NOVEMBER 1ST IS APPROACHING: Winter tires are mandatory, but how to choose and which ones to buy!

(Patria) - Only a few weeks remain until the start of the winter season, meaning it's time to replace summer tires with winter ones. We've checked which tires drivers should choose, and what their performance should be like.

Additionally, we've checked how often they need to be replaced and whether it's recommended to buy new or used tires. You can read all the details below.

How to choose winter tires for your car?

According to the law, the time to put winter tires on a car is from November 1st, and also when temperatures drop below seven degrees Celsius. These tires are specifically designed for winter driving and bear the M/S and snowflake markings.

The rules for choosing winter car tires are no different from choosing summer tires, meaning you should pay attention to the factory dimensions, production year, tread depth, and choose a tire manufactured for winter.

The main difference between tires is the tread pattern geometry and their chemical composition. Winter tires are much softer compared to summer tires, and their stopping distance is shorter. Even the best summer tire will harden in winter conditions, which can put you in danger.

What are the best winter tires and when should they be replaced?

The lifespan of a car tire depends on many factors, the most important being quality, road conditions, and driver habits. The age of the tire, if stored properly, does not affect its performance. "Michelin", as one of the world's most renowned manufacturers, has determined that one year of tire storage is equivalent to using it for only two weeks, so the total age of tires can be up to eight to 10 years.

The optimal period for replacing car tires is around five years.

What is the difference between summer and winter tires?

The main difference between winter and summer tires is in their chemical composition. Winter tires are softer and do not harden at winter temperatures, which is their essence. Summer tires at low temperatures would cause you to slip on snow and ice, which you probably wouldn't want, and since they lose their elasticity, their stopping distance is much longer in winter conditions.

Additionally, winter and summer tires look different. Summer tires have specially designed grooves in the tread that provide stronger grip at higher temperatures, as well as on dry and wet roads.

Should you buy new, used, or retreaded tires?

If you are wondering whether to buy new, used, or retreaded tires, buying new is always the best option. However, given the difficult economic situation, the budget will certainly dictate the choice of car tires. This has led to a high demand for retreaded car tires, i.e., worn-out, already used tires that have been covered with a new tread layer.

If you are lucky, you can find solid used car tires from a premium brand that will last you a season or two.

Generally, the price of car tires is mainly determined by performance and quality. While in the automotive industry, more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better, the best tires for a car are often those with a slightly higher price.

How many tires do you need to buy?

It is always possible to combine two old and two new car tires. In that case, it is important that the ones you buy are from the same manufacturer and, of course, of the same type and dimensions as the old ones.

If you are not buying all four, the rule is to always buy car tires in pairs.

Which tires to buy based on the mileage you cover?

If you are a driver who spends most of their time driving in the city and doesn't cover many kilometers, then the choice is not too difficult. All new car tires, regardless of the manufacturer, will be satisfactory.

If you are a more active driver and cover more kilometers annually and drive daily, you should pay attention to your tires, and regular checks and summer-winter changes are mandatory.

If the car tires are older than five years and have covered 65,000 kilometers, then it's time for new ones, considering that the tire has already gone through several seasons under the influence of all weather conditions, and the tread depth is certainly nearing its end.

How to know the performance of a tire?

When buying car tires, drivers primarily look at the dimensions and price, but tires also have numerous other performance characteristics found on the EU label and the tire sidewall. What can be found on the tire sidewall:

First, there is a number that, for example, looks like this: 195/65 R 15 91H.

In this marking, the number 195 indicates the tire width in millimeters, 65 represents the percentage of the tire's height relative to its width, while R indicates that it is a radial tire. The number 15 following is the rim diameter in inches, and 91 is the load index. H is the speed rating. Most drivers are interested in the first marking on the tire (195/65 R15), which is realistically the most important because it indicates the dimensions and load capacity - the basic and most important parameters of a car tire. It is important to note here that the load capacity refers to the load capacity per wheel.

In translation, for the marking 91, the load capacity would be around 615 kilograms per wheel, and the total load capacity of a car with that marking would be four times greater.

The speed rating may not be conspicuous, but it is important, and it indicates the maximum speed at which it is safe to drive the tire. Since most car tires have a speed rating of H, which corresponds to driving up to 210 km/h, we sincerely hope that you will not consider driving anywhere near that speed.

Which EU markings are important to have on tires?

Energy labels

Energy classes on tires are ranked from A to G, where A is the most fuel-efficient car tire, meaning the lowest fuel consumption. G is the least fuel-efficient car tire.

Noise level

In addition to fuel economy, there is another important EU marking, which is the noise level, divided into three categories. One wave is assigned to very quiet tires, while three waves indicate noisy ones.

Wet grip

Perhaps the most important EU marking is the tire's wet grip, i.e., its braking efficiency on wet roads. As with fuel consumption, car tires are marked from A to G, with category A representing the best grip. In practice, this means that car tires with an A rating will stop 18 meters shorter than tires with a G rating at a speed of 80 km/h.

What does the tread depth of car tires tell us?

Although laws in different countries prescribe different minimums for car tire tread depth, experts in the automotive industry agree that the tread depth of winter tires should not be below four millimeters.

The reason is simple, as a shallower tread means a longer stopping distance, making the tires more dangerous. In winter conditions, the possibility of skidding is greater.