Driving a car on a winter road does not have to feel like a fight for survival. To be able to calmly enjoy the capabilities of your car even in winter, all you need is a bit of common sense and… new winter tires.
More and more people are coming to this conclusion. The share of “winter tires” in the Polish tire market is currently as high as 45 percent and is constantly growing. The situation is similar across Europe. According to experts, a car driving on a snow-covered surface on summer tires at a speed of 50 km/h has a braking distance 23 meters longer than a car on winter tires!
Winter begins in October
When should you change to winter tires? Experts agree: when the average temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius. Often as early as October. Do not wait for the first snow, because it may be too late by then. And a modern winter tire handles better than a summer one not only on snow, but on any surface once it gets cold.
It is worth remembering this, because the risk of collisions and accidents in winter is (according to estimates by German ADAC experts) six times higher than in summer. And this is not just about driver errors made while driving on icy roads. British statisticians have calculated that in their country, there are 267 percent more accidents occurring in winter on ordinary wet roads than in summer!
Soft rubber is safe
Winter tires perform better in low temperatures than summer ones primarily due to the special rubber compound from which they are made. – The compound used for the production of winter tires ensures that these tires retain their flexibility at low temperatures. Summer tires harden under the influence of cold and slide like skates – explains Michał Bębenek, a rally driver of the young generation, a student of Janusz Kulig.
However, the flexibility of the compound alone, while important, does not solve everything. Designers of winter tires also take care of the characteristic tread pattern with large, strong blocks and wide grooves, which facilitate the drainage of water and slush, thereby reducing the risk of aquaplaning, i.e., sliding on a thin layer of water. Such a tread also allows it to bite into a surface covered with snow or ice more quickly and reach the hard ground.
Tires like shoes
Some Polish drivers explain that they do not buy winter tires to save money. This is a mistake. A potential accident caused by an extended braking distance on tires not adapted to a cold surface will certainly cost much more than a set of “winter tires”. And there is no shortage of snowy, damp, and cold days in Poland that are dangerous for drivers.
– In our country, it is cold for almost half the year, and from mid-November to March, the average temperature rarely exceeds 7 degrees Celsius. Every Polish driver should, in their own interest, equip themselves with winter tires – said Jacek Pryczek, Sales Director of the Goodyear Group in Poland. – Tires are like shoes. In summer, it is pleasant to parade in elegant shoes, but in winter, one feels more confident in shoes equipped with a proper tread. Especially since they do not have to be any less elegant.
On the Polish market, there is plenty to choose from when it comes to winter tires. You can buy the Dębica Frigo 2 tires, which are reasonably priced but highly praised by experts, the successors to the famous Dębica Frigo Directional tires. You can also treat yourself to the mid-range Fulda Montero tires, eagerly purchased by owners of cars such as the Skoda Octavia or Citroën Xsara. Even more demanding drivers can choose high-class winter tires such as, for example, the Goodyear Ultra Grip 7. And fans of fast driving on snowy routes – the dynamic Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D.
All these tires belong to the new generation of “winter tires”. They differ from each other in the composition of the compound, tread construction, and solutions designed to ensure the best possible drainage of water and slush. However, they all have two common features: they increase grip and are elegant. The car looks just as good on them as it does on summer ones, and the ability to drive dynamically in the middle of winter without desperately trying to save yourself from skidding is undoubtedly one of the achievements of the 21st century.