Many drivers feel tempted to drive their winter tires in the summer. Nokian Tyres experts say this is dangerous for both drivers and traffic.

NASHVILLE (Tenn.) – When conditions become dangerously cold, there’s nothing better than having a set responsive winter tires. It’s essential to have a set winter or all-weather tires in North America. Their soft compounds protect drivers from the cold and snow.

However, these tires can become major liability once the summer heat and snow melts. Even though winter tires are designed to be safe, the compounds that make them work well in summer conditions don’t have the ability to withstand heat and wet roads. Winter tires don’t have the right characteristics to allow safe summer driving even though they have adequate tread depth.

Steve Bourassa is Nokian Tyres North America’s Director of Products and Pricing. “We designed our winter tires so they can withstand snow and ice.” “But winter strength is summer weakness. It’s important that drivers think about all-season or all weather tires when temperatures rise.”

Wet asphalt is challenging for winter tires

Numerous tests have shown that winter tires are not as good in the summer. These differences are particularly evident in the summer rain.

According to Finnish automotive magazine Tekniikan Maailma, a summer tire test was conducted on March 6, 2019. It showed that a non-studded tire can be used to stop a car at speeds of 80 km/h (about 50 MPH) and then a new tire will have to stop the car at 40 km/h (25 MPH). Dry asphalt also has a poorer brake grip than summer tires.

It was also revealed that controlling driving on wet asphalt with worn winter tires is almost impossible, as sliding can occur without warning.

In summer, winter tires steer slowly and feel unstable to drive

Winter tires are more stable than summer tires due to their densely siped tread and heavy block pattern. Tires that steer slowly will not respond as well to unexpected conditions.

Bourassa warns that if you think winter tires can steer as fast as summer tires, it could lead to crashing or veering off of the road.

Also, non-studded winter tires and tires without studs are less stable than their all season or all-weather counterparts. In terms of rigidity, the winter tread compound is combined with a block pattern.

Bourassa says that even on a hot summer day you will have to adjust your steering with winter tires because they will be more flexible than the all-season tires which are more rigid.

Tires wear down quickly in warm weather

Winter tires are made with soft tread compounds that are designed for winter use. In hot summer temperatures, they can generate excessive heat and increase the tire’s thermal load.

Bourassa says that if the tread gets too hot, it will transfer heat to the tire structure. This can lead to durability issues. The worst case scenario is when the tire components break down, which can lead to the structure failing. This could cause the tire’s failure.

Warm summer temperatures can cause winter tires to wear faster, creating an abnormally serrated pattern. Serrated tread can cause vibration and noise. This can cause unpleasant driving experiences and may lead to problems with your car. The suspension and bearings are not able to withstand continuous vibration.

The tire could also wear faster if there are rocks in the empty stud holes. The rock may get inside the tire through the steel belt package and cause it to break.

All-weather tires provide a solution

Nokian Tyres’ all weather products can withstand both warm and wet summer roads. Winter tires may not be ideal for hot, humid summer roads. The all-weather tire was created by the Scandinavian company Nokian Tyres in response to customers who needed a winter-rated product that they could use all year.

All-weather tires have the Severe Service Emblem, also known as the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake, which certifies that they are suitable for winter use. They can also be used on spring and summer roads making them an excellent choice for drivers who don’t want to change tires twice a year.

The All-season Tire :

• Low rolling resistance
• Good wet grip
• Good aquaplaning resistance
• Stability in driving is important