The expert gave advice on the choice of tires

When choosing rubber, you need to focus on the budget and, if desired, on the reviews of the owners. Alexander Kornev, head of the Department for work with importers at Gazprombank Autoleasing, told Izvestia on March 25. He also gave advice on how to choose the right tires.

"Keep in mind that Chinese and Russian tires are generally no worse than others, especially since many Western brands are produced from the same conveyors," he said.

Also, according to him, it should be remembered that the shelf life of tires from some manufacturers is limited to five years. However, any fresh wheels can be ruined by improper storage in a couple of years. Due to long-term storage, the rubber dries out and loses elasticity, instead of black it turns whitish and becomes covered with many cracks. It is dangerous to ride on such wheels.

"Therefore, the most important advice is to always inspect the tires before buying and try to choose the most "fresh" copies — a year, at most two from the moment of production to sale. The date of manufacture is indicated on the sidewall closer to the disc — four digits in an oval. The first two indicate the week of production, the second two indicate the year, that is, the tires with the numbers 0224 were made in January 2024. Choose among the new models that have appeared on the market over the past couple of years, so as not to take stale goods," Kornev advised.

In addition, he clarified that it is necessary to carefully study the labels on the tires in order to evaluate all the advantages and additional characteristics. Some of them may not be necessary, but they will affect the price. As an example, he cited the inscription RunFlat, specifying that it means reinforced sidewalls on which the car can ride, even if the tire is flat. The labels with the word Seal indicate a sealant inside the tire that can tighten small punctures. The all-season wheels differ in the letters M+S and a snowflake against the background of three mountain peaks: they can be used all year round without the risk of being fined for being out of season.

Stretch the tires: it's too early to change tires, despite the March warming

By the end of the month, the temperature will drop to negative values, meteorologists warn.

"Choose rubber for the operating conditions. Studded wheels are noisier and increase fuel consumption. Studded tires are quieter, a little more economical, and come in "Scandinavian" soft rubber for snowy winters and "European" harder rubber for warmer regions. Studded wheels are useful on intercity routes where it is colder. The "Scandinavian" wheels are suitable for a moderate winter without much ice and, if desired, a certain silence in the cabin. The "European" option is more often needed when operating a car on asphalt," the expert added.

He recommended that you always check the acceptable wheel size for your car before buying. This is always written in the instruction manual. Out-of-size wheels can accelerate suspension wear, increase fuel consumption, change handling, and can also disrupt the operation of electronic ABS and ESP sensors.

"In Russia, the metric wheel measurement system is used. The inscription on the tire 215/55 R17 indicates its 215 mm width, the profile height of 55% of this width and the 17-inch disc on which it is mounted. There are also indexes of maximum speed and load on each wheel, but all modern tires are made with a margin for these characteristics, so under normal operating conditions you can do without this information," explained Kornev.

At the same time, he stressed that it is worth double thinking when buying tires with your own hands.

"It's always a lottery. You can save a lot of money or lose even more if you get into trouble because of a used tire that burst on the road. Usually, such wheels are given a good discount, but you need to check their condition very carefully, again look at the production date and assess the storage conditions," the expert concluded.

Earlier, on March 14, experts from the SberAuto service told Izvestia that if you have basic tools and skills, independent tire installation can lead to unpleasant consequences. They stressed that it is worthwhile to change only the wheel assemblies on your own: without experience and equipment, it is difficult to properly install the disc.