You've just bought new summer tires and it's already cold outside again and you need new winter tires. What is the difference between summer and winter tires and would it be so bad if I left the winter tires on all year round?

Questions that many have already asked. We have a few answers.

When do I have to change my tires?

The time to change tires is easy to remember using the O rule. This states that tires are usually driven "from O to O". The "O's" stand for Easter and October. Accordingly, summer tires are driven from Easter to October and winter tires from October to Easter. The optimal time to change tires, however, depends more on the temperature and weather conditions.

What is the difference between summer and winter tires?

Summer tires are designed for temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius. The rubber compound is also different from that of winter tires, because it is much harder for good grip on dry and wet roads under the corresponding weather conditions and temperature.

Winter tires, on the other hand, have other special features, such as the slats that every winter tire has and that ensure that snow and water can drain off in the best possible way and that the tire can grip the snow, which ensures greater driving stability and anti-aquaplaning. This also applies to icy roads due to the softer rubber compound compared to summer tires, as winter tires are specially made for cold temperatures.

Can I drive winter tires in the summer too?

There is a clear answer to this question and it is a clear "no". We explain why this is the case here:

We already know that summer and winter tires are specially manufactured to suit the seasons in question. Summer, with its temperatures and weather conditions, presents completely different requirements than winter, which means that winter tires are unsuitable for the road in summer and are also very risky. The softer rubber compound does not provide ideal grip and therefore maximum safety.