Spring is here - and with it the annual question of when is the right time to change to summer tires. Will it stay spring-like or - as predicted for this week - will we have to prepare for colder temperatures once again?
If you stick to the old "from O to O" rule, winter tires should be fitted from October to Easter and summer tires for the rest of the year.
As a general rule, summer tires have several advantages when temperatures reach double digits.
✅In addition to lower fuel consumption, the high wear and tear of softer winter tires in summer is also uneconomical.
✅In addition, the summer tires tailored to higher temperatures also provide a better driving experience. Thanks to the adapted rubber compound and tread design, they offer better driving stability on both dry and wet roads and at higher speeds.
✅The decisive reason for a good summer tire, however, is safety. Summer tires optimized for higher temperatures not only offer more driving stability, they also significantly shorten braking distances on dry and wet roads compared to tires optimized for winter road conditions.
You should definitely check this for your summer tires:
➖The age of the tires, indicated by the production date on the outside, should not exceed six to eight years. The rubber compounds harden and lose grip significantly. The first two digits of the four-digit DOT number on the side of the tire indicate the week of production, while the second two digits indicate the year of production.
➖The tread depth must not be less than 1.6mm. However, it is much safer to change at a tread depth of 3mm, as grip decreases significantly in the last few millimeters in wet conditions. You can easily check this yourself with a one-euro coin. The golden edge of the coin is exactly 3mm wide. If this is not visible between the tread blocks on the tread, you can continue to use the summer tires. You should carry out this measurement several times a year.
➖ Depending on storage, small cracks may appear in the sides of the tires. In this case, the tire should be replaced as soon as possible.
➖ The same applies to damage, usually to the tire sidewalls, often caused by driving too fast onto curbs (take a closer look at the tire on the front right).
Need new summer tires?
➡ The choice is huge and you can't tell the tire's qualities from the outside. That's why it's helpful to take a look at the latest tire tests from automobile clubs or major car test magazines. Here you will find the most suitable summer tires for your use or, for small vehicles with low annual mileage, good all-season tires.