It’s summer tire time!

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Summer tires belong to the end-to-end vehicle from Easter to October. It’s time for a seasonal tire change. Because summer and winter tires not only have a different profile, but also a different rubber composition. Winter tires provide more grip at lower temperatures on snow as well as on asphalt – this shortens the braking distance. shorter braking distance. Summer tires are optimized for the warmer half of the year.

The limit is around 7 degrees Celsius, where summer tires are better. There are still a cool morning or two during the transitional period in spring and autumn. Then you should at least drive more carefully and keep your distance so you can brake on time – or, in extreme cases, leave the car at home if the road is covered with light snow in the morning. Important: Never drive with summer tires at night when the thermometer is below 7 degrees Celsius, especially when it is raining. Then there may be black ice, where summer tires have little chance of grip.

Consequences of wrong tires

If you don’t change your tires, you’re breaking any laws, because the Swiss Road Traffic Act does not mandate winter tires. However, the tool should always be safe to use. If an accident could have been avoided if seasonal tires had been fitted, a fine could be imposed and the insurance company could recourse or refuse to pay. By the way, in summer as well as in winter.

What about all season tires?

But is all the stress of replacing all-season or all-season tires necessary? NO These types of tires are always a compromise and do not provide optimum performance neither in winter nor in summer. In other words, the handling is worse, the braking distance is longer. That’s why all-season tires are particularly recommended for people who drive the vehicle only occasionally. The rule of thumb here is this: If you drive more than 20,000 kilometers a year, it’s better to do without all-season tires. With the annual TCS tire tests you can find the right summer tires.

6 tips for tire care

1. Check tire pressure Every tire loses air, so check it once a month! Rule of thumb: Less is better than much. Reduces wear and consumption by 0.3 bar more than specified. Important: If the tires are warm, add another 0.3 bar – the air pressure increases with the tire temperature.
2. Lifespan: tooth depth and age The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 millimeters, ideally a minimum of four (winter tyres) or three (summer tyres) millimeters. On the tire rims, the DOT number indicates the age of the tire (eg 1914 = 19th week, 2014). Replace after ten, better eight years.
3. speed limitsto observe On motorway stages in Germany, especially on winter tyres, check the side of the tire as a precaution. There, the last letter of the designation indicates how fast it can be driven, for example S for 180 or H for 210 km/h. General information on the “speed index” is available on the Internet, for example at TCS.
4. Care Following the curb at an acute angle or kissing the curb while parking sometimes causes structural damage that cannot be seen from the outside. Therefore, perform more frequent visual checks; In case of damage, consult the authorized dealer.
5. watch the price If you only look at the money when buying, you pay later. Even a good tire that is already worn will often brake better than a new super cheap tire. On the other hand, more expensive does not necessarily mean better. We recommend tire testing (eg TCS) and purchasing tires from specialist dealers.
6. Store it correctly Store upright without rim and turn once a month, increase pressure 0.5 bar with rims and stack horizontally. Write in advance with chalk where the tire is fitted (eg «VL» = front left). Store cool and dry.

Source: Blick