How to choose tires for a car: winter, summer and all-season

Tires are a key component of the car in terms of safe driving. Correctly selected "rubber" - a guarantee of trouble-free operation and comfort. A competent selection of tires will help reduce fuel costs and even maintenance. The article is intended to select tires for conventional, "civil" cars in Russian road conditions. Accents are also placed on security. Modern models of most manufacturers are quite resistant to wear and a large run. After 40-50 thousand kilometers, even the best tires disastrously lose their properties. And after 4-5 years the structure of any tires becomes fragile. Chemical reagents and ultraviolet, diurnal temperature changes and other environmental factors are enemies of any composition.

Hersteller Car tires - which firm is best to choose

Buying tires onbrand - not the worst idea. To accurately not miscalculate, you can choose the products of manufacturers of the "top echelon" with a worldwide reputation.

Especially good are the "flagship" brands:

1. Pirelli

2. Michelin

3. Dunlop

4. Goodyear

5. Bridgestone

The products of these companies will not disappoint, but it is better to choose tires for moreimportant criteria than the manufacturer's reputation. Much depends on the correct selection of seasonality and tire size.

In previous decades from domestic manufacturers was formed not the best reputation, but modern Russian brands Cordiant, Matador, Nordman and Amtel produce high quality products with really cool features.

We also mention little-known, but very high-quality brands - for example, Lassa or Superia. These budget foreign brands are inferior to the more expensive "rubber counterparts."

It is necessary to avoid the unknown cheap models of Chinese origin in every possible way - this is an extremely unsafe saving.

In any case, you must follow the recommendations of the automaker and operate the bus in the right conditions:

• a certain pressure on the instructions - without regard to the "Tips experienced";
• not allowing heavy tread wear and without using tires for more than 4-5 years;
• installing tires only those sizes that are allowed in the "milling" - the manual for technical operation.

With this approach, even inexpensive tires will last a long time, and manageability will remain at a high level. Deviations from the recommendations reduce both the service life and safety. These rules are more important than using expensive "eminent" rubber. More detailed and more interesting about specific brands and models is told in the rating of tire manufacturers.

kinds of tires for cars Tires for

"general civil" car to distinguish the seasons. Actually, there are only two types: summer and winter, but there are nuances.

Summer tires

More light in weight and hard in composition. The tread pattern is designed to take as much water out of the contact patch as possible under rain conditions: loss of control due to aquaplaning is the enemy of safety. The purpose of classic summer tires is maximum controllability of the car with a warm temperature of dry and slightly moist asphalt. There are such types of summer tires as intended for off-road trips, rain tires( more precisely - "anti-rain"), high-speed, reinforced, etc.

Advantages of summer tires:

• minimum mass;
• softness( affects handling) at warm temperatures;
• low noise level;
• high comfort.

Disadvantages:

• radical loss of controllability characteristics at low temperatures - starting from +4 - +6 degrees;
• rubber becomes stiff under winter conditions, roughly speaking - "turns into skis";
• low level of adhesion with cold( and even more so - snow-covered) asphalt: the machine is more prone to drift and slip.

• Read also: 7 best summer summer tires

Winter tires: with spikes and without

Even in warm regions where snow is a rare visitor, the use of winter tires is strictly obligatory for everyone who cares about their own safety. By the way, a common misconception is that the "zimka" is supposedly intended for driving on ice and snow. It's not at all like that: the task of this type of tire is to work at cold temperatures, and not on a slippery surface.

Winter rubber can not be used in warm weather. It is believed that these tires cope with the road at a temperature of no higher than +10 degrees. When the temperature rises, they begin to "swim": the surface softens and wears quickly, the grip worsens. The characteristic noise of winter tires is not the best companion of a motorist.

Winter tires are further subdivided according to the presence / absence of the studs. Erroneous rubber is designed for frequent use on ice and snow-covered tracks, and frictional winter tires( "Velcro" without spikes) are more versatile.

In regions with a real, snowy winter, it is better to use studded rubber. This is a kind of winter tires, which is covered with metal spikes. Spikes "bite" into a slippery surface and provide a much higher level of adhesion to the road. However, they are useless( and even harmful) on ordinary asphalt: wear, high noise and fuel consumption - negative companions of tires with spikes. There are models of winter tires with removable spikes.

A common myth is associated with the use of winter tires: the wider the contact surface( "spot"), the better the grip on the road. This is not true. Narrow deeper "bite" into the snow surface due to higher pressure. Wide tires provide less pressure on the surface and are more likely to slip and slip. The narrower the contact spot, the better the "hold".Advantages of winter tires:

• the composition remains soft even at sub-zero temperatures;
• while the car is shod in winter tires, the summer kit "rests": an economical approach;
• work on the snow-covered surface much better than summer and "all-season" tires.

Disadvantages:

• good handling in cold dry weather relaxes inexperienced drivers: when snow falls, excessive self-confidence can be dangerous;
• increased noise;
• higher mass( load on the chassis);
• increased fuel consumption;
• the need to "change" in the summer set in time with a stable warm weather.

• Read also: 18 best winter tires

All season tires

All season tires are not a universal solution for economical owners, but a compromise in comparison with two sets: for summer and for winter. In the warm season, the "all-weather" copes worse with the road than the summer models. On snow( or at a cold temperature), they work worse than winter ones. Operation of all-season rubber can be justified only in the warm season, and in winter - only in warm regions where the temperature seldom drops below -5 degrees. Under other conditions, "universality" can become a frankly dangerous factor. Advantages of all-season tires:

• small weight;
• possibility of year-round use in regions with mild winters;
• the cost of one set of tires is always lower than two( for winter and summer).

Disadvantages:

• "all-the-season" work all year round worse than the corresponding seasonal sets;
• increased consumption of rubber due to year-round use;
• on snow-covered( and even just cold dry) roads the car is driven a little better than shod in summer tires.

• Read also: 11 best all-season automobile tires

Dimensions and how to read the tire marking

The main criterion for choosing

The main criterion of choice is the right size that is right for your car model. The permissible dimensions are listed in the operating manual( or on the official site of the automaker).

Any deviation from the norms is a mess and a bad helper in the noble cause of safety, and that's why:

• the non-standard tire size seriously loads the suspension and shock absorbers of the car;
• has a negative impact on the transmission;
• when cornering tires of a different size can touch the body;
• the indicators of the instruments become wrong: even a minimal deviation from the standard profile dimensions leads to an increase( or decrease) in the speed visible on the speedometer by 5-10 km / h;
• deceives and odometer - mileage counter.

The tire dimensions are marked with numeric indices of the form 205/55 R16.

The letter R denotes a radial type of tire - others for "civil" cars are not really produced today. The number after R denotes the diameter of the tire and disk in inches. On disks with a diameter of 16 inches, it is impossible to "plant" tires of a different size - only 16. The same rule applies, of course, for all other sizes. The first number in the fraction is a simple indicator: the width of the tire( mm).Wide models are suitable for more powerful cars than for small cars. The larger this value, the greater the contact spot( "holder"), and, accordingly, the acceleration / deceleration characteristics( if the engine is powerful enough for this).On the snow-covered surface, narrower tires keep the road better. The second number in the fraction is the ratio of the profile height to the width of the tire. In the translation of the universal - this is the height of the rubber from the "hole" to the protector, divided by the width, and in percentage.

To get a better grasp of the characteristic, we will more clearly illustrate it by examples:

1. & gt; 55% are low-profile, suitable for passenger cars, have high controllability, but poor resistance to bad roads.

2. 60-75% are called high profile, they are used for passenger cars and contribute to good stability on bad roads, though to the detriment of the indicators of controllability and speed.

3. & lt; 80% are full-profile, used on off-road vehicles, boast high throughput and low-speed handling, but are not designed for conventional cars.

Always follow the recommendations of the car manufacturer when choosing tires according to their characteristics. This requirement is extremely important for safety. Listening to the advice of "experienced" can only be when they coincide with the rules of operation.

Other important types of marking

An umbrella symbol( or the words Rain / Aqua, etc.) means a rain rubber type that better fights aquaplaning, but may be less practical on dry asphalt.

The snowflake badge( or the word Frost) indicates the winter type of rubber.

Marking M + S( "clay + snow") can be present both in winter and all-season( and even summer!) Types of tires. This is rubber, better adapted for off-road. However, it is a common misconception that M + S indicates a cold seasonality. One should not believe this assertion.

The four-digit index of type 1517 denotes the production date. In this example, we are talking about the 15th week of 2017.The "younger" the tire when buying, the better: the life span is limited to 4-5 years, and no more. Moreover, the count goes from the date of production, and not from the beginning of operation.

Tire selection parameters

Practical tips

1. All other things being equal, choose those tires that weigh less. It's not about the fuel consumption, but in the very serious dependence of the suspension on the mass of the tires. The smaller it is, the more comfortable the machine feels and less the shock absorbers along with the other components of the running gear.

2. The higher the protector, the higher the noise level, especially in winter models. A controversial, but practical rule: a good, safe rubber is slightly noisier than analogues. However, modern rubber compounds provide sufficient sound comfort.

3. Soft tires are more comfortable, but have a longer braking distance. They are designed for fans of a quiet, reliable ride.

4. The asymmetric protector, although considered safer in the rain conditions, is less practical: first, it is more difficult to find a replacement for serious damage to the tire, and secondly, there are difficulties in puncturing: the "spare" may not be suitable for the punctured side.

5. For winter rubber models it is better to choose a narrow profile: it will help to "bite" more deeply into snow and ice.

Speed ​​and mass parameters

Regardless of the type of seasonality of tires, they can have special qualities that determine their narrower purpose. An example is speed indicators. They indicate the maximum speed allowed for a given model. The letters M to Y denote speeds from 130 to 300 km / h: for example, the marking W = 270 km / h.

Expensive models with a high speed index provide higher grip at high speeds. However, in any case we do not recommend exceeding the speed beyond the specially designed for this auto-racing tracks. Likhache is the main cause of accidents, and in the article the emphasis is on safety.

There are varieties of tires depending on the maximum permissible mass. Weight load indexes are often important for commercial vehicles, or for cars with high load capacity( SUVs, mini trucks, pick-up trucks).

Marketing tricks that should not be "pursued"

Separate technologies of tires( increased protector, resistance to punctures "Run Flat", etc.) are needed for off-road conditions. As a rule, for the improved additional characteristics of tires it is necessary to pay not only ruble, but also decrease in universality. For example, off-road tires do not behave very well in urban conditions due to noise, reduced comfort and handling, increased fuel consumption. Therefore, we recommend that you look at special types of tires only if you plan to operate the car in unusual conditions: high speeds, lack of roads, transportation of goods, etc.

Do not trust the manufacturers' assurances of "economy", reduced fuel consumption and high resistance to wear. These are too minor factors to take them seriously. Yes, there really are tire models that help to reduce consumption. In the best case and under ideal conditions of driving it is a question of tenths of a percent. In other words, such tires will save 100-200 grams of fuel for every 100 liters and no more. Resistance to wear? All modern models are quite reliable, but in any case the "life span" of tires does not exceed 5 years or 40-50 thousand km. Even expensive tires, which are used longer, become simply dangerous and unreliable.

Cost of tires for cars

The price is affected by such factors:

1. Brand branding: as a rule, you should not overpay for the brand if the tires are used in an inexpensive car in ordinary urban conditions.

2. Country of origin: domestic is much cheaper, but among Russian models more and more worthy specimens are found, without compromises in reliability or safety. The unreasonableness of Russian brands is a rapidly aging myth from the past.

3. Tire size: the larger the wheel diameter, the more expensive the tires are. The least expensive tires for small cars and compact hatchbacks."Shoes" for large sedans and SUVs is much more expensive.

4. It should be borne in mind that much depends on the seasonality of sales - for example, the price of winter tires increases with the arrival of cold weather, and vice versa. The current exchange rate of the ruble affects the value of foreign models.

Brand	Dimensions	Price, USD
Nokian Nordman	R15 185/65	2850
Bridgestone Turanza	R15 185/65	3360
Amtel Planet DC( Russia)	R15 185/65	2420
Hankook Ventus	R19 245/40	12210
Goodyear Excellence	R19 245/ 40	14950
Dunlop Grandtrek	R19 245/40	10820

Summing up

Many manufacturers have proprietary technologies with sonorous names - when choosing tires it is hardly necessary to be guided by them seriously. Typically, these are just marketing tricks, which almost do not affect the practicality of use. For example, some models are equipped with the popular technology "Run Flat", which allows you to continue to move even when the tire is flat. Despite the obvious advantage, such tires are more expensive and heavy, almost disposable and they can not always be replaced in car-care centers, especially far from major cities.

General rules for choosing a "shoe" for a car:

1. Use only the dimensions specified in the user's guide.

2. Economy on all seasons is permissible only in a warm climate. Winter tires are much better than "universal" tires. Studded rubber is good in conditions of constant snow and ice on the asphalt.

3. The quality of Russian tires has improved significantly in recent years and is now rarely inferior to foreign analogues.

And finally, the most important: any tires strictly require proper operation and careful attitude. Constantly monitor the level of pressure, balancing, as well as camber / convergence and other parameters of the running gear of the car. Only in this case the rubber will last a long time, and driving will be truly safe and comfortable. Good choice - and good roads!