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When to change to winter tires? Is it mandatory?
When should you change to winter tires? What do you need to know about the obligation to change to winter tires?
“Winter surprised drivers again” – we hear the same message every year. Don't we learn from our mistakes? Or maybe it's just the weather that's undecided? Each year, frosts come at a different time, snow may or may not appear, and temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius may last until December one year, and we say goodbye to them already in October the next. After the holidays, I always tell myself - this year I will surprise the winter and I have been doing it for several years now.
Why do you need to change to winter tires?
Changing to winter tires? Poland is one of the few European countries where there is no top-down requirement for seasonal tire replacement, i.e. from summer to winter tires and then changing to winter tires. If we don't have to do something, why add to our responsibilities? In order to minimize the risk of an accident, ensure safety on the road for yourself, your loved ones and other road users, reduce fuel consumption and increase the quality of vehicle operation, which translates into its efficiency, performance and longer service life.
These reasons are probably convincing enough. At least they should, but the truth is that not everyone looks at changing tires from the perspective of safety. Many people still treat it as an element that only contributes to improving driving comfort. We change to winter tires when the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius. Still, many drivers do not decide to replace them before the roads are covered with snow.
However, it may already be too late. We can only take a risk and drive on summer tires or leave the car in the garage. And very often this is what happens. When the weather makes the trip difficult, we start planning in panic and all we can do is change tires to winter ones.
Polish and European regulations showing how to change tires to winter ones
As I mentioned, in Poland there is no obligation to replace tires with winter ones. However, there are a few tire regulations that are worth remembering.
First of all, before changing to winter tires, you should check their condition. The minimum tread depth is 1,6 mm. In addition, the tires cannot be damaged, e.g. have cracks exposing the carcass. Additionally, the same tires must be installed on a given car axle.
What does the issue of changing tires look like in European countries? Apart from Poland, there is no obligation to change tires to winter tires in Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
As you can see, Poland is in the minority on this issue. In most European countries, it is compulsory to change to winter tires, although regulations vary from country to country.
For example, in Spain, Italy and France, the obligation to use winter tires may temporarily apply in selected regions, mainly on Alpine routes. In Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania and Iceland, it is necessary to use winter tires or "suitable for road conditions" tires when there is snow or ice on the roads.
The obligation to change to winter tires occurs in Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden and Slovenia. Sometimes the law allows the use all-season tires.
In addition, in many countries, including those where mandatory tire replacement depends on the conditions, there is a regulation stating that the tread of winter tires must be at least 3 or 4 millimeters. You may also be ordered to carry snow chains with you.
What's the conclusion? When going on a trip abroad, it is best to simply change your tires to winter ones. You never know whether the weather will suddenly change in a country where driving with winter tires is compulsory depending on the conditions. The police may not be kind and will simply issue you a ticket. In some cases, it will not be possible to continue driving, especially in mountainous regions.
changing tires to winter ones
What is special about the tread of a winter tire?
Summer tires are smoother and grip the road better. They are hard and resistant to high temperatures, so they tolerate sunny summers very well. The problem may arise when it rains, the streets are wet and puddles form. The tire tries to gain traction with greater difficulty and the car may lose steering, which results in skidding. Some summer tires have special grooves that drain water.
Winter tires It is made of soft rubber that is resistant to hardening. Their operation must be based on the principle of "biting" into the snow, which is why they have a highly porous structure. The differences are significant and you can really see the difference in driving with winter tires already in late autumn.
Winter tires guarantee better mobility in virtually all weather conditions during winter. Their structure is completely different from that of summer tires. Winter tires are characterized by good water drainage at low temperatures, so they should be installed already in late autumn. They work great on slippery and snow-covered surfaces, guaranteeing excellent grip. In a word, they have all the advantages that summer tires lack in winter conditions. Contrary to appearances, even all-season tires will not provide them.
Some differences are visible to the naked eye, such as those in tread patterns. Other characteristic features, such as the composition of mixtures, cannot be noticed "by eye", but we can feel them while driving. Appropriately wide grooves not only guarantee better grip. This is an advantage that also affects the self-cleaning of the tread. Each movement of the wheel causes the snow stuck to the tires to detach itself.
