In winter, using tires that are not suitable for the harsh conditions of winter may cause safety problems. In order to be ready for the tough conditions of winter, it is necessary to use winter tires. But how do you choose the right winter tire?
Turkey has been under the influence of cold and rainy weather in the recent weeks. In many cities, snowfall has been effective for a long time. During this period, if you have driven, you may have noticed that there has been an increase in the number of material damage caused by traffic accidents.
Freight and passenger commercial vehicles must officially have winter tires from December 1 till April 1 since 2016. However, this legal obligation does not cover private vehicles. Nevertheless, according to all driving safety experts, the use of winter tires can save you from traffic accidents. Moreover, winter tires are not only used in snowy weather. According to Ahmet Özgün, Road and Driving Safety Specialist, the winter tire should be used not only in snowy weather but in all weather conditions below 7 degrees.
How are winter tires different?
Driving in winter, it is inevitable that you will face dangers such as snowfall or black ice caused by extreme cold. Using summer tires in winter instead of the ones for winter causes safety problems. The main reason for this is that summer tires' tread depths, patterns and material blends are not suitable for these difficult conditions. In winter, you should use tires produced specifically for this season to ensure that your vehicle is firmly gripped to the road. Winter tires have tread depths, patterns and blends designed to deliver high performance under harsh conditions. In this way, compared to summer tires, they will keep your car on the road under challenging conditions.
What to look for when buying a winter tire?
If you want to change the tires of your car with winter tires, you must first make sure you have the right tire. Make sure you know the appropriate tire size for your car. Then, pay attention to the marks on the tire you want to buy. You can get the tires with (M + S) or (M & S) marks. The initials stand for Mud and Snow, meaning that the tire is a winter tire produced according to the European regulations. Besides, you can also choose tires with the “a snowflake on the mountain” mark. These tires are specially designed for snowy and heavy weather conditions and, being different from the tires with (M + S) marks, are tested for their performance.
The codes on the tires
All tires sold carry different codes with signs indicating that the tire is a winter tire. There are five different codes that you can see on your tire. The first is represented by a three-digit number and shows the width of the tire. The two-digit number in the second order refers to the aspect ratio of the side surface of your tire. The code starting with a letter in the third row indicates the type of the tire and the diameter in inches. The codes starting with the letter "R" are "radial tires", followed by the "16" figure, which means that the tire is compatible with 16-inch wheels. The two-digit number in the fourth row represents the maximum weight that the tire can carry, and the last code represents the maximum speed.
When buying a winter tire, pay attention to all these codes and especially ask for the year of production of the tire because according to the road and driving safety specialist Özgün, tires may have been expired. In addition, we recommend that you make sure that your spare tire is a winter tire as well because using one summer tire with three winter tires can cause an imbalance in your car.
