What is the difference between summer and winter tires? Why do they have to be changed every season?
The reason for the need to replace winter tires with summer tires is that the two types of tires are made in a completely different way. The first difference – that of the grapple pattern – is visible at first glance. Summer tires have smooth surfaces and wide grooves that drain water away from the central part of the tire tread. This is the reason why in positive temperatures they stick to the road surface and accompany the water during movement. The gripper of the winter tires, on the other hand, has much narrower and much more slots, as well as a whole series of lamellae. The finer pattern cuts into the snow and makes for much better grip and behavior on slippery surfaces.
Summer tires don't like winter, winter tires don't like summer. Another noticeable difference is in the structure of the material of the tire. Durable summer tires are made of a much harder material and with a high content of amorphous carbon. The winter ones, on the other hand, are made of soft rubber with a high content of silicon dioxide. Thanks to their composition, summer tires retain their stiffness regardless of the high temperature, while winter tires remain elastic and with fully functioning lamellae even during very low temperatures. The differences between different types of tires are very important. When driving in the summer heat, the winter tire will heat up to a temperature reaching over 60 degrees Celsius. Because of this, the driver will have the feeling that it is literally spilling over the asphalt. That's not the only problem though - the tire will have a longer stopping distance, reduce the stability of the vehicle when cornering and start to rumble loudly while driving. So when should we change to summer tires? It is not easy to answer this question. A number of factors are decisive for the availability of optimal conditions. The main one is, of course, the outside temperature. Usually, the optimal time to install summer tires is the time when the outside temperature is above 7 degrees Celsius on average for the day. Sometimes this can happen in March, and other times - only in April or even May. You need to be sure that the temperature will continue to rise and there will be no surprise return of winter. When to change tires to summer ones? Not too late! Is it worth delaying the deadline for replacing tires with summer ones? Absolutely not! Winter tires used at temperatures above 10 degrees will not only be noisier when driving, but will also wear out quickly and their grip will be damaged. This naturally reduces their life, leads to the need for more frequent replacement with new ones and increases the cost of operating the car. Valves - a trifle to remember The last stage of tire replacement is the installation of new valves. This is one of the most frequently overlooked duties. New valves are very cheap. If they are damaged, they will not withstand the necessary pressure in the tire. Why is it worth choosing a specialized service for the seasonal tire change? Only in such a service is guaranteed 100% performance of all stages (including replacement of valves) and use of specialized tools. This ensures that neither the rim nor the tire will be damaged during the change, and the driver will also enjoy a comfortable drive without having to deal with a flat tire, for example. Seasonal tire change - a summary The responsible driver who wants to take care of the safety of the trip should be aware of the availability of a number of service procedures. One of them is undoubtedly the seasonal tire change. Why is fitting summer tires so key? This increases the driving force during summer trips and significantly shortens the braking distance. Moreover, summer tires should be installed in time - when the temperature outside starts to stay at least 7 degrees Celsius. In this way, the wear of winter tires is reduced and the driver does not have to wait in a long line in front of the service station. Have you scheduled a visit to a reputable repair shop? Better do it now before everyone else does too.
