What is the difference between seasonal tires?

February 24, 2024

Tire It is the only part of the car that comes into contact with the road surface, so it is one of the most important parts of your car. When braking, starting or changing course, significant pressure is placed on the tires, so properly selected high-quality tires are an essential prerequisite for your comfortable and safe ride.

When choosing tires, it is important to consider Climatic conditions, road surface, travel distance etc. Tires should be selected exactly according to the needs of your car. It is also important to consider Size, load capacity, speed index and other specifications recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

All tires have a life cycle (5 years). Once the life span expires, the tire loses its positive properties, which can jeopardize safe driving.

Tires are classified according to seasons and purpose.

Seasonal tires:

Summer tire
Winter tire
All-season tires

Tire seasonality

Choosing the right tires, ensuring they are suitable for your operating conditions, and replacing them seasonally is of great importance for the safety of your vehicle, as well as yours and those around you.

Summer tire

Summer tires are designed for dry and wet surfaces at high temperatures. For improved grip and safe driving. Their unique tread pattern shape and special compound provide the best response in corners and improve braking. Summer tires are ideal for driving on wet, rainy surfaces. Their tread pattern surface is shaped in such a way that it repels water and raindrops and eliminates hydroplaning.

Another characteristic of summer tires is the depth of the grooves. Unlike winter tires, summer tires have smaller tread blocks, which contributes to stability in high temperatures and driving stability.

Winter tire

At low temperatures, summer tires cannot heat up enough to grip, thus losing their properties, after which the tire becomes stiff and the risk of skidding increases. High-quality winter tires are made of specially treated material, as a result of which such a risk is minimized. In addition to a high content of specially treated natural rubber, winter tires have a special tread, which is distinguished by custom-made marked blocks and a zigzag sectional pattern (stepped blocks) over the entire surface. For this reason, winter tires provide effective grip in difficult climatic conditions, such as snow, ice and slush. When choosing this type of tire, you should also consider the rules of use and purpose. The right choice ensures not only safe driving, but also reduced fuel consumption.

It should be noted that the effective service life of winter tires does not exceed 5 years. After this period, the tire loses its positive properties. In addition, when driving at high temperatures and on a hot road surface, the braking distance of winter tires increases by 15-20%, and wear - by 30-40%. Therefore, seasonal tire replacement is necessary. The recommended temperature for replacing winter tires is 70C. At temperatures below 7°C, summer tires should be replaced with winter tires, and at temperatures above 7°C, on the contrary, winter tires should be replaced with summer tires.

All-season tires

All-season tires are the most economical type of tire. These tires are designed for use all year round. Such tires are a technological compound in both chemical composition and tread configuration. Its tread fibers are of medium depth, and the rubber composition is also specially selected to make the tire as durable as possible.

In most cases, car manufacturers recommend all-season tires for urban driving, but this strength is achieved at the expense of other positive characteristics. For example, compared to summer tires, their grip is reduced and braking distances are increased. And also in difficult winter climatic conditions, all-season tires are not able to provide the same safety standards as winter tires.