How to distinguish winter tires from summer: features, differences and reviews

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 find a car on winter tires. There are practically no motives for this decision, just some motorists want to solve the problem of updating the wheels without any problems. To understand whether it is possible to operate a car on winter tires in the summer, you need to know how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires, and also to understand the properties of both tires.

Winter rubber in summer

Novice drivers who decide not to change winter tires in the summer, usually think if the tire is fully capable of handling snow or ice, then you can safely feel yourself on dry or wet asphalt. The car on winter tires in summer can only seem safer. The risk factors for getting into an accident are often not the main factor in this case. Often such a choice is made, wanting to save. In this case, such savings will be only one-off.

In addition, many ride on winter tires in the summer also because the protector on the tire is already 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 to move on dry asphalt or ground. 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 the same winter tires in the summer - a common thing. Here 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 differ asymmetrical pattern - this affects the high noise insulation.

To clarify the situation, whether it is possible to exploit the winter tires in the summer, it is necessary to evaluate how much this tire is suitable for riding it in the summer. On the protector there are "checkers" with a rather complex relief. It is thanks to them that the car can safely ride through the winter snow and ice - it's a method how to distinguish summer tires. Such elements are only on tires intended for winter. Also, safety is enhanced by various grooves, slits and branching - all this makes it possible to hold a grip well with snow or ice.

But how effective are these elements in the summer on winter tires? Efficiency is reduced to zero. "Checkers" can even interfere with 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 in the differences lies in the composition of the rubber compound. The tire, which is made especially for winter conditions, is especially soft. Due to this structure, the wheel successfully keeps the car on a winter road and in bad weather. But this quality can fully justify itself only in winter or during a small thaw.

Professionals recommend in all other periods to use all the same summer tires. It has a different composition. This tire is more rigid, resilient and resistant to wear. In the frost, summer tires zadubeet, because of what winter it should not be exploited. Naturally, a very soft tire in the summer is also not the best choice.

Winter rubber in summer

The brightest difference in the use of summer and winter tires in the summer is manifested on wet asphalt. In addition, winter tires in the summer can damage the driver at the time of emergency braking.

To better show how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires, you can make small tests - aquaplaning. On a wet road after a rain with puddles and a stream of water on summer rubber, undesirable effects appear already at a speed of about 80 km / h. In case if the winter one is installed, the same effect will be observed already at 70 km / h.

If you carry out testing by emergency braking, then there is no doubt that winter tires in winter are completely inappropriate. The braking distance, in comparison with summer wheels, will be more by 30% or more. This suggests that it is very risky and unsafe to drive in winter on winter tires.

Reviews

Many motorists distinguish one more important factor in the differences between summer and winter types of tires - the service life. The main difference between rubber and winter is the much higher wear resistance of winter tires, the drivers say. The summer tire has a significantly lower usage time. After all, manufacturers make rubber that has less resistance to wear. Drivers, judging by the reviews, summer tires change about three times more often than winter tires.

Visual differences

Here's another way how you can distinguish winter tires from summer tires - it's kind of a tire. On winter tires, the protector is more deep - in winter precipitation, rain, snow are frequent. Such a deep tread pattern makes the adhesion to the coating much better. Often, on wheels intended for winter, there are spikes, which make it easier to manage in icy conditions.

Drivers also agree that winter tires may differ in the large number of slots. On Scandinavian tires, as noted by motorists, you can see more rhombuses arranged in checkerboard pattern.

Marking of winter summer and all-season tires

The winter tire should be indicated by the following symbols: M + S, M & S, MS. This marking is most often found on the side of the wheel. But when choosing it is necessary to carefully inspect the tire: often such designations can be found on summer tires. In addition, the winter tires can be found marking Mud + Snow, Winter. Also on the winter wheel necessarily put an element in the form of snowflakes.

If you can not find these symbols, and the wheel has only an element in the form of the sun, then this is definitely a summer tire. Such designations are used for those who do not know how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires. The all-season tire is designated in most cases, as All Seasons.

Thus, novice motorists will be able to distinguish tires without any problems. Knowing a few differences, it is not difficult to understand how to distinguish winter tires from summer tires.