Winter tyres: from retreaded to studded. Which is better?

Current affairs for motorists during the cold season: the ban on the use of studded winter tires has been canceled and what to choose for next winter?

A duel between new and used

Every time the cooler autumn days remind not only pedestrians, but also motorists of the approaching winter season. For motorists it starts a little earlier than the winter calendar.

There is just over a month left until November 10th, when the ban on the circulation of cars with summer tires will come into force (until March 31st). It is necessary to replace them with winter or universal ones.

Specialists evaluate the latter quite skeptically and define them as unsuitable for any time of the year. However, for now, most people choose them. It is said that this way you can save not only on the purchase of tires. There is no need to waste time and queue in wheel assembly and balancing workshops. As we know, just before November 10th, drivers are forced to spend several hours in the workshop.

Statistically, almost three in ten car owners choose universal tires to avoid the puzzle of which shoe to buy for their vehicle in one season or another.

Tire experts (especially retailers) unanimously agree that used or retreaded tires, although many times cheaper, are unreliable and even dangerous. Some of them are worn and have lost their good properties, while the rubber compound of others is too hard, so they will lose grip on the road surface on a slippery road.

Although owners of thinner wallets who have tried them claim the opposite and say that the most important thing is to choose the right ones.

For all tastes

Which tires to pay attention to is a question that is quite difficult to answer even for experienced driving brothers. New products appear on the market every year. Much depends on weather and road conditions, as it determines which tire compound – hard, medium or soft – will be most suitable.

As a result, some of them are more suitable for driving on snowy or sleet-covered roads, while others will reveal their good qualities on icy roads. It should be remembered that not very cold winters have prevailed in Lithuania for several consecutive years and that the weather forecast does not predict any more winters.

Perhaps the most important factor is the tire’s tread design, which ensures a safe, quiet and comfortable ride. This is also influenced by the height and width of the tyres.

The common motorist is still very mistaken in thinking that tires marked with the letter combination “M+S” are so-called semi-seasonal and useless. Tires with soft or hard rubber compound intended for winter roads are also marked this way. To make sure you’re looking at a cold-weather product, take a closer look at the imprints on the side of the tire next to the “M+S” symbols. A triangular iceberg with a snowflake in the center definitely tells you that it is a real winter tire.

Thorns were and will be

A week ago, the government approved the changes to the highway code initiated and repeatedly presented by the Minister of Transport Eligijus Masiulis. One of the most significant updates to the legislation concerns the cancellation of the ban on the use of studded tires in the winter season.

Already last year, the Highway Code provided for a ban, starting from 10 April 2011, on circulating vehicles equipped with studded tyres. This caused a lot of discussion in society. Lower-income drivers resented not being able to afford high-end winter tires, so they were more likely to buy studded ones. Politicians considered that such a decision was inevitable, because the goal is to protect the roads and tire studs cause serious damage to them.

The current head of the Ministry of Transport listened to the opinion of the drivers. According to E.Masiulis, the mentioned point of the rules was deleted mainly to protect human life and not to protect the road surface. Furthermore, the decision is based on international experience. In the winter season, studded tires are not prohibited in the Scandinavian countries, Estonia, France, Austria, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Iceland.

“We have changed this provision after listening to comments from experts and drivers. I am convinced that road traffic rules should first and foremost serve road safety, so not economic considerations, but human health and life must be the most important topic when making decisions related to traffic safety on the roads,” Communications Minister E. Masiulis told the newspaper.

Several customer reviews

After visiting the Aleksot market in Kaunas, the restored tire markets lined up next to each other showed that many motorists are still attracted by the second life of wheel shoes. Undecided drivers are lured into their regular dealer with the traditional phrase: “German quality! If it’s defective or something else is wrong, bring it in and we’ll replace it.” Indeed, when purchasing these tires, sellers issue a one-year warranty.

“I know their quality. After mounting these tires, the wheels become “square”. On the surface these tires look really nice, but when you put them on the rim and try to balance the wheel, sometimes even the workshop masters run out of weights. There are really a lot of them – sometimes even few out of four purchased tires,” said driver Artūras about his bitter experience when buying restored tires abroad.

After listening to the discussion, another driver walking through the market expressed a different opinion. He said that he is not afraid of restored products, because they are much cheaper than original tires and in terms of durability they are not inferior to the latter, sometimes even surpassing them.

“I don’t need to run like crazy. I drive smart and everything is fine, the tread does not come off or have any other problems. I have bought sets of both winter and summer tires. I have been doing this for many years and every time I am happy to save money,” Jonas praised his purchases and added that he always recommends reconditioned tires to his friends.

Praise the quality of the people of Kaunas

Somewhat unexpectedly, craftsmen working in the capital’s Gariūnai market responded about the restored tires sold in Kaunas. They said that tires restored abroad are often defective, so they must be chosen very carefully. This rule is said to apply to tires restored in Poland or Germany. Meanwhile, the restoration workshops operating in Kaunas are famous for their exceptional quality.

Vitalijus from Vilnius, who works at the Gariūnai market, one of the many wheel fitting and balancing workshops, saw the restored tires brought to him and immediately thought: “The tread is like a good winter tyre. It looks very similar to the Nokian.” You probably bought off the market? The machine proves that the tire is made perfectly. This kind of quality is really not characteristic of those sold on the market.”

The interviewee said that he heard from his colleagues nearby that in Kaunas there is a factory that does not advertise too much and that restores tires really reliably. Holding a quality product in his hand, he guessed that it most likely came from there.

Tips for drivers

When the air temperature drops below 7 degrees, the rubber of summer tires hardens and no longer guarantees reliable contact with the road surface, so manufacturers recommend not taking risks and replacing them with winter tyres.

Unlike summer tires, winter tires should not be too wide. This will increase the car’s mileage and provide better control on the road.

Tires that are too soft make it harder for the vehicle to roll: the lower the tire pressure, the more the engine has to work to keep the car moving. It is good practice to check tire pressure at least once a month and it is advisable when the tires have not yet warmed up. By following the manufacturer’s tire pressure recommendations, fuel consumption can be reduced by 2-3%.

Winter (and summer) tires last about 40-80 thousand. mileage. In winter, they usually drive about 10 thousand. km, last 4-6 years. When the tread of these tires wears out and its depth is only 3-4 mm, it is advisable to use them only in summer, because in winter they will be ineffective.

Studded tires “work” much more efficiently on ice and broken snow. If you drive mainly on clean asphalt roads, they lose their advantage: the tips make more noise, slip longer when braking, 4-8%. increases fuel consumption and causes more damage to the road surface.

After purchasing studded tires, it is recommended to drive more carefully for the first thousand kilometers, until the studs settle into their places. When using such tires, do not forget to attach a sticker informing you of this.

The Highway Code does not specify that winter tires must be installed only on the drive axle of the car. Therefore, drivers who try to save their own safety and the safety of others in this way run the risk of not receiving insurance payment in the event of an accident or simply being punished by police officers who stopped them on the road.