Many tests have been performed, which clearly show that summer tires cover a 30% longer braking distance in winter conditions. There is no doubt that winter tires, with shorter braking distances, are definitely safer.
How to replace summer tires with winter ones?
Changing to winter tires yourself may be impossible if you do not have a set of winter tires installed on separate rims. It will be difficult to remove tires from the rim and then install a new tire without a tire changer, i.e. a vulcanizing device equipped with a tire lever and a mounting arm.
However, if your winter tires are on separate rims, you can try replacing the entire wheels. The procedure is the same as when installing the spare wheel. The car must be on a hard and possibly flat surface, not on a slope.
We straighten the wheels, put on the handbrake and put the car into first gear or reverse. If we have them, we can put chocks under the wheels. We loosen the screws and then start lifting the car. The lift should be located under the so-called the fulcrum of the car.
Unscrew the bolts completely and remove the wheel. At the same time, it is a good idea to clean the hub flange with a wire brush. We put on the wheel and tighten the screws, but not completely. We repeat the process with each wheel. Tighten the screws only after leaving the car, preferably with a torque wrench, tightly, but so as not to overtighten them and thus damage them. It is best to tighten the screws furthest from each other one by one.
However, it may be a better idea to go to a tire repair shop to replace your tires. The process will not only go faster. First of all, the tire specialist will check the condition of the tires and valves. Moreover, the wheels should be balanced before each season, and this cannot be done without the appropriate equipment.
Tires swap
How much does it cost to replace tires with winter ones?
What are the prices for tire replacement at the service center? This depends on several factors. If we replace entire wheels, we will pay less, probably around PLN 40-60.
If you need to remove summer tires from the rims and put winter tires on them, the price increases to approximately PLN 70-120, although in some cases it can be close to PLN 200. The amount depends on, among others: on the size of the rims and whether there are TPMS sensors on the wheel. You also have to pay more to replace a run-flat tire.
Also read our tire maintenance guide!
Does anything need to be done with unused summer tires? What is tire maintenance like?
I pay a lot of attention not only to the right moment to change to winter tires, but also to how I store summer tires for these few months. I used to store tires in one of the tire repair shops, but for several years I have been keeping them in my garage. I always wash the tires thoroughly beforehand. Then I apply it tire care milk, which protects them against matting, rubber cracking and color fading tire foam preventing cracking and aging. Contrary to appearances, the use of such preparations has a significant impact on the life of tires and their proper functioning after aging.
This is a good time to check whether your tires are still safe to drive. I always verify that the tires are not damaged. I also remove the stones wedged between the tread blocks. I also wait until the tires dry well, I never put them in wet or damp covers.
Tire maintenance should be approached with responsibility and full awareness. A cursory cleaning and tossing them into a bag won't do much. When storing tires, it is extremely important to properly prepare them for such a long "rest". The use of specialized preparations will improve their storage conditions. The temperatures in the garage are also important. Tires should also not be placed near heat sources (a radiator or stove) or other electrical devices. Sparks or electrical discharges change the molecular structures of tires. These are irreversible changes that lead to faster aging of the rubber.
Useful tips on changing to winter tires
I store summer tires in the garage, where the winter temperature does not drop below 10 degrees Celsius (tires should be stored at temperatures from -5 to +25 degrees C). Air humidity must be lower than 70%. From time to time, when the weather is nicer, I leave the garage door open for several dozen minutes to ventilate the interior of the garage a bit.
I store the tires without rims, I place them vertically on the tread, but every 3-4 weeks I change their position, rotating them 90 degrees. I also plan to buy special stands so that the tires do not have direct contact with the ground. This is my purchase plan for the next winter season. This year, as in previous years, I will pack them in special covers and they will wait for spring.
Seasonal tire storage should be carried out in accordance with the rules. If we decide to store tires with rims, they should be hung on special hooks or stacked. If we choose to store tires with rims in a stack, remember to rearrange them periodically (every 4 weeks). They must not be placed vertically, as this may lead to deformation.
Appropriate preservation and storage of tires allows them to be used safely for a longer period of time. By following the storage rules and changing tires on time, we are guaranteed that they will serve us for years. Contrary to appearances, it is worth spending these few dozen minutes to properly prepare your car for the trip. After all, our safety and, in many cases, even our lives, depend on tires. Therefore, it is not worth underestimating them.
