For most drivers the question of "change one's shoes" or not has been resolved: in the winter - only for winter tires!
Especially in light of recent allegations that an aggravating circumstance in the crash will be that one of the participants used the summer tires ... But there are those who are still wavering: the winter we like is not very severe, and roads in the city clean. However, there is another category of people - those who understand the need to "change shoes", but been listening to so many tales about winter tires that just do not know what to do! Scatter some of these myths.
Myth number 1
Studded tires - the panacea for all winter troubles. This is not the case. No studded tires, even the eminent manufacturer, does not guarantee safety on the winter road, if the driver does not comply with speed limits and traffic regulations. Studded tires have an advantage in grip as compared to non-studded only on compacted snow or ice. If the roads on which to ride in the winter, clean and sprinkled with salt, and the wheels all winter asphalt or "porridge", studded tires are unlikely to show its worth.
Myth number 2
In the winter you can do all-season tires. This is not the case. Universal tire, suitable for all weather conditions do not exist. All season tires - a trade-off of summer and winter tire properties. The tread pattern is all-season tires (compared with winter) is less sparse, has a smaller number of lamellae and depth, not a soft rubber compound. These tires provide a fairly good grip on dry and wet pavement, a good level of comfort and efficiency. But demand from them high cross in fresh snow, good traction properties on ice and compacted snow, it is not necessary. Braking efficiency, stability and control all-season tires on the winter road averages. Winter tires also designed to operate at lower temperatures, mud, snow and ice. Traction in the snow of winter tires on 25% higher than the clutch all season. Coupling properties of studded tires on ice is 40% better than the season.
Myth number 3
Car-wheel-drive SUV, and a different class winter tires are not needed. This is not the case. Four-wheel drive does not provide traction on ice and snow, if the vehicle is equipped with summer tires. Especially under braking, when a large difference in the construction of the drive there. Behavior-wheel drive vehicle on slippery winter roads is less predictable than monoprivodnogo, therefore, to improve security and better handling car with a 4x4 to put winter tires on it should be.
Myth number 4
The larger and wider than snow tires, the better. This is not the case. With increasing dimension of summer tires (do not drive!) Car, indeed, in many cases, gets a slight edge in handling and directional stability. As for winter tires, the performance improvement when changing their size when driving on asphalt, not at all, when driving on ice and compacted snow, they are insignificant, and in fresh snow and wet pavement wide tires, by contrast, are more prone to aqua ¬ planning than narrow . On the deep snow wide tires "float", and the tread lugs can not reliably cling road surface to ensure good traction.
Myth number 5
Studded tires less friction ("sticky"). Variant of the myth: frictional worse studded tires. This is not the case. Every tire is good in its own way. Winter tires without studs easier, last longer, have less rolling resistance than a spike, and in most cases provide a good grip. Have good performance on noise, efficiency and controllability, uniform grip on all types of winter roads. Studded tires have an advantage over non-studded on the stopping distance on ice - 20 to 50%, in the snow - from 5 to 10%. On asphalt the same stopping distance car with spike "could increase to 5%. When starting and accelerating the ice tires win up to 30%, in the snow - up to 10%. Therefore, when choosing winter tires, it is important to decide on what roads would have to ride in the winter most of the time, and set the appropriate tires.
Myth № 6
Winter tires are expensive. This is partly true. Reasons for such high-value winter tires a few - an increase in Belarus, the vehicle fleet in recent years, the lack of local Tireses in various sizes, as well as distrust of citizens to domestic products, hard customs control over the import of illegal tires, high customs fees associated with a protective effect in for domestic producers, and the fall of the dollar against the euro. However, winter tires may be one of the bargains that you do for your car. Using winter tires, you thereby extends the life of a summer tire. Winter tires are much longer than the summer (average of 3-4 seasons), because operated during the cold season and at lower speeds.
Myth № 7
Winter tires can be placed only on the driving axle. This is not the case. All tires must be winter, regardless of the drive, preferably the same. If you install winter tires only on the front wheels, the car will gain oversteer, and the risk of failure of the rear axle into a skid increase several times. If only the rear tires will be winter, it will increase the stopping distance car (after all, when braking around 70% efficiency provides just the front wheels). Also increase the risk of failure in front axle slip, which is terrible skid back, because dealing with it much more difficult.
Myth number 8
The high-speed winter tires do not behave very well. This is not the case. Modern winter tires offer a high level of controllability at all speeds. Speed ??characteristics of winter tires for high speeds in the last five to ten years has greatly improved. The index of the rate indicated on the tire letters. For example, the letter Q denotes that this Tires can travel at speeds up to 160 km / h, the letter H denotes the maximum speed of 210 km / h, T - 190 km / h, V - 240 km / h, W - up to 270 km / h. Even at such high speeds winter tires provide maximum level of drivability due to the special composition and tread pattern.
By the way
In winter, it is important to remember that icy road:
- - 2 times more slippery than the road covered with snow;
- - 4 times more slippery than a wet road or the road, covered melting snow;
- - and 8 times more slippery than a dry road ...
When the "change one's shoes?
If someone has not yet made - just look out the window. Although still in the yard in November, according to the number of snow, winter has come to us once and for all. But there are a few recommendations for the future. All tire manufacturers recommend "pereobut" car in the winter tires, when the average temperature falls to +7 oC. At this temperature, ambient air summer tires begins to lose elasticity. With the loss of elasticity of the deteriorating grip tread and the road. Tread rubber compound of winter tires is that the tire stays soft and supple at freezing temperatures and keeps its grip.
What are the winter tires?
The tread pattern of winter tires can be: - Destinations - grooves and checkers disagree "herringbone" symmetrically from the center of the tread (this figure improves the drainage of water, snow, mud and sludge from the contact patch and lowers the noise level); - asymmetrical - the grooves and the checkers are asymmetric. This tread design allows for different properties in the same Tires. For example, the outer side of the tire provides a better grip on dry roads, and the interior - the wet. Tread pattern, intended for the winter, sometimes divided into European and Scandinavian styles. European tires differ in tread, equipped with deep longitudinal and transverse grooves. The surface of the major pieces filled with lots of sipes. These tires are well suited for driving on wet roads with a small amount of mud and snow. Scandinavian tires have wider grooves separating the relatively narrow pieces cut by deep lamellae. As a rule, they have sites for spikes or supplied by them. This design provides efficient cleaning of the contact spot of snow, and increased grip.
