How to choose winter tires

Car safety and its stability on the road during the winter period of time are connected with the quality of the tires installed on it in the most direct way. The ability to get out of the skid in time and prevent it from speeding up along slippery icy roads and quickly reducing speed, stability and stability - all these factors directly depend on how well tires fit the vehicle. In order to feel confident on the winter road, their choice should be given special attention.

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1. Top Winter Tire Manufacturers
2. Types of winter tires. What to prefer
3. The main criteria for choosing winter tires
4. Features of the choice of studded rubber
5. Features of the choice of rubber velcro

Top Winter Tire Manufacturers

It's no secret that the functionality of both summer and winter wheels directly depends on the production technology and compliance with all quality standards. It is for this reason that products of proven world-famous manufacturers should be chosen:

1. Michelin

2. Hankook

3. Amtel

4. Goodyear

5. Dunlop

Recently, the quality of domestic manufacturers has increased very seriously, as evidenced by the numerous reviews of customers using tires for several seasons. The Russian “Kama” and “Matador” and the Belarusian “Belshina” are a very good budget option, coping well with the functions assigned to it.

Types of winter tires. Which one to prefer?

Winter tires differ from their summer counterparts not in the tread pattern or even in its height. The key difference lies in the chemical composition of the material itself. Every motorist knows that summer tires lose their properties already at a temperature of +7 and below, and, on the contrary, during the summer operation classic winter tires quickly become unusable. In simple terms, winter tires are much softer and more “catchy” than their summer counterpart. It is designed in such a way that the wheels do not lose their plasticity even at a negative temperature, when ordinary summer tires turn into a “stone” and cease to perform their duties.

Different winter tires from the summer and its appearance. The tread of such models is almost always higher and has a directional pattern, better than cutting through the snow and water. Winter tires are marked with a snowflake pattern in the triangle or with the letters M + S (Mud + Snow, mud and snow).

Depending on the functional features, winter tires are divided into two main types.

Rubber - "Velcro"

Classic winter tires in its traditional sense. It has a directional tread pattern, deep grooves that are not clogged with snow, pronounced lamellae that contribute to effective braking on any type of coating. Velcro is divided into two main types:

1. "Eurozima", which is often confused with all-season tires. Soft and plastic rubber, suitable for use in zero temperature and light frost.It has a developed drainage grooves, the main purpose is to use the road on wet and muddy from sand and reagents. Marked with letters M + S;

2. Scandinavian winter tires designed for use in harsh environments - severe frost, large amounts of snow, icy coating. It has a small width of the tread and a pattern that prevents the clogging of snow. Soft, well-clinging tires that provide stability on a snowy and unpeeled road;

Virtues

• Soft;

• Resistant to salt, reagents and high humidity;

• A large number of different models for any type of wheels;

• Excellent braking performance;

• Provides a good hook on the snow and wet roads;

disadvantages

• Not able to effectively brake on ice and icy road;

• On dry pavement, very noisy;

Studded winter tires

The appearance of these tires is similar to the "Velcro", the difference lies in a large number of metal studs, studded on the tread surface. During braking, they bite into the ice, ensuring its effectiveness. Studded tires are used exclusively on icy and snowy roads, it should be preferred to residents of those regions in which they do not pay enough attention to road cleaning. The use of studded tires on pure asphalt threatens to break it down soon - the spikes crumble very quickly, which is why such rubber turns into a velcro, and by no means with the best characteristics.

Virtues

• Effective braking on ice and snow;

• Suitable for residents of the northern regions and those places where they prefer not to clean the roads;

disadvantages

• High noise;

• Poorly suited for use on clean asphalt;

The main criteria for choosing winter tires

Characteristics that directly affect the performance of the wheels, a great many.

Tire size

Put the first available winter tires on the car will not work. It is necessary to consider the recommendations of the car manufacturer regarding the technical characteristics of wheels suitable for use. Otherwise, the car will "eat" rubber - and this is only the lesser of the evils. Pay attention to:

1. Wheel diameter It is selected for a specific size of the disks of your car. Measured in inches;

2. Width rubber. Measured in millimeters, the choice should be given to models recommended for use by the car manufacturer;

3. Tire height is measured as a percentage of the wheel width and is indicated on the side of the tire. For example, the inscription 225 \ 45 \ R17 says that the tire diameter is 17 inches, width - 225 millimeters, and its height is 45% of the width;

Type of design of the air chamber

1. Depending on this parameter, all tires are divided into three categories:

2. Chamber tires. Models, known since the times of the USSR. The tire here represents only the outer shell, inside which is placed a thin-walled air chamber;

3. Tubeless tires. Modern models, tightly fixed due to their design on the disk;

RunFlat tires. A special case of tubeless tires, not afraid of punctures. Thanks to the reinforced side cord, they allow you to move up to 50-60 kilometers at a speed of no more than 70 kilometers per hour, even on a punctured wheel. It is hardly possible to move freely on an empty tire, but you can easily reach it to the nearest tire fitting.

Tread pattern

1. Symmetrical tread pattern is good when operating on snow-covered surfaces, very well manifested itself on pure ice. It is successfully used in everyday urban operation in countries with cold winters;

2. The directional pattern has a pronounced taper in the direction of movement, as well as the inscription "Rotation" indicating the direction of rotation of the tire.It is considered one of the best options for use in wet weather, as well as on difficult surfaces, when there is dirt, sleet and slush on the asphalt.

3. The asymmetrical pattern shows excellent results in normal urban use, where roads are cleaned. It has a diverse pattern, the left side of which is different from the right. Asymmetrical tires are marked with the words “inside” and “outside”, indicating, respectively, the inner and outer side of the tire installation.

date of manufacture

Like any other material, rubber is prone to aging. If stored improperly, it is packed and covered with numerous microcracks and other artifacts. Even if the tire is new and has not been exploited before, it is very dangerous to use it - no one knows how such a wheel will behave in an extreme situation. It is for this reason that the choice should be given exclusively to "fresh" wheels, since the release of which no more than 1-2 years have passed. It is for this reason that in many European countries the “old” 3-4 year old tires are 40-50% cheaper than more recent analogues.

To determine the date of issue of rubber is simple - you just need to find the oval-shaped marking with four engraved inside. For example, the numbers 1112 will indicate that a particular tire was made in November 2012 and is currently very outdated.

Features of the choice of studded rubber

In the best way, studded tires manifest themselves on clear ice, snow covered with ice and snow covered with snow, as well as on rolled snow roads, on which, during braking, the spikes literally burst into the surface.

1. The geometrical parameters of a particular wheel should be selected based on the design and dimensions of the disks on which the installation will be carried out, as well as taking into account the recommendations of the car manufacturer;

2. The wheels must be no older than 2–3 years from the time they were made;

3. Constructive design - classic “beskamerka” or tires RunFlat;

4. The tread must be symmetrical or directional;

Features of the choice of rubber velcro

Velcro - the exact opposite of "spike". It shows the best results on dry and wet and dirty surfaces. Recommended for use at near-zero temperatures.

1. Geometric parameters of rubber are selected on the basis of the technical features of specific wheels and recommendations of the manufacturer of the car;

2. Rubber must be "fresh", the date of its release should not be older than 2-3 years;

3. The type of tread is selected individually. Symmetrical tread is widely used on snowy roads, asymmetrical is ideal for clean asphalt. Directional drawing cuts mud and snow porridge well;

4. Manufacturing technology - tubeless or RunFlat; 

 

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.