The importance of winter tires

When winter kicks in it’s very important to be ready to face it with proper equipment. By equipment we mean winter tires.

The winter tires are special tires that are made especially for the cold season and have a better adherence to asphalt for the times when it’s covered with snow or ice.

Why do I need winter tires?

The rubber used in creating this kind of tires is resisting better to cold temperatures and when it comes in contact with a cold surface the breaking time is a lot better comparing to the regular tires.

Which tires are for winter?

In Europe, on the side of the tire, there is an “M+S” mark, short for Mud + Snow. In North America, the winter tires can be recognized by small picture showing a snow flake.

What are the specifications for the winter tires?

The usual depth should be of 4mm, but no lower than 1.6 mm. If the vehicle is used in a road covered in heavy snow, than the depth should be of at least 8 mm.

When to switch from summer to winter tires?

We recommend changing them when the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit). You shouldn’t wait until you see heavy snow on the road, simply because these kind of tires can help in other atmospherically situations (rain, ice).

What is the optimum pressure of air?

The pressure of the tires should be the one stated in the car’s manual. It is very important to check the pressure usually, especially when the temperature is under 0.

How to drive using winter tires?

When it comes to winter, everybody should pay more attention to special situations such us ice on the road, slippery surfaces or road covered in snow. You should use acceleration moderately in order to prevent the tires to slip on the wet or icy surface. As well, when it comes to breaking, do it as steady as you can to avoid losing the control of your car. It is important to use the engine break instead of the brake pedal, to get better control of your car in these special circumstances. Also, do not access a road before getting detailed information in the snowy conditions. You might get stuck or worse, get into an accident. Pay attention to the authorities broadcast as well as to meteorological ones.