Changing tires for summer. When is the best time to do it?
Ahead is the period of replacing winter tires with summer ones. Temperature should be a key factor in determining when to make changes.
Tire manufacturers have adopted the rule that an average daily air temperature above 7 degrees Celsius is the temperature limit that conditionally separates the use of winter treads. If the temperature at night stays above 1-2 degrees Celsius for 4-6 weeks, it is worth equipping the car with summer tires.
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The right choice of tires determines not only driving comfort, but above all safety on the road. The very composition of the rubber compound with a large amount of rubber makes summer tires more rigid and resistant to summer wear. The tread pattern of a summer tire features fewer grooves and sipes, which gives the tire a larger dry contact area and better braking performance. Specially designed channels evacuate water and allow you to maintain control of the car on wet surfaces. Summer tires also provide lower rolling resistance and quieter tires.
The selection of the optimal summer tires is supported by product labels that provide information on the most important tire parameters such as wet grip and tire noise levels. The right tires mean the right size as well as the right speed and load capacity. More information on how to read labels can be found here. It's also worth checking out the latest summer tire test results. Just click here.
See also: How to take care of your tires?
What to remember?
1. Check the rolling direction of summer tires
When installing tires, pay attention to the markings indicating the correct rolling direction and to the outside of the tire. This is especially important in the case of directional and asymmetric tyres. Tires must be installed according to the arrow stamped on its side and marked "Outside/Inside". A tire that is installed incorrectly wears out faster and runs louder. It also won't provide a good grip. Mounting method does not matter only for symmetrical tires, in which the tread pattern is identical on both sides.
2. Carefully tighten the wheel bolts.
The wheels are subject to high overloads, so if they are tightened too loosely, they can come off while driving. Also, don't twist them too tight. After the season, stuck caps may not come off. In such situations, it is not uncommon to have to re-drill the bolts, and sometimes the hub and bearing have to be replaced.
For tightening, you need to use a wrench of a suitable size, too large can damage the nuts. In order not to twist the thread, it is best to use a torque wrench. In the case of small and medium passenger cars, it is recommended to set the torque wrench at 90-120 Nm. Approximately 120-160 Nm for SUVs and SUVs and 160-200 Nm for buses and vans. To avoid problems with unscrewing screws or studs, it is advisable to carefully lubricate them with graphite or copper grease before tightening.
3. Wheel balancingEven if we have two sets of wheels and do not need to change tires to rims before the start of the season, do not forget to rebalance the wheels. Tires and rims deform over time and stop rolling evenly. Before assembling, always check that everything is in order on the balancer. Well-balanced wheels provide comfortable driving, low fuel consumption and even tire wear.
