HOW DO I CHOOSE A WINTER TYRE FOR ME AND MY VEHICLE?
Better tyres at the same cost
In principle, if you choose a winter tyre for winter that has the 3PMSF pictogram in addition to the M+S marking, you've already done a good deal compared to driving on summer tyres. However, in addition to choosing the right size and speed index, there are many other pieces of information and circumstances that make a purchase good or even great.
The decision to buy winter tyres is primarily a personal one, because – taking into account the legislation requiring vehicles and trailers to be equipped with the prescribed winter equipment and properly maintained between 15 November and 15 March of the following year – you can survive winter conditions on the roads even with newer annual tyres.
In Slovenia, "winter equipment" means technically correct winter or summer tyres with a tread depth of at least 3 mm, including chains in the trunk. Only that. However… you don't want to be one of those people rushing to a meeting or to the hospital, or one of those who drive slowly when the roads are covered in snow and ice. In fact, it's enough for the temperature to drop below 7°C for winter tyres to make perfect sense.
Why and how to choose winter tyres?
So it's a legitimate question – what is the key to choosing winter tyres? While some people buy tyres they already have on their car or remain loyal to the manufacturer, others buy exclusively on sale, some look for test winners, others listen to their neighbours, yet others buy second-hand tyres. The best way is to be informed, and this comes from combining the answers to the following questions, knowing yourself as a driver and knowing the vehicle itself. If you think carefully, you might save money and get a better tyre for your needs.
1. BUYING USED TYRES – THE CALCULATION GIVES A CLEAR ANSWER
In principle, buying used tyres initially saves money. But if someone has driven on these tyres for two to five years before you, you have half the use period left. This means that you may indeed pay 50% less for them, but you will also use them for half the time. You won't save any money, but you'll be driving on worse, used tyres all the time. This will affect the performance of your vehicle and, most importantly, you will put your safety, the safety of your loved ones and the safety of other road users at risk.
Worth considering!
The less you pay for a used tyre, the less time you use it because it is in worse condition.
2. WINTER, SUMMER OR WINTER/ALL-SEASON?
You've made your choice – after all, everyone around you deserves you not driving on summer tyres in winter. Then the question is – do you need winter tyres or all-season tyres? There are several correct answers, but just because there is the option of an 'all-season' or 'all-weather' tyre does not mean that the alternative is also the optimal choice. If you live in Piran or Koper, you probably won't think of buying winter tyres, but if you live in the Gorenjska region, summer or all-season tyres are not the right choice in winter. There are the best tyres for warm weather and the best tyres for winter conditions, everything else is a compromise.
Pointing out: There is a distinction to be made between all-season and all-weather tyres, and true winter tyres.
3. LIKE THE DRIVER, LIKE THE TYRE
This is true for several reasons. A conscientious and responsible driver will never drive a car with worn tyres because he/she will not endanger his/her own safety or the safety of others. To choose the right tyre, you need to know yourself as a driver, then the technical characteristics of the vehicle, and the roads you will be driving on.
Important!
Despite having the same dimensions, tyres with different load and speed indices mean completely different performance in practice.
4. TYRE TESTS TELL A LOT, BUT – CAN YOU READ THEM?
What do the tyre tests say? Which are the best? Which ones should I buy? These are the criteria that can be misunderstood from the start. Not always, but often, not because of the tests themselves, but because of the way the tests are read or the way the results are interpreted. The winning tyres are undoubtedly great, but they may not be the best tyres for you.
Good to know!
Besides the fact that the test order applies to a specific dimension, it is important that the test results are fully valid for the type of car the tyres have been tested on. However, the tests are valid.
The right choice of winter tyres is often best left to an expert or sales advisor at your Bartog branch, who will find the best model for your needs.
You will be able to read more about all this and many other interesting articles in the new issue of Bartog INFO magazine, which we are preparing these days and will soon be available in print.