The expert explained the behavior of summer tires in cold weather

In the coming days, forecasters in Moscow and the regions are promising large amounts of precipitation and even snowfall, which may surprise drivers who have already installed summer tires instead of winter ones. Oleg Markov, a technical expert at Cordiant Holding, told Izvestia on April 23 about the behavior of summer tires at low temperatures and recommended avoiding trips on such tires in cold weather.

The composition of the rubber compound of tires varies significantly depending on the target season of use. This is due to the fact that different components and their proportions provide optimal performance in certain weather conditions, Markov explained. He noted that the summer tires are designed to operate at temperatures from about 7 ° C above zero.

When the temperature drops to near-zero values, the rubber compound from which summer tires are made hardens, and the properties of natural rubber change, resulting in reduced elasticity. Even the presence of tread elements with additional engagement edges does not compensate for the decrease in efficiency, the expert warned.

"As a result, the risk of losing grip increases even on dry but cold asphalt. On snow and ice, the danger increases many times: the car becomes less controllable, the probability of skidding increases, which even modern electronic stabilization systems are not always able to cope with. On a snowy or icy road, a car with summer tires may practically not respond to steering, especially when trying to maneuver, and the braking distance increases significantly," the expert said.

In such weather conditions, the best solution would be to avoid traveling by car, which is already equipped with summer tires, especially if it comes to long-distance routes or traveling outside the city, where the road situation is usually worse and less predictable, Markov said. If using a car is unavoidable, it is worth returning to a winter set of tires — saving several thousand rubles for tire service can lead to the danger of getting into an accident and much greater financial losses.

Trips on summer tires in near—zero temperatures and snowfall are possible only in exceptional situations - for short distances and with extensive driving experience. It is important to reduce the speed to a minimum, increase the distance with other road users, and check braking performance in advance on safe sections of the road. But even such caution in icy conditions does not guarantee safety, Markov warned.

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