Don't wait for the first snow - change your tires well in advance.
How to choose winter tires for your car?
First of all, pay attention to the information printed on the side of the winter tires.
Manufacturer / model. Classification of tires by brand:- leading brands in terms of technical indicators from leading manufacturers;
- mid-range and lower cost brands from leading manufacturers or their subsidiaries;
- other brands. They are presented on the market in small quantities, produced by little-known companies, and are cheaper.
Recommendation 1: choose tires from well-known manufacturers: Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Nokian, Yokohama. Such tires last 3-4 seasons, and you should not save on safety. If financial opportunities do not allow, then take the products of subsidiaries. For example, Michelin's "daughters" are Kleber, Kormoran, BF Goodrich, and Continental - Uniroyal, Barum, General Tire. Goodyear analogues are produced by Fulda, Sava, Debuca.
Standard size. Indicates the type, width, inner diameter and profile of the tire. For example, 255/55 R16 means:
- radial type;
- inner diameter - 16 inches;
- width - 255 mm;
- profile - 55%. The profile refers to the ratio of the height of the profile to the width of the tire.
Speed Index: permissible vehicle speed with this tire. We are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations. Driving on tires below the recommended rating will reduce the ride characteristics of the vehicle. Excessive speed will impair ride comfort.
Load index: indicates the maximum carrying capacity of the tire.
Recommendation 2: Before purchasing, check the standard size, speed and load index. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Deviations are acceptable - tires with a smaller radius and a higher profile will improve the car's handling. Just in case, consult your master. Remember that you cannot put tires of different diameters on different axles.
Seasonality:
AS (All Season): all-season;
AW - Any Weather: All Weather
R + W - asphalt roads in winter;
Rain, Water, Aqua, Aquatred, Aquacontact: rainy weather;
Sign * - tires for low temperatures.
Recommendation 3: If your area has severe winters, then look for the "star".
Tires are divided into studded and non-studded tires. The former provide traction on an icy road or packed snow. These tires make noise and increase fuel consumption. In urban conditions, they are not so necessary. After all, there is either slush or broken snow on the roads. It is quite another matter if you are often out of town.
Recommendation 4: For driving on streets that are regularly cleaned of snow, buy non-studded tires. Drive on suburban highways and off-road - get a studded one.
According to the tread pattern, they are divided into European and Scandinavian (Arctic). See the photo below.
Scandinavian tires. The tread pattern is sparse, with a large number of diamond-shaped "checkers"; high density of lamellas (small strips). The tread breaks ice, improves traction and shortens braking distances. The tires are made of soft rubber to avoid "chilling" at low temperatures. Holes for stud installation are provided. High-speed driving on such tires (over 110-120 km / h) is not recommended.
European tires... The tread pattern is diagonal, with a developed network of channels and thin slots for drainage. The more channels, the better the tire absorbs snow and water, cleans the contact patch with the road. Designed for roads with wet or broken snow. Suitable for fans of high-speed driving.
Recommendation 5: Scandinavian tires are suitable for harsh winters (6-8 ° C below zero), ice and snowy roads. European tires are made of harder rubber, designed for mild winters and city roads (up to 5-6 ° C below zero).
Important indicators during installation:- direction of movement - the arrow indicates the direction of movement (important during installation);
- right or left - indicates which wheel the tire is mounted on (important during installation).
Tires of all sizes and types are presented on the website of the fotos.ua store. You will surely find what you need.
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