic characteristics of the tires change minimally during this period. When using tires for a longer period of time, it is recommended to periodically assess their condition: cracks, uniformity of wear, smoothness of the rubber mixture.
It is especially important to assess the depth of the tread before each season. In Lithuania, winter passenger car tires are subject to the minimum tread depth requirements of 3mm, but this is a limit that would be dangerous to drive in more difficult conditions or in an emergency.
“You often hear that you need to mount less worn tires (with a deeper tread) on the front axle (for cars with front-wheel drive). That is not true. When a car loses stability in the winter, it is much more important to have a better grip on the rear axle of the car. Also, in an emergency situation, it will be a bit easier to control a car with better tires on the rear axle, as driving will not require as quick a reaction and skill as when sliding on the rear axle, ”says V. Žuraulis.
LTSA Officer Audrius Bartkus adds that another very important parameter is tire pressure. Both high and low pressure reduce tire grip. The recommended pressure for your car’s tires is indicated on the car’s driver’s door pillar, on the fuel tank cap, or in the car’s owner’s manual.
If the car is driven a little, the tires can be used for more than 6 seasons. In this case, it is recommended to assess the condition of the tires before each winter season, if the tires have been stored correctly and show them to specialists before use.
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