With the arrival of winterdepending on how severe the temperatures are depending on the region in which we drive, “we should consider what type of tire is safer: winter or all weather”, warn from ‘Choose quality, choose trust’ (ECEC), an initiative of Sernauto in which around twenty component manufacturers work for road safety.
Although, the Winter tires are recommended in areas with harsh winters, “what would be the most advisable thing in a country like Spain, where winters are milder than in countries like, for example, those in Eastern Europe?”, ECEC asks. To analyze this issue, the initiative reviews the main differences between both types of tires.
Regarding the composition of the rubber, the winter tires They are made with a compound of softer rubber which maintains its flexibility at low temperatures. This helps improve traction on cold and snowy roads. For their part, the all season tires or all season have a compound of harder rubber and are designed to offer a balanced performance in a variety of weather conditions, both winter and summer. However, this type of tire may not be as effective in extreme winter conditions.
Regarding the design of the treadwinter tires usually have a design with deeper grooves and more aggressive patterns to provide improved traction on snow and ice. Meanwhile, the tread design of all-season vehicles seeks a balance between traction in winter conditions and acceptable performance in summer conditions, so they can have shallower grooves and a less aggressive design.
In terms of winter performance, winter tires offer a superior performance in winter conditions, especially in snow and ice, being the most suitable option for regions with harsh winters. For their part, all-season tires are a more versatile option, which performs acceptably in a variety of conditions, but may not match the performance of winter tires in extreme winter conditions.
“In this sense, in our country, in the regions with harsher winters, the most advisable thing would be to equip our vehicle with winter tires,” they point out from ECEC, and explain that “to guarantee optimal performance, winter tires are designed specifically for face cold temperatures, snow and ice, providing improved traction and grip in these conditions.”
For the initiative, winter tires offer a good balance between traction, handling and braking in adverse winter conditions. “However, let us keep in mind that exact conditions may vary by region and altitude, so it is also important adjust tire pressure and drive with caution in extreme weather conditions.”
And in the areas of Spain where winters are milder?
In areas of Spain where winters are milder, with less snowfall and frost, the initiative recommends opting for all season tires. These tires are designed to perform better in winter conditions than summer tires, but do not match the traction level of winter tires.
This type of tires, which we could call ‘intermediates’, “incorporate the M+S label and the 3PMSF winter pictogram, which confirms the approval as a winter tire,” ECEC explains. “Thus, the driver can dispense with mounting the chains when passing through snowy areas or mountain passes,” they add.
Given the changes in temperature that we experience in our country, with summers that touch or exceed 40ºC and winters in which it is common to drop below 0ºC, it is even more important to have tires that offer safety 365 days a year. “In this way, we avoid having to change the game twice a year, with what this implies both in economic and energy terms,” they conclude from the initiative.
Likewise, ECEC reminds that road safety is paramount, especially in winter conditions. “In addition to choosing suitable winter tires, it is essential drive carefullykeep a safe speed and respect the traffic rules at all times, especially when weather conditions are complicated,” they add.
2023-12-21 18:03:02
#type #tire #safer #arrival #winter
