When the temperature starts falling and the roads freeze, the rubber in conventional tires starts losing its elasticity, which results in losing grip of the road, further leading to chances of getting slipped. The rubber in winter tires is comparatively softer which means they are more flexible than the hard summer tires. Winter tires, also known as Cold-Weather tires offer significantly better grip and stability.
Winter tires consist of more amount of silica in their compound. This different mix of ingredients allows retaining elasticity in the tires. The treads of the winter tire are different than that of an ordinary tire, as they fill their grooves with snow while moving and grips the snow on the road (in case of snowy areas). They have deeper grooves which play a major role in providing a better grip of the surface (snow or ice), by ‘biting into it’. In addition to this, the groves are wider and are combined with sipes to provide better drainage for cutting through deep puddles or slush. These tires offer better control over slippery surface and better steering as well.
When is the best time to fit winter tyres?
It is suggested that one should change to winter tires when the temperature consistently drops below 7 degrees Celsius. Some people use summer tires in winter by reducing air pressure which is dangerous and also illegal in some places because it is the reason for major accidents. The reason being, reduced air pressure does not increase the grip of the tire, on the contrary, it will damage the tread and prematurely wear the tire.
How to change the tyres
It is also necessary to note that all four tires should be changed at the same time and not only the ones on the front or the back as this might cause an imbalance in levels of grip between front and rear tires leading to loss of control over the vehicle and accidents. If only front tires are changed, it increases the chances of skidding under hard acceleration; while if only rear tires are changed then the front ones will have lesser grip, making a front-end skid known as ‘understeering’.
Best time to use
Winter tires should strictly be used only in cold temperature and never in warm weather as they tend to get damaged in hot temperature very quickly. The compound in winter tires starts wearing faster when the temperature increases, resulting in poor grip and less stability while braking and cornering, which further leads to accidents. It is also important to choose the right tires for your vehicle for best performance and better security.
