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Cold weather has settled irrevocably in the European part of Russia. According to the forecast of the North-Western Department of Roshydromet, in the next three days in St. Petersburg the air temperature during the day will fluctuate from +2 to +4 degrees, and frosts down to -2 degrees are possible at night. Light precipitation in the form of rain and sleet is expected, and icy conditions may appear on the roads in some places at night and in the morning. So for motorists wondering whether the time has come to change their tires to winter ones, or whether they can wait a little longer, a clear signal sounded: “now is definitely the time!”
© meteo.nw.ru
Tinsmith’s Day? I’m not celebrating!
Even if it seems that you know all the vagaries of the St. Petersburg weather, you should not delay replacing tires. Finding yourself on summer tires on asphalt covered with a crust of ice due to a sudden overnight frost is a nightmare even for an experienced driver. Nevertheless, the statistics of road accidents show that careless people are not transferred, and it is unlikely that anyone can remember a year in which the notorious “tinsmith’s day” did not occur—massive accidents caused by a sharp deterioration in the weather.
In the EMERCOM memo for motorists, the three main danger factors of using summer tires in winter are the risk of the car leaving the road due to a skid, an increase in braking distance and an increase in the likelihood of the car overturning. But for those who promptly changed their wheels from summer to winter, this will allow them not only to confidently cope with surprises on the roads, but also to save money, and most importantly, health and even, perhaps, life.
Helpful tip: When preparing your car for winter, check the tire wear. At the same time, we must remember that while summer tires must have a tread height of at least 1.6 mm, then for winter tires the rules are stricter – they must have at least 4 mm remaining. It would also be a good idea to fill the washer reservoir with antifreeze liquid – as they say, “so as not to get up twice.”
New season with new penalties
This fall, an important change appeared in the rules for motorists in Russia, which was discussed a lot in previous years. Came into force on September 1 Russian government decreeaccording to which drivers can be fined if a vehicle of categories M1 and N1 (passenger cars and trucks with a gross weight of not more than 3.5 tons) does not have season-appropriate tires installed.
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It is worth noting that since three calendar months are officially considered the “winter period” – December, January and February, traffic police officers will have the right to fine for summer tires only from December 1 of this year.
“Punished in rubles” will be according to the well-known article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (“driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited”), the fine for which is 500 rubles. The driver will be fined for the same amount if winter tires (including studded ones) are not installed on all four wheels.
What about Velcro?
Winter non-studded tires, colloquially called “Velcro” (although their scientific name is “friction”), can be used all year round in Russia. This explanation was made by the head of the main department for ensuring road safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Mikhail Chernikov.
“Sticky rubber can be used at any time. There are no questions for her,” he said at a briefing in early September. True, when moving on Velcro in the summer, it wears out a lot, so its use only makes sense in winter.
It is worth noting that the technical regulations of the Customs Union, of which Russia is a member, have long spelled out the rule according to which in winter it is allowed to install both studded and Velcro tires on a car. The main thing is that the tires are marked “M+S”, “M&S” or “MS”.
© Photo by Rosbalt news agency
Send the wheels to “stay”
Although many car enthusiasts prefer to change tires themselves, especially if they have assembled wheels, this is a rather responsible procedure, and for those who do not have the necessary experience, it is still better to entrust it to professionals. Especially if related repairs and balancing are needed.
Prices for tire fitting in St. Petersburg, which Rosbalt reviewed, start at approximately 1,600 rubles for removing/installing a set of four R13 wheels and increase depending on the radius. In addition, you will have to pay extra if the tires have a low profile or have run-flat sensors. Additionally, wheel washing (about 150 rubles per set) and recycling of unnecessary tires (from 200 rubles per piece) are available.
Those who are afraid of getting stuck in line during the “hot season” can find a service with online registration. Or use the on-site tire fitting service (this plus about another 1,500 rubles to the total price).
At the same time, the service of seasonal tire storage is gaining increasing popularity. There are several advantages here. First of all, wheels will no longer take up space in the utility room or on the balcony. In addition, the tires will be guarded, in a fire-insured room and in compliance with all storage rules.
These “tire hotels” usually offer a full range of tire fitting services, and when you pick up your wheels, they will be given to you clean and in branded bags. The cost of storage for a period of six months is approximately 700 rubles per tire and 800 rubles per complete wheel.
The assortment has become smaller, but there is no shortage
Despite the difficult situation with auto parts caused by sanctions and the departure of Western car and component manufacturers, there is no shortage of tires on the market. Yes, the assortment is being reduced, but the level of supply can be maintained both through domestic production and parallel imports. Companies from China are actively increasing export supplies, which have already occupied about 12% of the Russian tire market.
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In Russia itself there are several large factories – Yaroslavl Tire Plant (Cordiant brand), Omskshina (TyRex brand), Nizhnekamskshina (Kama, Viatti brands), Altai Tire Plant (Nortec brand), Voltair-Prom JSC and others .
The plant of the German company Continental in the Kaluga region this spring was acquired by the S8 Capital holding, which intends to rebrand and restart production. The same holding showed interest in the Bridgestone plant in the Ulyanovsk region. The plant of the Japanese company Yokohama in the Lipetsk region, after a forced suspension in August last year due to difficulties with logistics, resumed work. The factories of the Italian company Pirelli in the Voronezh and Kirov regions have not gone anywhere, and the French Michelin sold its plant in the Moscow region to the distributor Power International Tires.
As for the former plant of the Finnish company Nokian Tires in Vsevolozhsk, Leningrad region, it was acquired by the Tatneft company, which decided to produce tires there under the Ikon Tires brand.
What about the prices?
The cheapest new winter tire of size 195/65 R15, made in Russia, can be found in St. Petersburg at a price of just over 4,000 rubles. Imported tires are significantly more expensive, especially when it comes to rare sizes.
In general, the weighted average cost of studded winter tires over the year increased by 14% (to 6,650 rubles), while non-studded tires increased in price by 8% (to 6,180 rubles). At the same time, at the end of 2022, sales of all-season and winter tires in the Russian Federation decreased by 14% to 4.2 million units (data from CRPT).
In August of this year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation reported that the production of winter tires is carried out in the summer, so their production has actually been completed. Noting that the most popular budget segment of winter tires is represented by brands of domestic or localized manufacturers in Russia, the ministry assured that neither the weakening of the ruble nor the rise in prices for imported natural rubber will have a significant impact on the cost of tires.
© honestznak.rf
Check tires using QR code
Car tires are included in the list of goods subject to mandatory labeling. From March 1, 2021, manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retail stores selling tires must put on them a QR code with information about the expiration date, composition, manufacturer and country of origin, registered in the state system “Honest Sign”. This confirms the quality and safety of the product.
According to online monitoring of the “Honest Sign” system, the marking is already used by more than 30 thousand legal entities and individual entrepreneurs involved in the turnover of automobile tires.
You can learn more about this system and download the application for checking goods labeled “Honest Mark” using this link.
In addition, last Friday the Russian government approved a decision making it possible to verify the authenticity of goods using the State Services portal, which will exchange information with the Honest Sign system. To check the product, you need to press the “Goscan” button in the “State Services” application and point your smartphone camera at the OR code on the package.
Mikhail Makarov
#Change #shoes #fly #time #winter #wheels #Petersburg
2023-10-23 12:16:00
