It’s April, the temperatures are rising, the fields are blooming, the trees are green, and the tires need to be changed. It is time to switch from winter tires to summer ones. So, why is it so important to change our tires? Because they don’t last forever, and even if they don’t run many kilometers, it is recommended to replace them after a maximum of 8-10 years from the production date (which can be found on the side of the tire as DOT). Therefore, besides the seasonal requirements (i.e., in Italy is mandatory to use winter tires or have snow chains on board from October 15th to April 15th), there are more factors to keep in mind and verify to understand if your tires need a change.
Tire duration can depend on the following elements:
- Tire type
- Driving style
- Vehicles
- Road conditions
- Weather conditions (we will go back to this topic at a later stage)
After having taken those aspects into account, to know if it’s time for a tire change you need to check the following:
1. The tread
The tread wear can be verified with a tread gauge (our item #11709 or #11703), or by a visual inspection. The gauge gives precise indications and helps to see if we are within the legal limit (for example, in Italy, we have a legal limit of 1,6 mm). By visual inspection, people can immediately see any tread deterioration that usually indicates a specific tire problem. It is also essential to check that there are no foreign bodies in the tread (i.e., stones or nail).
2. Pressure
Each vehicle has a suggested tire pressure. To check if your tires have the correct inflation, you can use an inflating gun (item #14460). Lower inflation and over-inflation can have a direct impact on tread wear.
3. Hardness – Shore A
The durometer is another helpful tool to understand the condition of tires (we have two codes #11712 and #11713). It shows the rubber Shore A that should be between 55-70 Shore A.
4. Punctures or injuries
A tire with an injury, besides being very dangerous, is not always repairable. Visit a tire workshops/repair center is always the best practice to know your options.
If we wish to extend the life of our tires, we should consider two aspects: correct maintenance and avoiding any improper use. For example, using different tires, unsuitable tires and wheels, speed rate and load ratio different from the requested ones, and the fifth wheel running over 80km/h).
Let’s now focus on why it is important to switch from winter tires to summer ones. Winter tires are made from flexible rubber compounds, and their treads are specifically designed to give the best grip with rain and snow. On the other hand, summer tires’ rubber compounds are ideated to resist higher temperatures. This difference has s direct impact on the tread wear, tire duration, fuel economy, and safety.
Continental analyzes this topic in the article “Why you shouldn’t drive on winter tires in the summer months” https://www.continental-tires.com/car/tire-knowledge/tire-change-fitting/changing-tires/winter-tires-in-summer. Briefly, a softer tire tread wears out quicker in summer, the service life reduces by 60%, fuel consumption increases due to the higher rolling resistance of winter tires compared to summer ones, and the handling capabilities reduces with an impact on safety (stopping distance by a 10% on dry pavement and by 26% on wet).
To conclude, our suggestion is to speak with your tire dealer when having doubts about the condition of your tires, and, in case you need to change them, to consider buying retread tires. Retread tires are usually more economical but most important eco-friendly!