Are you considering using winter tires during the summer months?
Perhaps you’re curious about the implications of such a decision. If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll address your questions and delve into the differences between winter and summer tires.
If you’re finding this information valuable, stick around until the end. You’re in for a comprehensive exploration of the topic. Let’s dive in.
Can we use winter tyres in summer season?
The question often arises: Is it safe to use winter tires in the summer?
It’s essential to recognize that every component of a tire is engineered with a specific purpose in mind. Using winter tires during the summer isn’t recommended for several reasons. Winter tires are crafted with a specialized rubber compound designed to remain soft and pliable in cold temperatures, providing optimal traction on snowy and icy roads.
During warmer months, however, this soft rubber compound can become too malleable, compromising the tire’s performance. While winter tires excel in providing traction and stability in wintry conditions, they may struggle to deliver the same level of performance on dry or wet summer roads.
Furthermore, the unique features of winter tires, such as their deep tread patterns and specialized handling capabilities, are tailored to snow and ice. In summer conditions, these features may not only prove less effective but could also lead to reduced handling and braking capabilities.
In essence, the soft rubber compound of winter tires, designed to grip icy surfaces, can become a liability on warmer roads, potentially compromising safety and performance. Therefore, it’s generally advisable to switch to summer tires when the weather warms up, ensuring optimal performance and safety on the road.
Reasons that you shouldn’t use winter tires in summer
Here are a few reasons that will strongly agree with you that you shouldn’t use winter tires in the summer season and switch them with the right option;
- Warm Roads
Winter tires are made of a soft rubber and thread compound. This thread compound doesn’t set well on warm roads and loosens up when the temperature gets higher than 7 degrees Celsius. The life of winter tires will reduce to 60% if you use them in the wrong way.
- Fuel economy
If you use winter tires in summer then you should remember that the rolling resistance of winter tires on warm roads is quite more than summer or other tires. The logic behind this is that winter tires have a soft rubber compound that changes its shape more often.
That’s why you need to pay more for fuel. Not only this but getting more fuel in your vehicle emits more amount of carbon dioxide and also makes your journey less comfortable by producing noise.
- Handling and safety
The use of winter tires in the summer season will not provide you with enough safety conditions. The winter tires need stopping distance in the summer season so you cannot apply brakes directly nor take sudden turns.
Some of the research proves that the use of winter tires in the summer season increases the braking distance by 10 % on dry and 26 % on wet roads.
How long can you drive on winter tires in the summer
The longevity of winter tires cannot be described in digits. There is no perfect ratio of it as it depends on various factors including temperature, tire maintenance, and condition of the road. If all the conditions are okay then these winter tires can perform well for a few thousand miles.
If any of the conditions are damaged then the tires will not perform well and end up in difficult driving. Make sure to check all the things properly before going to start your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Following are some questions that are mostly asked about how long you can drive on winter tires in the summer;
Is it illegal to have winter tires in summer?
No, it is not illegal to have winter tires in summer. However, it is not recommended to use winter tires in the summer season as they are not designed for it. Winter tires may get damaged faster in the summer season and may provide you with many safety risks as well.
Do winter tires work on black ice?
Winter tires are designed to work well on snow or ice. So it is a complete yes that winter tires work on black ice. Not only this but the special rubber compound of these winter tires provides a better grip and reduces the risks of skidding on icy surfaces.
How many km do winter tires last?
The lifetime of your winter tires depends on the way you use them and how much maintenance you do. Generally, winter tires last to 40,000 to 80,000 km which can be increased or decreased by considering your maintenance factor.
The bottom Line
That’s all about this reading. I hope you enjoyed this reading and are happy to learn about the details of winter tires. Remember that if you are using your winter tires in the summer season inspect the tires properly daily.
Daily inspection with proper maintenance will provide you with a safe drive but don’t go on a log journey with your winter tires in summer. This may throw you in hassle while driving or you may lose the grip. Change the tires when the season arrives. So be focused, and fully aware, and enjoy driving with your favorite tires.