Winter is upon us, so we will deal with the misconceptions about winter tires. The most dangerous are the claims of some "experienced" drivers that in fact there is no big difference between winter and summer tires, and that it is just a "conspiracy to take money". It's not a conspiracy. There is a difference. But winter tires cannot violate the laws of physics, nor prevent someone from causing an accident due to fast driving. But they can help disciplined road users a lot. These are some of the most common misconceptions about winter tires.

 

 

 

Summer tires with a very deep tread can be used on snow

 

 

 

No - the difference between winter and summer tires is not only in the depth and type of pattern, but also in the material from which they are made. Summer tires are made of a mixture that behaves well at high temperatures, but because of that they harden in winter and brake very badly and turn even on absolutely dry asphalt at low temperatures. Winter tires are made of a softer compound that retains elasticity even when the temperature goes below zero, with the characteristic deep pattern helping to "dig" through the snow and better "scratch" on the ice (as much as possible, of course).

 

 

 

The depth of the pattern on the winter tire must be at least an inch or more

 

 

 

Not true - by law, the minimum tread depth on winter tires is 4 millimeters. We emphasize that this is the legal minimum, and we recommend that you replace the winter tires long before they reach the final 4 millimeters.

 

 

 

It is enough to have winter tires only on the drive wheels

 

 

 

No, that's how it used to be earlier according to the law, but now you have to have winter tires on all four wheels. Of course, in the conditions and in the period mentioned above. Even if we take the law out of the story, it can be dangerous to have e.g. winter tires on the front drive wheels, and summer on the rear.

 

 

 

I can drive winter tires in the summer

 

 

 

By law, yes, but at high temperatures they wear out faster, brake worse, increase fuel consumption, "hold" worse in curves and in sharp maneuvers, they are noisier, and high temperatures permanently change the characteristics of the material from which they are made, so in winter they will no longer behave as they should. Thus, the use of winter tires in summer brings multiple damages, including the risk of accidents.

 

 

 

The designation for winter tires is M + S

 

 

 

We have to distinguish two things. By law, tires marked M + S on the side are considered winter tires. In that designation, the letter "M" in English means mud, and "S" snow. However, there is no standard that they should meet in terms of the characteristics they should have on snow or at low temperatures. Therefore, if you want real winter tires, buy the ones that, in addition to the M + S label, also have a snowflake symbol in the mountain with three peaks. Winter tires must meet certain conditions to be able to wear this symbol.

 

 

 

Snow chains are part of the obligatory winter equipment

 

 

 

Chains are part of the obligatory winter equipment only if you drive outside the settlement. Snow chains or other means to increase traction (eg snow socks) must be kept in the boot from 1st November to 1st April only if you are driving outside the settlement and if the road is covered with snow or ice. Of course, they can be very useful in the settlement, so we advise you to always wear them and practice to mount them quickly, so that you do not read vaguely written instructions in a blizzard of frozen fingers at night while the chains lie uselessly next to the wheels.

 

 

 

I'm not going anywhere by car for those few days while it's snowing

 

 

 

How many times have you heard this? And as if by some unwritten rule, just when it snows, something immediately makes you sit in the car. Someone needs to be taken to the doctor, dropped off at the station, go shopping, come to the aid of a relative to turn on the "cables" ... And so you still find yourself with summer tires in the snow. You mean, like, just take it easy and everything will be fine. However, you are not the only one involved in traffic, and due to other people's mistakes, sometimes you have to brake abruptly, and this is where the difference between the two types of tires is immediately shown. Even if this does not happen, it should be taken into account that a summer tire at temperatures below 7 degrees does not have its own properties and "flattens", so a winter tire is not important only if you drive on snow.

 

 

 

 

 

We remind you that regardless of the law, the most important item for every driver must be safety. Winter tires brake and hold the road better in dry but cold weather, as is the case with summer tires during the summer at 30+ degrees. It is simply impossible for one type of tire to behave the same under very different weather conditions.