At least when the first snowflakes fall, German motorists must equip their vehicles with winter tires. Since December 2010 there is a situational winter tires are mandatory in Germany. This means that vehicles may be moved during ice or packed snow as well as frost or slush only with so-called M + S tires. The marking M + S come from the English (Mud and Snow), meaning mud & snow. The epithet “situational” emphasizes here that the winter tire requirement applies regardless of the season. Anyone traveling despite slippery road conditions with summer tires, you can expect a fine of 40 euros. Additionally, those who obstruct the traffic because he does not come forward due to improper tire are even punishable by a fine of 80 euros. In freezing car riders will also be obliged to supplement their washer with suitable antifreeze. But back to the winter tire:
What makes a winter tire?
Winter tires are designed so that they especially on slippery roads offer more support than about summer tires one hand, they have in addition to tread on fins and specially shaped grooves and sipes in the tread blocks. The latter methods are also available during summer tires, but these are separated by large gaps during winter tires. In this way a kind of teeth is achieved with the ground, so that the tires are not so easily starts to slip. On the other hand, there are winter tires from a special rubber compound that can withstand very low temperatures and therefore does not lose its elasticity. This is important for the aforementioned blades: When the tire is rolling out these open elastic and make the tires again additional grip.
What to consider when using winter tires?
Direction: Due to its special profile shape a particular direction is specified by the manufacturer of winter tires almost always. This can be seen by a mark on the tire – it usually involves an arrow on the sidewall. Fitted correctly urges the tire example slush from the tread better off than in the opposite direction to driving. Tire pressure: When frosty dry weather advise manufacturer, the tire pressure to increase by about 0.2 bars, as the otherwise acting by heat pressure increase is absent. At increased risk of slipping about through slush the opposite is true: A somewhat lower tire pressure improves grip because the tire is elastic and a wider contact patch gives. Attention with dry roads: Especially at higher temperatures increases the abrasion of winter tires on dry roads. Because the grip is given mainly by the coarser structure, rather than by the large contact surface of the rubber in summer tires, winter tires on dry roads have significantly poorer handling on. In the course of thus lower support surface, for example, results in a longer stopping distance. Note the shelf life: After about five years, you should dispose of your winter tires, even if they still have sufficient profile, because even with prolonged shutdown of the tire shows age and embrittlement of the rubber. In addition, although applicable in Germany for winter tires have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm – as already mentioned, however, the grip of winter tires is given by the “gear effect”, which deteriorate the driving characteristics, even at moderately worn tires quickly.