The summer tires are characterized by a flat profile that ensures optimum grip. After all, rubber is the only thing in direct contact with the ground.
Summer tires are quiet and maintain good driving characteristics even on wet roads. Most importantly, summer tires are extremely heat-resistant. Asphalt roads can be as high as tens of degrees Celsius in summer, which means the rubber can cause melting. High-temperature protection for summer tires means sacrificing frost resistance. Cold temperatures can cause summer tires to thicken and lose their good grip, making it easier to slip and lose control of the vehicle.
Season tires, on the other hand, are made of soft rubber, which does not become hard due to low temperatures. This material is enriched with various types of additives to ensure flexibility. The tread pattern of a winter tire ensures its grip in extreme weather, but it also greatly affects energy efficiency. Still, consumers cannot endanger themselves or other road users by giving up winter tires.
When to replace summer tires with winter tires?
The timely replacement of tires is related to safety issues. Therefore, buying new tires should not be delayed until the last minute. On the other hand, changing tires too early may result in a partial reduction in service life. This is what worries all drivers the most. After all, tires are not cheap car parts, and tire wear costs extra.
At this point, it is important to point out that using winter tires at too high temperatures does affect tire quality, although the damage is very minor and imperceptible and does not significantly reduce tire life. So if you change your tires 2-to 3 weeks before the season, it's perfectly fine.
When is the right time to use winter tires?
Talking about a specific date doesn't make much sense, especially in an era of rapid climate change. The outside temperature is the most important. Experts recommend changing winter tires when the average daily temperature no longer exceeds 7ºC. Of course, you also have to take into account the variability of the weather, sometimes it is 5ºC one day, and it will exceed 10ºC the next day. Therefore, many people are waiting for the weather conditions to stabilize. In fact, it is more reasonable to change the tires on the day when the temperature first drops, after all, the first frost will appear soon after.
It should be emphasized that waiting for the first snow or frost to change tires is not recommended here. Then it will be too late. Not only can it be potentially dangerous, but summer tires can also be damaged. Just paying close attention to the weather forecast and preparing in advance for changing tires is enough.
When is it time to go back to summer tires? The best time is when the temperature has risen above the aforementioned 7 ºC. Similar to the winter period, once the temperature stabilizes, it's time to change your tires so you can start saving fuel sooner.