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Winter tires – which ones to choose?
Winter tires – which ones should you choose to work best in difficult winter weather?
Winter tires are the basis for safety in cold weather. We tell you what the characteristics of such tires are and how to choose winter tires depending on the roads we mainly drive on.
What are the characteristics of winter tires?
Winter tires differ from summer tires in the following ways: tread. The blocks are thicker, there are more lamellas and the grooves are deeper. What is this structure used for? A winter tire is supposed to "bite" into the snow effectively. The structure of the tread is designed so that the sipes do not stick. Deeper grooves compared to summer tires contribute to more efficient drainage of water or mud, which is very important because in winter we often drive on slush and not on packed snow surfaces.
In addition, a winter tire is characterized by a specific compound. It often contains much more silica than summer tires. The winter rubber compound remains soft despite low temperatures, and thus provides the tire with better grip than a summer tire, which hardens as the temperature drops.
We write more about the differences between types of tires in the article When should you change to winter tires? What do you need to know about the obligation to change to winter tires?.
How to read winter tire markings?
Typically winter tires should have the 3PMSF marking on the sidewall. This name is an abbreviation of "three-peak mountain snowflake". The graphic symbol shows a snowflake placed inside a three-peaked mountain.
In accordance with the 2012 EU directive, this is the only tire marking that proves that the tire is actually winter. In order for a manufacturer to place the 3PMSF symbol on its products, tires must pass tests proving their winter properties. The distinctive mark may also be placed on all-season tires if they meet snow grip standards.
What then about the M+S symbol (English: "Mud+Snow", i.e. mud plus snow), which is often seen on tires? This is simply the manufacturer's declaration that the tire should perform well in winter. Every 3PMSF winter tire also has the M+S marking, but not every M+S tire is a winter tire.
What features should you consider when choosing a winter tire?
When choosing winter tires, first take into account parameters such as size, speed index and load index. tires it should be matched to the rims we have, as well as the weight and performance of our car.
Information about the correct tire size and indexes can be found in the car's owner's manual. If we have any doubts, we can use online tire size converters, which can often be found on tire store websites.
Once this stage is behind us, we can start choosing tires according to other parameters, including price, rolling resistance affecting fuel consumption, noise generated, grip on a given surface, etc.
Winter tires and the area of use
Winter tires and terrain of use – does it matter?
It is worth choosing winter tires, among others: depending on the car category, annual mileage and driving style. This is directly related to the conditions in which we mainly use the car.
If we drive a small or compact car, mainly in the city, and we go on trips occasionally, we should choose economy or medium-class tires that will have good water and mud drainage and generate low noise. Alternatively, we can think about all-season tires, which we discuss in more detail in the text Is it worth using all-season tires?.
If we cover longer distances in winter and our car also has good performance, we should consider purchasing mid-range or premium tires. Asymmetric winter tires may be a good choice, as they provide better lateral grip compared to the basic symmetrical models.
If we often drive on country or mountain roads that may be heavily snow-covered, we should pay special attention to the tread pattern. Directional winter tires with V-shaped blocks may be worth considering.
Winter tire tests – which ones are worth looking at?
Before purchasing tires, it is a good idea to review the results of annual tire tests. Worth mentioning are, among others: rankings prepared by the largest German car club ADAC, as well as tests by the German Association of Technical Supervision GTÜ.
It will also be good to take a look at tests carried out by the trade press, for example Auto Motor and Sport magazines or the British Auto Express. It will be best to check several comparisons and choose the tires that perform best in several different tests carried out using different measurement methods.
How much do winter tires cost?
Winter tire prices depend on, among others: depending on the tire class and size. Economy class tires cost approximately PLN 250-400 each. Medium-class tires cost PLN 500-800 per tire. Prices of premium tires may exceed PLN 1500 per unit.
We can buy winter tires in spring or summer. Then their prices are usually lower and we can find an opportunity that will allow us, for example, to buy mid-range tires at the price of economy tires.
How to care for winter tires and what to pay attention to when using them?
In winter, the car is particularly exposed to dirt and the adverse effects of weather conditions. We should take care not only of the bodywork, but also of the tires.
When washing your vehicle, it is worth using a special tire protection agent, for example Moje Auto tire foam, which additionally prevents cracking and aging of the rubber. The rims also require attention. You can use it to clean the rims from salt and mud measure from the so-called bleeding rim effect.
Let's check the general condition of the tires, paying attention to any cracks or bulges. Let's also check the tread depth, which in the case of winter tires should be at least 4 mm.
Remember that in Poland you are not allowed to drive on studded tires. It is worth purchasing snow chains, especially when planning a trip to the mountains.
