Isn’t it nice that spring follows every winter? It’s finally getting warmer again! Nature is also celebrating and starting to bring out all its splendour. For car owners, however, this time is not only associated with sunshine and flowers. For car drivers, the words ‘every year again’ don’t just refer to Father Christmas. It also refers to changing tyres to summer tyres. If not now, then when?
Do I have to change to summer tyres?
The answer here is ‘yes’. If you have all-season tyres on your Volvo, you can save yourself the annual tyre change. However, it is still true that special winter or summer tyres work best at the respective time of year. They are specialists who simply do their job better.
How can you recognise summer tyres?
Summer tyres differ from winter tyres in several ways:
- The tread: Summer tyres have a special tread pattern with fewer sipes and pronounced, parallel grooves. This improves grip on dry and wet roads and reduces rolling resistance.
- Tyre markings: Unlike winter tyres, there are no special markings for summer tyres. If the Alpine symbol (mountain with snowflake) can be seen on the tyre sidewall, it is a winter tyre.
- The rubber compound: Summer tyres are made of a harder rubber compound. This maintains stability even at high temperatures and the tyre wears more slowly.
When is the right time for summer tyres?
Changing from winter to summer tyres should be well planned. But when exactly is the best time to change tyres? A rule of thumb says: ‘From E to O’ – i.e. from Easter to October, summer tyres should be used. Another indicator is the temperature: if it is constantly above 7 degrees Celsius, summer tyres offer better driving characteristics. Winter tyres, on the other hand, are designed for cold temperatures and wear out more quickly in warmer conditions.
But be careful: the weather doesn’t always stick to the calendar! A sudden cold snap in April or a golden autumn can unexpectedly change the road conditions. If you plan ahead and don’t wait until the last minute to change your tyres, you can save yourself a long wait at the garage.
Another important aspect: not only the temperatures, but also your personal driving profile plays a role. If you often drive at higher altitudes or in colder regions, it is better to wait a little longer before changing to summer tyres. If, on the other hand, you mainly drive in the city or on well-maintained roads, you can start changing your tyres earlier.
What are the advantages of summer tyres?
What makes a summer tyre and what are its advantages? The answer can be found in the respective rubber compound. Softer material is used for winter tyres. The problem is that these tyres have a significantly longer braking distance in warm temperatures (and on dry roads). A fact that is easy to get over in winter. However, as soon as the warmer season begins, you expose yourself and (other road users) to a higher risk of accidents if you continue to use winter tyres.
Another point is that warm temperatures increase wear on winter tyres. Six months of warm weather therefore place a significantly higher load on the ‘cold specialists’. And this becomes noticeable when the next winter arrives.
In addition, summer tyres offer reduced rolling resistance due to their special design, which has a positive effect on fuel consumption. As rolling resistance can influence up to 30 % of total fuel consumption, summer tyres can save costs in the long term. Driving behaviour is also improved: thanks to the larger contact area and harder compound, summer tyres offer greater driving stability, especially at high speeds and on winding roads. They also ensure a smoother and quieter ride, as the tyres deform less and therefore generate less rolling noise.
Changing tyres for beginners
You don’t necessarily have to go to a garage to change your tyres. With the right equipment, specialist knowledge and skill, tyres can also be changed at home. You will need
- a torque spanner
- a jack and
- a wheel cross
Before you start changing the tyres, the car must be in gear. Also make sure that the handbrake is applied. Now loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel cross. As soon as all nuts are loose, the car is ‘jacked up’. Please make sure that the jack is in the right place so as not to damage your car!
As soon as the car is ‘floating’, you can remove the wheel nuts completely. Then pull the wheel down. Caution: The wheel may fall off as soon as you have removed the last nut. So be careful!
Then ‘push’ the summer wheel onto the wheel hub. Then tighten the bolts again (not too tight!) and lower the trolley. As soon as it is ‘on a firm footing’, the wheel nuts are finally tightened to the specified torque. Voilà!
Change tyres in the garage or do it yourself?
Not everyone has the time or inclination to change tyres themselves. Apart from that, not everyone was born with ‘mechanic’s hands’. And that’s absolutely fine. Wouldn’t the world be boring if we all had the same skills and talents?
If you are not a ‘do-it-yourselfer’ in the car sector, our experienced garage team will be happy to assist you in all matters. Of course, this also applies to changing summer and winter tyres. We change the tyres quickly, competently and at fair prices. Ideally, you should make an appointment with us in advance. This will make it easier for us to plan. What’s more, you won’t have to wait, with us it’s just a short ‘pit stop’.
What should you look out for with summer tyres?
To get the most out of summer tyres, there are a few important points to bear in mind:
- Tread depth: A minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm is required by law. However, experts recommend at least 3 mm in order to be able to drive safely even in the rain.
- Tyre age: Tyres should be replaced after six to eight years at the latest, as the rubber hardens over time and loses grip. The production date can be determined from the DOT number on the tyre sidewall.
- Regular wheel changes: To ensure even wear, the tyres should be swapped between the front and rear axles, unless mixed tyres are fitted.
Where to put the winter tyres?
Changing tyres is only one side of the coin. If you fit summer tyres, the winter tyres don’t just have to be removed. They also need a safe place until the next winter arrives. Now, not everyone has enough storage space to safely store four car tyres. This is where our tyre hotel comes into play: it provides safe accommodation for your wheels when they are not needed. We may not serve your winter tyres drinks, but we promise that they will still feel at home with us! Just give us a call to book a ‘room’ for your tyres!
Buy summer tyres at great prices
As much as we love tyres: There comes a day when we have to part with them. They are wear and tear items whose lifespan decreases with every day they are used. At some point, the moment comes when we have to say goodbye to them.
On request, we can check the tyres on your car for their suitability. If it is time for a change, we can provide you with excellent tyres at absolutely fair prices.
In a nutshell:
Even though all-season tyres are popular, they are inferior to the “specialists”, i.e. summer and winter tyres. Like all experts, however, these tyres should only be used for their specialist area. Winter tyres are not suitable for warm temperatures! With a little skill (and the necessary equipment), changing tyres can be done without a workshop. If you are not “born to be a mechanic”, you will find experienced experts at Hüsser & Palkoska AG who will be happy to carry out the change for you. If you wish, we can store your “old” tyres in our tyre hotel, where they are safe until the next winter comes. You can also get new car tyres from us at favourable prices. If you have another request instead of a tyre change, we also offer other services. We look forward to hearing from you!
