Dozens of sizes, hundreds of manufacturers, thousands of models: the range of tires is large and confusing. But the right seasonal tire can be found in seven steps.
The temperatures are still quite mild. But winter is coming. So it's time to deal with changing tires. And some questions to clarify.
Do I need new winter tires?
Tires should be changed at the latest if they are more than ten years old or too worn. Even if the legislature requires at least 1,6 millimeters of residual profile, experts recommend replacing winter tires from 4 millimeters or after six years. Often the tires on the drive wheels run down faster than those on the other axle. Then it is enough to just change these. Ideally against tires of the same type. Even if mixed tires are generally permitted, tires with very different tires are not recommended, as the driving behavior can change.
How do I know the right tires for the winter?
Tires suitable for winter can be recognized by the snowflake symbol on the tire flank. The “Three Mountain Snow Flake” logo shows a mountain with three peaks, framed by a snowflake. According to tire manufacturer Michelin, the "M + S" symbol (mud and snow) alone is no longer sufficient since January 1, 2018. In general, winter tires differ from the summer collection primarily through a softer rubber compound and - recognizable at a glance - the sawtooth-like sipes in the tread. These cling to the snow and ensure good traction.
Do all-season tires also do it?
All-season tires are a compromise between summer and winter tires, they do well in every season, but are never great. They are suitable, for example, for flat areas with a milder climate and for vehicles that are primarily used in well-cleared cities. The advantage is the time and money savings, as there is no need to change twice a year. Disadvantage: On snow-covered roads, the tires reach their limits much faster than real winter tires.
Which tire sizes are allowed?
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 "Registration Certificate Part I", which has been used since 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) supplied with the new vehicle. The list is not exhaustive, however, 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 allowed sizes do I take?
Most of the time, the bigger the rims and the wider the tires, the better they look on 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.
Which brand or product exactly am I buying?
It is generally not advisable to use extremely cheap tires, mostly imported from China. They always do particularly poorly when testing auto clubs and magazines. The test winners usually include tires from the major premium brands Michelin, Continental, Goodyear-Dunlop and Pirelli. But if you want to spend less money, you don't do badly with brand manufacturers from the second row. In addition, many premium manufacturers have inexpensive subsidiary brands in their range that do not always offer the very latest technology, but do offer solid properties. The final choice also depends on your own driving profile: If you are on the road a lot and like to do sport, you shouldn't save on buying tires. 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 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.
Photo: Michelin