This little trick will help you save on fuel and make driving more comfortable.
Because of the cold, tires become harder, which negatively affects driving comfort. Cars are also subject to negative effects. In cold weather, the springs and shock absorbers of a car become stiffer.
"One of the important characteristics of a tire is its wear resistance, which affects the duration of tire operation. Quality winter tires have an optimal rubber compound for the tread and sidewalls. Cheap tires use a synthetic material that can withstand temperatures no lower than 1 degree." - says Matti Morri, technical director of Nokian Tyres.
Cold weather reduces pressure
Winter frosts reduce tire pressure, which increases fuel consumption and tires wear out faster. "It is important to remember that a drop in temperature of 10 degrees reduces tire pressure by about 0.1 bar," explains Matti Morri. When adjusting pressure indoors in winter, add 0.2 bar to the values recommended by the manufacturer.
With studs or without studs?
In harsh winter conditions, there will be no significant differences between studded and non-studded tires. The difference is more evident in light frost conditions. Studded tires should be used in winter at temperatures from -5 to +5 degrees Celsius. This temperature promotes the formation of an ice crust on the road surface. At temperatures around -20 degrees, studded and non-studded tires will have approximately the same traction; sometimes the traction of non-studded tires with the road may even be better. At temperatures close to zero, water forms on the ice surface, making the road more slippery. In these conditions, the traction of studded tires will be better.
When it comes to braking distance, the main differences are noticeable at temperatures close to zero degrees. When braking on ice at a speed of 50 km/h, the braking distance of studded tires is 43 meters, while that of non-studded, Scandinavian-type tires is 60 meters.
Fuel consumption in winter
For many, fuel consumption and economy are important factors when choosing winter tires.
"Many believe that winter tires increase fuel consumption. However, they have lower rolling resistance compared to most summer tires, which leads to reduced fuel consumption." - says Matti Morri. According to him, too low internal tire pressure is the most common cause of increased fuel consumption in winter. In winter, the gasoline mixture is more saturated, which leads to a slight increase in fuel consumption.
Tires that work flawlessly
In front-wheel-drive cars, the front wheels bear a greater load than the rear: they are involved in braking, acceleration, and steering, while the rear wheels are only involved in the braking process. It is important to monitor tire wear and rotate them as needed. Nokian Tyres recommends rotating every 8,000 km.
"When the difference in wear between the front and rear tires reaches 2 mm, it is necessary to swap them." - says Morri.
According to the expert, drivers who use studded tires need to pay attention to the studs on the front wheels. When the car is moving, the studs of the front wheels will protrude slightly outward compared to the rear ones. To ensure that the studs of the rear wheels protrude outward and maintain optimal traction, it is necessary to regularly swap them.
Watch our video about the effect of tread wear and aquaplaning:
