If the old summer tire is still on the rim, the change can usually be done quickly. But that is not always the case.
Most cars have their tires changed twice a year. Even if a large part of the car owners should have routine: One or the other question arises again and again. A couple of answers.
When is the time to switch?
A rule of thumb for periodic tire changes is that summer tires should be used from Easter to October. Because the holiday falls on a different date every year, the exchange should be made dependent on the weather conditions: If there is no frost in sight and the temperatures are continuously positive, it is advisable to switch to summer tires earlier. On the contrary, if you have to reckon with freezing temperatures, you'd better wait a little.
Who will make the change?
If the summer tires are stored on rims in the garage, you can change them yourself with the right tools and a little manual skills. If you don't feel like it or just don't feel like it, you should make an appointment in the workshop early on, because there are usually bottlenecks at the wedding. Due to the corona pandemic, you should also inquire at your workshop whether it is open as usual. In addition, many workshops have adapted their service processes to increased hygiene measures. This can also lead to delays in appointments.
When do I need brand new tires?
As a rule, when changing tires, you can fall back on the tires from the previous year. However, not if these are older than ten years or too worn out. Even if the legislature requires at least 1,6 millimeters of residual profile, experts recommend changing summer tires as early as three millimeters; for winter tires, four millimeters is the lower limit. Often the tires on the drive wheels run down faster. Then it is enough to just change these. It is best to use tires of the same type again. Mixed tires are generally allowed as long as you don't mix radial and diagonal tires. However, since the diagonal design is only suitable for classic cars, this is a rather theoretical problem. Nevertheless, tires with very different tires are not recommended, as the driving behavior can change.
Which tire sizes are suitable for my car?
Owners of an old “vehicle registration certificate” will find the permissible standard dimensions under numbers 20 and 21 or 22 and 23. Additional sizes are often listed in field 33 under “Comments”. It becomes more complicated when the two-part “Registration Certificate Part I” introduced in 2005 replaces the vehicle registration document in one's own car. Only the smallest permissible size is given there. The remaining dimensions can be found in the EU declaration of conformity (also called COC paper) that is supplied with the new vehicle. However, the list is not exhaustive either, depending on the axle load and maximum speed, other dimensions are also permitted. The best thing to do here is to ask the specialist. Alternatively, the major tire manufacturers offer search engines on their websites that determine the right tires based on the vehicle data.
Which of the permitted sizes should I choose?
Most of the time, the bigger the rims and the wider the tires, the better they suit the car. At the same time, the price rises sharply with more diameter and contact area. In addition to their looks, wide tires offer other advantages: at least they brake better on dry roads. And cornering stability also increases. However, wide tires are more prone to aquaplaning and increase fuel consumption. At the same time, they offer less suspension comfort. In the end, the choice depends primarily on taste and budget.
Is it better to buy premium or cheap tires?
As a rule, it is not advisable to use extremely cheap tires, mostly imported from China. When tested by auto clubs and magazines, they always do particularly poorly. The winners mostly include tires from the major premium brands Continental, Michelin, Goodyear-Dunlop, Pirelli and Co. Those who want to spend less money do not fare worse with brand manufacturers from the second row. In addition, many premium manufacturers have inexpensive subsidiary brands in their range (Continental / Uniroyal or Goodyear / Fulda), which do not always offer the very latest technology, but offer solid food. The final choice also depends on your own driving profile: If you are on the road a lot and like to do sports, you shouldn't save on buying tires, of all things. Anyone who is only occasionally out and about in the city certainly doesn't need the latest high-tech model.
Where do I buy my tires?
Tires are now almost everywhere: in car dealerships, at tire dealers, on the Internet and in hardware stores. The latter source is particularly cheap, but there are often those cheap tires from China that are not recommended. Such problem tires are also often offered on the Internet. However, there are also numerous reputable special sites for buying tires. Many of them also have workshop partners on site who do the assembly. If you only buy the bare tire, you still have to have it pulled onto the rim and balanced by a specialist. Apparently cheap offers from the hardware store or Ebay are then quickly put into perspective, because the fitter at home often charges higher prices in such cases than if the tires were bought directly from him. You should also think about the disposal of used tires when buying; Specialist companies usually do this for their customers.
What should you watch out for after the change?
If you have new tires on the axles, you should first run them in carefully. Not only because they may react a little differently than the specimens used previously. But also because they don't have full grip yet. When tires come out of the factory, they are extremely slippery because they are sprayed with a silicone-like release agent when they are vulcanized. This ensures that the finished tires do not stick to their shape - but also leads to less grip on asphalt. The coating only disappears after 200 to 300 kilometers, and the tire surface is slightly roughened and then grips better.
What to do with the winter tires?
The best places to spend the summer are basements or garages. If the tires are on a rim, it is best to store them on top of each other. In the accessories trade, wall brackets or rim trees are also offered that keep the wheels stable in position. Before storage, the air pressure should be increased by 0,5 bar compared to the manufacturer's specifications in order to compensate for the pressure loss during storage. If the tires are stored without rims, they must be leaned vertically against the wall. It is often advised to twist the rubbers a little every few months; however, the effect is small in the case of short storage times. In any case, however, care must be taken that the rubber does not come into contact with oil, solvents or other dirt. The tire is also badly affected by strong sunlight or heat. If you don't have space at home, you can also store the tires at dealerships or car workshops. However, this can be expensive for non-customers. It is often cheaper to have the tire changed there too.
