Winter studded tires - how to choose them?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

We all know perfectly well that a summer tire wicks away water perfectly when hitting puddles, and when cornering it gives good grip to the car. However, on snow and ice cover, the use of this rubber is tantamount to an unfastened seat belt, since at the slightest turn and braking such a car begins to “drive” all over the road. And no matter what driving experience a car enthusiast has, the car will still slide along the highway.

Therefore, with the onset of cold weather, many car owners are thinking about purchasing such a type of tire as winter studded tires. Today's article will be relevant on the eve of winter, when the first snow and ice is expected to fall.

Why winter studded tires?

This type of car tires has many advantages over the so-called Velcro. Their secret lies in high-quality traction with ice and an uncleared layer of snow, which the cars have firmly rolled. Winter studded tires as opposed toVelcro has a shorter braking distance, which has a positive effect on safety. If you often drive on unpaved snowy roads or do inter-regional transportation, the spikes are ideal for your car. The only thing to consider is that when the snow melts, you need to immediately “change shoes” for your iron friend, otherwise all the spikes will completely fly off the wheels.

What should be the protector?

The tread pattern plays an important role in the movement of the car, especially if it has studded winter tires. The price of all tires directly depends on the depth of this element. And here you can be deceived by offering low-quality tires with tread sizes similar to summer options. When choosing, always remember that the pattern of winter tires should be deeper. This is done in order to increase the grip of the wheels on a snowy road.

How does this part run in?

Surely every motorist has heard that winter studded tires (15 or 19 inches - it doesn't matter), as well as summer and all-weather tires, must be tested. However, not everyone knows how this process is carried out. After purchase and installation on the disk, the tire must go several kilometers in special conditions. To do this, you need to accelerate to 60-70 kilometers per hour and drive a distance of one kilometer without stops and sharp turns until the spikes get used.

At first, you should carefully monitor the pressure in the chamber. If the valueswill be less or more than those indicated by the manufacturer, the spikes will simply crumble along the road. By the way, winter studded tires should be inflated only in specialized tire shops. You need to monitor the pressure at least once a month.

You should also follow a special driving style. The first 300 kilometers should not contain sudden starts and stops. For the future, it is also worth remembering that sudden movements can greatly reduce the life of the spikes.

Thanks to these rules, your wheels will be as durable and safe as possible!