Come winter, was the first snow. The fields were already covered with snow, and on country roads formed snow subfloor. Soon the city roads will be covered with snow, so many drivers in a hurry shod cars in winter tires.
Frequently asked question: "Is it worth it to do it?" The mandatory use of winter tires, still under discussion, the streets clean of snow in winter. Maybe it's better to save money, because winter tires is not cheap?
Spend? Not to spend?
The answer is simple - you can not save on safety. Today, the majority of motorists using winter tires. Car on summer tires in the traffic becomes doubly dangerous - its stopping distance is much larger than the others. Implications are clear.
Still, some drivers are trying to save one way or another. The most common of them - set of winter rubber only on one axis of the vehicle. The logic is clear - a car with winter tires on the drive axle will not slip when starting and growing. On the safety of just not thinking. But such a car can often be more dangerous than wrapped in summer tires.
Four better of the two
Let's see how can behave on the road front wheel drive car with winter tires on front wheels. Passenger car brake systems provide more efficient braking the front wheels. Front axle is usually more loaded, and when braking and even add to the load at the "peck". Like, the installation of winter tires on the front axle should improve braking properties.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true - braking properties deteriorate. Summer tires rear wheels have the worst traction. When braking, they will be blocked earlier than the front. It has long been known that premature lock the rear wheels causing a skid car. Each more or less intense inhibition will be accompanied by drift.
Remedy the situation easily enough to add gas, leading to the front wheels "pulled" the car from skidding. But you have to brake when the front obstacle. The choice is small - or continue to stall, waiting for the impact of cars in the adjacent row, or adding gas and hit an obstacle. In both cases, the impact is much block the "savings" on the cost of two winter tires.
No less dangerous for such a car and driving in a turn. Rear wheels lose traction before the front, sending the car into a skid. The addition of gas does not always fix the situation. While the front wheels maintain traction, the speed increases, causing an increase in centrifugal forces acting on the car. Centrifugal force keeps slipping out the rear wheels, which have already lost their grip.
It does not help and the gas discharge - the front wheels begin to slow down the car and the rear axle is trying to "jump ahead", increasing oversteer.
To rear wheel drive car picture is somewhat different. Winter tires on the rear axle prevent premature rear wheel lock and skidding when braking. But braking is not great - the front wheels begin to slip with a slight deceleration, the vehicle becomes uncontrollable.
Even worse cornering. Rear wheels continue to push the car forward when the front is no longer cling to the road surface. It only remains to throw gas and hope that you can not stand on the curb.
Dear - economical
The conclusion is straightforward - winter tires should be on all four wheels. What tires to put - spike or "Velcro" (winter tires without studs) - depends on you.
And they both provide adequate traction on slippery winter roads. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Spike tires are usually better on the bare ice, but can play on the road with a soft, powdery snow. "Velcro" well behaved on the compacted snow road. And where the road free of ice and snow, they may be preferable. It all depends on the conditions under which you operate your car.
As for the choice of winter tires for the price - the word for you. But remember that the cheapest tires - not always the best choice. Of course, even the cheapest winter tires for traction on winter road is always better than summer.
Almost all winter tires from among the cheap have increased rolling resistance and noise level. With all the noise can be tolerated, but high rolling resistance is accompanied by increased fuel consumption. The difference with the summer tires can reach 0,8 - 1,0 liter of fuel for every hundred kilometers. Substantial correction to the lowest price!
Old age - no joy
Over time, any tire is aging. Under the influence of temperature and sunlight rubber compound becomes more solid, and grip the tire deteriorate.
In the summer tires deterioration of grip is not so much - their protector was originally made of harder rubber compounds. Another thing - winter tires.
To ensure good traction on slippery roads they tread is made of soft mixtures. Numerous small slits in the drafts (lamellae) provide mobility pieces, allowing them to securely cling to the road surface.
As the "aging" of the rubber hardens, checkers become less mobile. The result - a marked deterioration in coupling properties tires on slippery winter roads. Especially it concerns the "sticky", but significantly and spike tires. After all, a reliable "content" of the road is ensured not only the thorns, but the elements of the tread.
The first two winter seasons of problems usually arise. On the third season of change in the behavior of tires has become noticeable, but not yet catastrophic. After the fourth - fifth season tires may be just dangerous. Velcro stalled and slide on the turns as well as summer tires. Spike tires more effectively work on the solid ice surface, but are often powerless in the compacted snow.
What do you do? After the tire is almost worn out, and the mileage they have not yet great. Unfortunately, with these tires is better to leave. With each season, they will "keep the road" from bad to worse, creating a serious danger for you. Miser pays twice!
Failure to use old tires and buy new exactly will "save" - ??for repair in case of an accident will have to spend much more, and life and health of you and your family in general is invaluable.
