Winter tyres – Right tyre for the right season

Winter tyres, otherwise called as snow tyres, are designed for use in snow and ice. Winter tyres have small tread areas which increase the traction on snow, but they do not completely eliminate skidding on snow. Winter tyres are designed to be used for winter season only and are not preferable for summer season on dry roads, as the winter tyres produce much noise on dry roads due to maximum grip.

The requirements for winter tyres(in Finnish kesärengas) vary by countries. So, the make of winter tyres also vary from one country to another. Nordic winter tyres are very flexible and are designed for temperatures below freezing point, as commonly experienced in Scandinavia. Such types of winter tyres may not be fit for British winter conditions. Studded winter tyres are another type of winter tyres commonly found in countries that has snow almost throughout a year. The studs on the tyres give enormous grip on the road and also invite fine if used on normal road, as they damage normal roads. If you are driving to Europe during winter season, it is essential to check out the rules country by country, as the winter tyre requirement is different for each country. Many EU countries have mandated the use of seasonal specific tyres and the use of snow tyres is mandatory if snow or slush is present on the road surface.

Summer tyres(in Finnish talvirengas) are ones with less treads, which gives a smooth comfortable ride. Summer tyres are also designed to offer better performance on wet roads. Some people prefer to stick with winter tyres during summer season on dry roads. This may not be a good idea, because of the way the winter tyres are designed.

Winter tyres provide high friction and provide maximum grip on snow which may not be suitable for dry road. Even though carrying additional four tyres and changing it every season may really seem troublesome, but it gives additional safety. Moreover winter tyres are smooth and less rigid compared to summer tyres. So when one uses winter tyres on dry roads, the tyre may soon wear out and also lose its form, which is a highly dangerous way of losing control of one’s vehicle while driving.

Each type of tyres has some speed limit and life. So, if the tyres are used inappropriately, then the life of the tyre reduces drastically. Even though there is no law as of now, to prevent using winter tyres in summer season, it is for one’s own benefit and also would save the cost of buying additional winter tyres in times of need.