TYRE CHANGE
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND
Your tyres are the only connection between your vehicle and the road, and they play an essential part when it comes to road safety. Therefore, you should make sure that your tyres are not too old or damaged, changing them at least twice a year, according to the season, provided that you drive your car all year round.
SUMMER AND WINTER TYRES
As regards tyre technology, a lot has happened in the past 25 years. Higher mileage, less weight, lower rolling friction and shorter stopping distances have significantly increased comfort and safety in road traffic. However, to enjoy these improvements to the fullest it is necessary to use the tyres according to the season. Tyres that are fit for winter will be recognizable by the “M+S” designation on the side, which stands for Mud and Snow. This designation can however also be found on all-season tyres. Their driving properties, however, fail to match those especially designed for use in winter. In some countries it is mandatory to fit winter tyres during a particular period. In order to find the right time to change your tyres in general, we have compiled a few useful tips for you:
FROM O TO E
From O to E, or more precisely: From October to Easter, winter tyres are generally the right choice for your car. However, when you experience winter conditions such as snow, mud or ice, it’s about time for a tyre change. If you don’t have winter tyres for your car you can use snow chains on summer tyres as an alternative. Get prior information about the legislation in the respective country. If you don’t fit winter tyres in winter conditions, in some countries you may get fined for it.
THE 7-DEGREE RULE
The 7-degree rule helps you orientate more precisely. Summer and winter tyres have different rubber compounds that reach their optimum hardness at different temperatures. While winter tyres are too soft at warm temperatures and exhibit high wear and tear, summer tyres are too hard in winter and prove highly disadvantageous in starting up and braking, especially on wet, icy or snowy roads. That’s why you should bear in mind changing to winter tyres early enough so as not be taken by surprise when the temperatures drop.
HOW LONG CAN YOU USE TYRES?
Irrespective of temperature and weather you must renew your tyres once in a while. That could be due to age, mileage, low tread depth, or simply a damaged tyre. When the tyre has a visible tear, it’s usually a clear sign that you have to get a new one. For other products you should stick to the following legal limits:
TREAD DEPTH
If you travel many kilometres every year, you will see the signs of wear and tear on the decreasing tread depth of your tyres. Legal limits for summer tyres provide a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm and 4 mm for winter tyres. You can check your tyre tread by looking for the treadwear indicators, or by using a slide calliper or folding ruler. Driving with minimum tyre tread increases the risk of aquaplaning. Practical tip: If you don’t have a tool at hand, you can check your tread by using a 1-€ coin. The golden edge has a thickness of 3 mm. If it disappears in the tread you can continue to ride your tyres without worries.
TYRE AGE
If you don’t use your car much, the age of the tyres is decisive for a possible tyre change. Manufacturers specify different service lives for their tyres. After four seasons in use no safety-related limitations are to be expected. After the fifth season, a tyre’s ability to grip the road in wet and snowy conditions may decrease and the braking performance may suffer, too. In any case, you should avoid using your tyres for more than sixth seasons and consider a tyre change. You can check the age of your tyres by looking for a four-digit number on the side of your tyres. The first two numbers indicate the calendar week while the latter show the calendar year.
TYRE PRESSURE
Tyre pressure influences both a car’s driving properties and the service life of a tyre. A tyre pressure below the optimum pressure of 0.4 bar increases fuel consumption by roughly 2%, decreasing service life by 30%. At levels below 0.6 bar service life decreases by as much as 45%. So, always make sure that your tyres have the right amount of air. You will find the relevant specifications inside the petrol cap or the car manual.
STORAGE
So, you have fitted new tyres. But what happens to the old ones now? Storage also plays an important role in the durability of tyres. Ideally, tyres are stored at 15-25 degrees Celsius in a dry, dark place. Don’t just place them on the floor and avoid stacking them on top of each other. In the best case, the wheels are stacked on so-called wheel trees, with the rims and not the rubber resting on them.