Snow, rain, cold, etc. - the weather changes constantly throughout the year and therefore also influences the road conditions. With spring just around the corner, more and more drivers are wondering whether they need to change their winter tires or whether they could also drive them in summer. Changing tires is often perceived as pointless and many people are tempted to avoid the more annoying procedure. On the one hand, we save costs for assembly andstoring winter tiresand on the other hand, we have one less deadline to meet. While the change is not required by law, there are many reasons for doing so. We'll tell you below what these are and why you shouldn't drive with winter tires in summer!
If you drive with winter tires in summer, you're not doing anything wrong - at least from a legal point of view. From sheer convenience to the cost of installation - there are many reasons not to change your tires. However, our vehicle will benefit from tires that are adapted to our driving style and the season, and the handling of winter tires becomes significantly worse at higher temperatures. Before you buy a new set of summer tires, you should first check whether they still have enough tread depth - it must be at least 1.5 mm. But how do you find the perfect car tires and what should you pay attention to when buying them? If you don't know much about cars, then you're herereifenleader.dein good hands. The website sells car tires in more than 28 European countries and with more than 500 tire brands in every price category, it offers an incredibly extensive selection so that all drivers get their money's worth!
Winter tires in summer wear out faster
Many drivers believe that they could save some money by driving with winter tires in the summer. If a tire can withstand the harshest weather conditions like snow and black ice, then it should be able to handle the heat well, right? Unfortunately, this is completely wrong and winter tires wear out much faster on warm roads. The reason for this is the softer rubber compound and the special tread, which are specifically designed to remain stable at lower temperatures. The softer rubber creates more friction in winter tires in summer, which means they wear out much faster.
Depending on how often you drive, the lifespan of your tires can be reduced by up to 60 percent. The result? You will have to buy a new set of winter tires much sooner than if you had changed them on time. But when is the best time to change tires if this is not regulated by law? In general, many drivers stick to the rule “From O to O” – i.e. from Easter to October, summer tires are the better choice. Although snowfall can occur in some parts of Germany even after Easter, a change might be possible in the lowlands. The decisive factor for changing tires is the general weather situation - as soon as the temperatures are no longer below zero at night, you can change the tires. All-season tires, also known as all-weather tires, are a good alternative for anyone who doesn't want to switch between winter and summer tires and are particularly suitable for areas where winter is not too harsh.
Longer braking distance and higher risk of accidents
The soft material of winter tires gives way more at higher temperatures and as a result the treads deform. Various tests have already shown that the braking distance of a car with winter tires is significantly longer in summer than with summer tires. According to the ADAC, in some cases this can even result in up to 15 meters more and this fact entails a significantly higher risk of accidents when driving, which should not be underestimated. If you use winter tires in the summer monthscause an accident, it may happen that the car insurance company refuses to cover the costs of the damage or that you are accused of gross negligence.
With winter tires in summer, fuel consumption will be higher
If you want to drive with winter tires in summer primarily to save some money, then we're sorry to disappoint you. To ensure that the car remains stable even on black ice, the rubber compound of winter tires is softer than that of summer tires. However, at higher temperatures this is counterproductive because the rolling resistance of a winter tire is significantly higher on a warm road surface. This can increase fuel consumption by up to 20 percent, which is why you should fill up much more often than necessary. In addition, winter tires also have a bad effect on the environment in summer because the increased fuel consumption creates even more fine dust.
