The basis of safe driving is a change of tires on wheels according to the current season. This requirement is due to a huge number of factors. But sometimes in the summer you can meet a car on winter tires. There are practically no motives for such a decision, just some motorists in this way want to easily solve the problem of updating the wheels. To understand whether it is possible to operate the car on winter tires in summer, you need to know how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires, as well as understand the properties of both tires.
Winter tires in summer
Novice drivers who decide not to change winter tires in summer usually think that if the tire is capable of handling snow or ice, then you can feel quite safe on it on dry or wet asphalt. A car on winter tires in the summer can only seem safer. The risk factors for getting into an accident are often not the main thing in this case. Often such a choice is made, wanting to save. Moreover, such savings will be only one-time.
In addition, many people drive winter tires in the summer also because the tread on the tire is already very worn out and no longer performs its functions in the winter on ice or snow. The only acceptable option for the operation of such tires is driving on dry asphalt or soil. But here everything is not so clear.
What is the difference between winter tires and summer tires
Experienced motorists know that winter tires are not effective on asphalt. For beginners, winter tires in the summer are commonplace. It is important to know how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires, and also what is the difference between these types of tires.
Summer tires should provide the most stable coefficient of adhesion to the coating, regardless of the different rolling characteristics at high speeds. Summer tires are characterized by an asymmetric pattern - this affects the high noise insulation.
To clarify the situation, whether it is possible to operate winter tires in the summer, it is necessary to evaluate how this tire is suitable for riding on it in the summer. On the tread there are "checkers" with a rather complex relief. It is thanks to them that a car can quite safely drive on winter snow and ice - this is a method how to distinguish summer tires. Such elements are only on tires designed for winter. Safety is also enhanced by various grooves, slots and branches - all this allows you to keep traction with snow or ice.
But how effective are these elements in summer on winter tires? Efficiency is reduced to zero. "Checkers" can even interfere when driving on asphalt at high speeds - there is a serious risk of losing control of the car.
Rubber composition
How to distinguish winter tires from summer tires, what is the difference between these types of tires? An important factor of differences is the composition of the rubber compound. The tire, which is made specifically for winter conditions, is particularly soft. Due to this structure, the wheel successfully holds the car on a winter road and in bad weather. But this quality can fully justify itself only in winter or during small thaws.
Professionals recommend in all other periods to use all the same summer tires. It has a different composition. Such a tire is characterized by greater rigidity, resilience and wear resistance. In cold weather, summer tires will become stiff, which is why it is not worth operating in winter. Naturally, a very soft tire in the summer is also not the best choice.
Winter tires in summer
The most striking difference in the use of summer and winter tires in the summer appears on wet pavement. In addition, winter tires in the summer can harm the driver at the time of emergency braking.
In order to better show how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires, you can conduct small tests - aquaplaning. On a wet road after rain with puddles and a stream of water on summer tires, undesirable effects appear already at a speed of about 80 km / h. If winter is established, the same effect will be observed already at 70 km / h.
If you test with emergency braking, then there is no doubt that it is completely impractical to use winter tires in the summer. The braking distance, in comparison with summer wheels, will be 30% or more. This suggests that driving in winter tires in winter is very risky and unsafe.
Reviews
Many motorists highlight another important factor in the differences between summer and winter types of tires - the lifetime. The main difference between rubber for winter is the significantly greater wear resistance of winter tires, drivers say. Summer tire has significantly lower terms of use. After all, manufacturers make rubber, which has less resistance to wear. Drivers, judging by the reviews, change summer tires about three times more often than winter ones.
Visual differences
Here's another way to distinguish winter tires from summer tires - this is a type of tire. On winter tires, the tread is more deep - in winter there are frequent rainfall, rain, snow. This deep tread pattern makes grip much better. Often on wheels designed for winter, there are spikes that make driving easier in icy conditions.
Drivers agree that winter tires may differ in a large number of slots. On Scandinavian tires, as motorists note, you can see more rhombuses arranged in a checkerboard pattern.
Marking of winter summer and all-season tires
The winter tire must be indicated by the following symbols: M + S, M&S, MS. This marking is most often on the side of the wheel. But when choosing, you must carefully inspect the tire: often such designations can be found on summer tires. In addition, on winter tires you can find the marking Mud + Snow, Winter. Also, an element in the form of a snowflake is necessarily applied to the winter wheel.
If it was not possible to find these symbols, and only an element in the form of the sun is applied to the wheel, then this is definitely summer tires. Such designations are used for those who do not know how to distinguish winter car tires from summer. An all-weather tire is designated in most cases as All Seasons.
Thus, novice motorists will be able to distinguish tires without any problems. Knowing several differences, it is easy to understand how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires.