Can You Use Winter Tires In Summer?

Car tires are classified in many different ways. If based on weather conditions, car tires are classified into 3 types: winter tires, summer tires, and 4-season tires. However, winter tires vs summer tires are more popular in areas with large temperature differences. Car tires are a part that directly affects the safety of passengers and the performance of the vehicle. Can you use winter tires in summer? Knowing how to distinguish between winter and summer tires will help you answer this question.

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What makes a winter tire different?

As a regular, the working proficiency of a tire is specifically relative to the sum of warmth the tire gets. In the meantime, winter tires regularly have the next silica substance within the elastic than summer tires. This implies that it can hold warm as well as the tire’s adaptability is superior to summer tires when within the same low-temperature conditions. In this manner, winter tires are a culminate choice to guarantee the car’s footing is continuously at a secure level in conditions of a sharp drop in temperature.

In addition, the winter tires have deeper cutouts for optimal performance in cold conditions. This tire also has 10 times more spikes than summer tires. These treads are carefully crafted within the contours of the tire. As a result, the tire can move flexibly and generate more heat, thereby helping increase the ability to grip the road, increase traction and move more safely in bad weather conditions such as water grip, heavy snow, icy, etc. This tire can be identified by special markings such as the “M+S” or 3PMSF symbol.

Tires with the letters “M+S” are tires that are not involved in any required performance testing. As a result, performance cannot be guaranteed for tires marked “M+S”. In contrast, tires marked 3PMSF (3 Peak Mountain Snowflake) are winter tires that have been certified through regulatory testing to ensure the right level of performance in winter conditions. Famous car tire brand Michelin recommends using 3PMSF tires in winter.

When to change winter tires to summer in Ontario? Winter tires should be installed on your vehicle as soon as the temperature drops below 7°C. This temperature usually occurs from mid-October to mid-April, depending on the weather in Canada.

What makes a summer tire different?

Unlike winter tires which are designed to have a lot of grooves and are flexible in cold weather, summer tires need to have fewer grooves and are stiffer to produce the right ride feel. And recently manufacturers are paying more attention to this. So they use different chemicals in the material that makes up the tire’s shell.

The compounds and design of these tires allow for good traction and traction on both dry and wet surfaces in warmer conditions. In addition, winter tires also provide longer life, better fuel economy, and durability compared to winter tires. Summer tires guarantee maximum safety performance in conditions above 7°C. In the summer, the temperature can increase dramatically, up to 40 degrees Celsius, so users need to monitor the tire pressure sensor regularly to reduce PSI, helping the car maintain the correct pressure at room temperature.

Summer tires also differ in markings – they have a sun symbol; appearance – summer models are characterized by an asymmetrical pattern on the tread, which helps to reduce noise effects at high speeds, etc. The slides are less prominent because less effort is required to adhere; composition – elastomeric rubber compound designed to operate the tire at high temperatures (+25 degrees), even if the asphalt pavement begins to melt, the wheel should not “slip through” and lose its shape; service life – summer tires wear 2-3 times faster. Because of these characteristics, riding on snow with summer tires is especially dangerous.

Can you use winter tires in summer?

Be mindful that there’s no law requiring you to alter your winter tires for summer or all-season tires when the warm climate arrives. Purchasing winter tires can give your vehicle numerous benefits for driving in the winter. They incorporate way better footing, made strides in braking, better control, and made strides in street security in unforgiving winter conditions. But, it is not highly suggested for utilization in summer, even with the best winter tires.

The elastic is specifically outlined and designed for the purpose of working best within the cold – they are made with is less compelling at scattering warmth, which increases the chance of over-inflating as well as the blowouts. 

• Driving on winter tires within the summer can raise braking removal by approximately 10% on dry asphalt and about 26% on damp pavement. 
• Driving 90km/h on dry asphalt with winter tires raises the braking separation by about 19%. 
• Driving 70km/h on damp asphalt increments the braking removal by approximately 42%.

The elastic compound in winters is gentler; the tread changes shape more and will make more rolling resistance, and employ more gas in the event that is utilized in summer. The elastic is more adaptable, which is able to influence how your vehicle will handle the street; sharp, sudden turns regularly result in a misfortune of control. They are made to remain delicate and grasp at temperatures underneath 7°C. All-season and summer tires have a harder elastic and hold best at temperatures over 7°C.

Reason for avoiding using winter tires in summer

Driving winter tires in summer is not always recommended, because it has potential hazards. In addition to being less durable, winter tires when used in the summer can also lead to safety hazards. Below are the key reasons for avoiding using winter tires in summer:

Winter tires aren’t suitable for warm roads

Winter tires are made with an extraordinary elastic compound that makes a difference conveys the most extreme hold in cold and frosty conditions by remaining malleable in colder temperatures. Warm roads are a true challenge for winter tires, which are implied to be utilized when temperatures are 45°F or underneath. Winter tires that are run on hot asphalt tend to wear out much faster.

Winter tires are specially designed and designed for the purpose of driving with traction, not life span, though all-season tires are outlined for lower rolling resistance and longer tread life. These tires are made with an elastic compound that’s planned for a wide run of temperatures and street conditions. Driving winter tires within the summer can wear them out speedier to 60%. That’s since the elastic compound in winter tires is specifically planned for colder conditions, rather than hotter temperatures.

Our suggestion for hot climates is to utilize all-season or summer tires. Summer tires are fabricated with a distinctive mix of elastic outlined to resist higher temperatures. The compounds utilized in summer tires would before long turn difficult and fragile in case driven in winter conditions. All-season tires, however, are planned to resist colder temperatures as well as warm and dry conditions. For drivers living in districts with gentle winter conditions (underneath solidifying), all-season tires can be an elective.

Cost your money

In case you’ve made speculation about the safety of your winter tires, the process of changing them with others, such as a set of all-season tires/summer tires at the proper time will offer assistance in amplifying the life benefits of the winter tires — sparing you money. Compared to all-season tires, winter tires regularly have the next rolling resistance, so it can cost you a larger amount of budget spent on the gas pump.

Reduction in fuel economy

In case you employ winter tires in summer, another thing to know is that you’ll conclude up paying more for fuel. On warm asphalt, the rolling resistance of a winter tire is significantly higher than summer or all-season tires. That’s since the milder elastic compound changes shape more. It leads to higher rolling resistance, which comes about in an increase in fuel consumption, which suggests you’ll visit the gas station more regularly than essential.

Influence on handling and safety

In case you do not switch to all-season or summer tires amid a warm climate, your car will not have ideal taking care of capabilities for security – especially in case you’re constrained to form sudden turns. Let’s envision a scenario where a driver has got to make a crisis move. Winter tires on the dry pavement are delicate as well. The handling situation of the car can’t be as responsive as in a basic context.

From a long-term viewpoint, winter tires that have been cleared out all through the spring, summer, and harvest time all the way until the following winter will likely have worn tread squares (because of their milder compound). Winter tires with deficient tread profundity won’t give as much hold or footing on blanketed and frosty surfaces, which could be a conclusive figure impacting driving security.

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How do you protect your tires from the sun?

Regular summer tire care and inspection are important for car owners. Here are some things that car owners should do with their tires to ensure safety on the road during summer days.

Regular tire pressure check

To ensure the performance of your tires, you should check the tire pressure regularly, preferably once a month to maintain the correct tire pressure. Standard tire pressure will vary depending on vehicle type and tire type used. However, most car tires have a standard pressure of about 33 psi or 2.3 bar.

You can check the standard tire pressure recommended by the manufacturer on the door frame or in the manual. Note: the standard tire pressure recommended by the manufacturer is for cold tires. Therefore, to check tire pressure, you should choose a time with low temperature, most precisely in the morning, when your car has been through all night and has not yet rolled.

Summer tire pressure adjustment

On hot summer days, when you are driving on the road, the temperature of the tires will rise faster than usual. This causes the air inside the tire to expand, leading to a rapid increase in tire pressure and possibly a tire explosion as a result. According to research, a 10 degrees Celsius increase in temperature increases tire pressure by about 1.45 psi or 0.1 bar. Therefore, in the summer, car drivers should adjust tire pressure to avoid this situation.

Tire elasticity check

Even if it’s not summer, you should get in the habit of checking your tires for wear. In case the tread depth of your tires is less than 1.5 mm, you should replace the tire with a new one. In some types of tires, there is also a wear level gauge, which is the rubber part located in the middle of the tire groove. When the tire wears to this rubber part, it’s time to change the tire.

Next, you should check if the tire has cracks on the surface by inflating the tire. Usually, cracks will appear near the tread of the tire. In general, you should only use car tires for a period of about 6 years. If used longer, it should not be more than 10 years even though the tire surface is still good.

Tire valve check

Tire valves are a small but not insignificant detail. Car tire valves are usually made of rubber, so they will age over time. Therefore, you should check the tire valve to make sure this part is still good, not damaged or deformed. A damaged valve will cause an air leak and lower tire pressure. This causes the car to use more fuel and reduce performance.

Tire wash and polish

Washing tires regularly and polishing them with a special solution or wax are also ways to help them better withstand high temperatures in the summer. Not only has the effect of renewing the car and preventing dirt, but tire polishing also prevents the tire from drying out.

Tire rotation

After running about 10,000 km, you should take the car to rotate the tires once. This will prevent uneven wear on any tires. Not only that, but tire rotation also helps to increase the life of the tread, providing a smoother driving feeling, better traction, and better braking.

Tires Inflation with nitrogen gas

Compared with conventional inflating, nitrous oxide for tires has many advantages such as less leakage, maintaining tire pressure, helping the vehicle save fuel, or reducing wear and tear of parts. Therefore, nitrogen injection for tires, especially in the summer, is an option worth considering for owners. Of course, it is required for you to remember “you get what you pay for”, injecting nitrogen gas will cost car owners more.

Can you use winter tires in summer? In a nutshell, you should remember that the winter tires are designed for maximizing traction and increasing traction while driving, making the vehicle more agile in the cold and wet conditions of winter. Meanwhile, summer tires are only suitable for hot weather and when the car is running at high speed. For the purpose of ensuring the absolute safe operation of your tires and maximum performance of your vehicle, you need to choose the most suitable tires for each season.