Dreams about four wheels come true Just three decades ago in Poland it was much easier...
Time to change your tires!
(photo Moje Auto)
If we felt spring too early and washed the car thoroughly in March, we could feel frustrated by the sudden return of winter. However, this is a minor nuisance that we can easily and quickly repeat, compared to a premature decision to change to summer tires. I prefer to hold off on it, well, until when?
From the article you will learn:
- What effect does ambient temperature have on the tire?
- What are the characteristics of summer and winter tires?
- When is the best time to abandon winter tires?
Today, winter tires can be treated as standard car equipment. Few drivers decide to use one set, although recently there have been signs of a return to all-season tires. And this is from their producers! If you think about it, it won't be a proverbial shot in the foot, because whether we use two sets for several seasons, or only one for half of that time, the result will be the same in the end. But that's just my speculation.
Temperature differences
However, I assume that the idea of returning to all-season tires comes from the development of technology, which today allows for the creation of universal - and, above all, safe - structures. After all, rubber changes its properties depending on the ambient temperature, which is important - next to the tread profile - in ensuring optimal grip on the road. This problem was solved by appropriate additives to the mixture used in tire production. Thanks to them, "winter tires" do not harden in frost, but when it gets warmer they will have the opposite effect. They won't harden, but they will soften the rubber even more. And this will quickly lead to tread wear (by the way, Polish regulations set the minimum height at 1,6 mm, but specialists recommend 3 mm in summer and 4 mm in winter).
Winter tires – what do we know about them?
A winter tire is not just there to be there, it has its own specific features that prove that it is the tire we use at low temperatures, frost and snowfall. First of all, we recognize it by its deep tread. Snow gets inside and be careful... snow gives the best grip on snow. This tread is not a coincidence. If we take a closer look at it, we will see that it has thousands of narrow slots and grooves. They are responsible for dispersing water. In this way, aquaplaning is prevented. The tire provides adequate grip, which is one of the key factors determining driving safety on slippery roads. The shallower the tread, the longer the braking distance. With a 4 mm tread, the braking distance is extended by up to 14 meters compared to an 8 mm tread, taking into account a driving speed of 50 km/h. It is easy to conclude that at a higher speed, the braking distance will be even longer.
Summer tires – my knowledge about them
When summer comes, we change tires, abandoning aggressive "winter tires". We equip our car with summer tires, and for good reason! They are intended to ensure better performance at higher temperatures and more favorable weather. Their characteristic feature is a hard mixture that has the ability to become softer in moderate weather conditions. Thanks to this, the tire adapts very well to dry and wet surfaces. There are not as many grooves on its surface as on winter tires, but there are special tread ribs. It's all for better grip. They contain less rubber in the mixture, which means they cannot cope with lower temperatures. They become hard and, in extreme cases, crumble. When it comes to the design of a summer tire, it is usually very simple. This is due to the need to ensure a large contact area between the tire and the road. This affects, among others: for a shortened braking distance.
Also read: How to store tires. Proven methods of storing tires
So when should you change your tires?
Tire manufacturers set this limit at 7 degrees Celsius, but a few truly spring days will not harm "winter tires". Even more so, as we have experienced in recent weeks, the weather is unpredictable, it can surprise with snowfall and temperature drops below zero. Driving in such "summer" conditions will certainly not be pleasant for the driver or safe for all of us.
That's why I set a deadline for changing them around mid-April. I make an appointment at the service center a few days in advance, because it's a "hot" time for them.
Rushing is not recommended
After all, why not replace the tires yourself? Especially since I use two sets of rims - steel for winter tires and light alloy for summer tires. Just place a jack, unscrew a few screws, etc. A few minutes of work and about a hundred zlotys will be left in your pocket. However, I would rather incur these costs and be sure that the wheels being installed are properly balanced. And that's it, or that's it.
(photo: My Car)
The winter set does not end up in the garage immediately. First, it is thoroughly washed - for which I use body shampoo and rim liquid. They are joined by... a spare wheel, which is often forgotten by us. This is also a good opportunity to clean the recess in the trunk, check the condition of the jack and the wrench for unscrewing the bolts, as well as the pressure in the fifth wheel (owners of repair kits should also check its contents). I hope we don't have to use them in an emergency situation, but a few such preventive actions will certainly not be a waste of time.
I protect the washed and dried wheels with appropriate protection tire care preparations, which will not only protect them (after all, they will be stored in a dry and airy garage anyway), but also regenerate them after winter. It's like applying moisturizing cream to dry and cracked hands.
Also check: Rims and tires – how to keep them in good condition?
In my case - tires on rims - I will place the removed set vertically, i.e. in the same position as on the car. In the case of tires themselves, they must be stored lying down, most often on top of each other. Oh, each of my pieces is placed in a regular plastic bag.
And guess what? I treat the moment of changing wheels as the beginning of preparations for the May weekend. And this one is in two weeks!
Summary
- Rubber changes its properties under the influence of ambient temperature. Appropriate additives prevent winter tires from hardening in the cold, but it is worth remembering that in summer this may have a completely opposite effect.
- Winter tires are characterized by a deep tread and a large number of grooves, which ensures optimal grip and reduces the effect of aquaplaning.
- Summer tires have a rather simple design, so their contact area with the road is larger. They are devoid of many grooves and have a harder mixture.
- We should change from winter to summer tires when the outside air temperature exceeds the limit of 7 degrees Celsius.
- We wash, dry and protect winter tires with special preparations so that they are ready for the next season.
