As winter is approaching and you might wonder what tyres you should purchase for your vehicle. If you have a normal passenger car you will need normal car tyres and you will not the bigger tyres that are aimed for SUVs, light truck and vans. If it also is not an electric car or hybrid, you don’t have to look for special tyres that are recommended to be used on these vehicles. They tend to have higher wear that and require tyres that can handle both the higher weight caused by the battery packs and the higher torque. For SUV, light truck and van winter tyres, they are wider and can handle the higher loads of these heavier vehicles.
When it comes to winter tyres, they will have to be optimized for the different winter conditions that include snow, ice and slush. It also includes any slippery conditions that can occur during the winter including low temperatures below zero. It is both the rubber compound and the tread that has to be designed for these purposes. The rubber compound has to be made so that the rubber remains soft and flexible even at very low temperatures, so that rubber can still conform to the road surface and create better grip. The tread pattern has to be designed so that it can handle snow and slush, both so that the snow doesn’t get stuck in the tread and it should allow the tread to push slush to the sides so that the tyre an remain in contact with the road. For ice and hard packed snow, you will need to rely either on the use of metal studs, which the studded tyres have or then gripping particles that are added to the tread. Both ways are good at achieving good grip on ice, however the metal studs are able to provide the best grip.
Studded tyres are however not allowed in all the countries, which can cause some problems, if you live in that country or if you plan to visit or drive through it. In these cases, non-studded tyres are then the only choice for dedicated winter tyres. You also. have the option to use winter approved all-weather tyres, that have the advantage of being able to handle all different weather conditions. They are then also non-studded but have a hybrid tread that can cope with both snow and ice as well as rain and dry roads throughout the whole temperature span. This is perfect if you live in areas with unpredictable weather and only occasional winters.
If the area where you live does winters and you feel that you need the best grip and safety during the winter season, then you are better off using dedicated winter tyres, with or without studs. The decision between studs and non-studded versions will then depend on what is allowed and what is most convenient. You have no limitations when it comes to usage and can travel anywhere. Even though there is no restrictions of not using them during the summer season, they should not be used and should be changed to summer tyres as soon as the winter season has ended.
For more information on which winter tyres to choose, visit https://www.nokiantyres.com/