[ad_1]
Winter tire performance deteriorates and efficiency decreases with tread wear. They then no longer provide perfect grip in the snow and do not facilitate acceleration, braking or driving on the road as effectively as tires with a good tread.
Ignas Klimaika, tire specialist at Inter Cars Lietuva, points out that winter tires with a tread depth of less than 4mm still perform better than worn summer tires. It may seem greener and more profitable to drive on winter tires, but this is not entirely true. Before considering all the pros and cons of such a solution, you need to know the specific characteristics of the tires for a particular season.
What is the difference between summer and winter tires?
Summer tires differ from winter tires primarily in the material and shape of the tread and in the grooved grooves carved into the tread, also known as sipes. Another important thing is the rubber compound, which is especially important when driving on slippery roads or with a lot of snow in winter.
I. Klimaika states that the tread material of winter tires is specially designed to remain flexible even at low temperatures and to ensure optimal adhesion to the road surface. Summer tire material begins to harden at temperatures below 7 ° C, reducing driving comfort and safety.
“Another important distinguishing feature of winter tires is the tread pattern and grooved grooves for optimal grip on fresh, fluffy snow. The wide and deep tread of winter tires helps remove snow from under the tire and improves traction on snowy roads. In addition, these treads allow faster drainage of water, melted snow or dirt, which guarantees better adherence of the tire to the road surface ”, explains I. Klimaika.
Why is it not a good idea to use winter tires in the hot season?
According to Inter Cars specialist Lietuva, winter tires, as their name suggests, are designed to run at a lower temperature than during the hot season. Winter tire material becomes too soft and elastic in summer conditions, which can lead to unnatural deformation of the tread and easy loss of traction, especially during acceleration, braking and cornering.
“As a result, it takes longer to stop when driving on winter tires, and they are likely to lose traction when accelerating and cornering. This effect is aggravated by increasing speed, since in summer, with good visibility and better weather conditions, drivers tend to press the speed pedal more. On rainy days, winter tires would not be useful either, ”says I. Klimaika.
Mindaugas Šėrėjus, representative of the platform that unites Lithuanian auto repair shops Motointegrator.com, warns that driving on winter tires in summer does not have an economic basis. In addition, it significantly reduces the driving comfort and safety of the driver and other road users.
“One of the biggest dangers of driving on winter tires in summer is the extended stopping distance. Even the most attentive and cautious driver on the road cannot avoid unexpected situations, ”emphasizes M. Šerėjus.
According to him, the braking distance in summer when driving on winter tires at 100 km / h is sometimes 16 m longer than when driving on summer tires. Therefore, when a vehicle with summer tires is stopped in an emergency, an accident could occur while driving on winter tires.
It is strictly forbidden to use the information published by DELFI on other websites, in the media or elsewhere, or to distribute our material in any way without consent, and if consent has been obtained, it is necessary to indicate DELFI as the source .
[ad_2]
