Nine myths about winter tires

Created: 05/11/2022, 16:58

By: Michael Baumgartner

Tires, nothing but tires, currently determine the everyday life of Martin Harabin and company owner Michael Mignoli (right) in Starnberg.

Many myths have developed about winter tires that are not true.

© Andrea Jaksch

Tread depth, age, axle, all-season tires, M+S marking: there are a number of myths surrounding winter tires.

An expert clears up some misconceptions.

Starnberg

– It is pure piece work that Michael Mignoli and his employees are currently doing.

It's winter tire time again - and the car accessories dealer on Moosstrasse in Starnberg and his team are currently changing the tires on around 50 cars a day from summer to winter mode.

"We convert about 1,000 vehicles twice a year," says the tire expert, who has been self-employed in this business for 28 years.

Anyone who only wants to have their tires replaced now will have to wait three to four weeks.

There have always been a number of myths surrounding the right tires.

Starnberger Merkur gets to the bottom of some of these legends with the help of the specialist Mignoli and uncovers one or two fairy tales about winter tires.

Myth no. 1: You only have to put on winter tires when the first snow falls!

That's absolute nonsense, says Mignoli.

"Basically you can stick to the 'from O to O' rule, i.e. drive winter tires from October to Easter." After all, the temperatures are often already low in autumn, and the rubber compound designed for summer tires for higher temperatures does not fit below eight degrees more.

The result: the tire becomes hard and no longer adheres sufficiently to the road.

"I have customers who had their winter tires fitted in mid-September to save themselves the long waiting times," says Mignoli.

And that doesn't bother the winter tires, even if it was still very warm then.

Myth no. 2: Winter tires are gas guzzlers!

"They would have to be very old winter tires," says Mignoli.

With modern tires, the difference to summer tires is "only minimal".

The fuel consumption has hardly anything to do with the profile, the difference to summer tires lies more in the lamella technology of winter tires, which is why the rolling resistance is very similar.

Myth no. 3: M+S tires, the letters stand for mud and snow, are equivalent to winter tires!

"That used to be the case," says Mignoli.

"The Chinese delivered almost every summer tire with an M+S marking." A few years ago, it was noticed that this made no sense and a new marking was introduced - the so-called Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, a three-pointed mountain with a snowflake inside.

According to Mignoli, it is only with this marking on the sidewall of the tire that it is actually “a tire that is suitable for winter” and is recognized by the legislator.

Myth #4: Tire tread depth is more important than its age!

Mignoli is certain: “The profile should be at least four millimeters deep.

But the age of the tire is even more important,” explains the expert.

Reason: Every tire contains certain softeners, which escape from the rubber compound over time.

As a result, the tire becomes harder and loses its grip properties.

"Drivers usually notice this after a few years, when they suddenly find it difficult to climb the mountain when there is snow," says Mignoli.

His advice: "You should buy new winter tires after six years."

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Myth No. 5: All-season tires are sufficient in our region!

Michael Mignoli has nothing against trusting in all-season tires - under two conditions: Firstly, the tire should "be from a sensible manufacturer, then an all-weather tire is quite sufficient for us".

And secondly, all-season tires are only recommended if you don't fully exhaust them.

"If you don't drive like a racing driver in summer and don't necessarily want to drive to the Zugspitze in winter, then a tire like this can make sense.

They are now very good.” Mignoli has also noticed an increasing demand for all-season tires at his workshop – also for reasons of economy.

It also depends on the mileage.

"What use is the best winter or summer tire to me,

Myth #6: The more expensive a tire, the better!

In Mignoli's opinion, expensive tires from premium manufacturers are not necessarily the best choice.

"There are also quite recommendable low-budget tires from Korean manufacturers, for example, which are absolutely fine," says the expert.

"The Japanese also produce reasonable tires." However, he advises against absolutely cheap products from China.

And you shouldn't necessarily rely on relevant tests either.

"They are not always very meaningful." Nevertheless: "If you stick to the upper third of the test results, you are certainly not doing anything wrong."

Myth #7: Narrow winter tires are better than wide ones!

Many motorists are of the opinion: "The narrower the winter tire, the more grip it has on snow".

This rule no longer applies.

In any case, according to Mignoli, even small cars such as a VW Golf now have fairly wide tires as standard.

Modern tire development with sophisticated cold-resistant rubber compounds and lamella technology make it possible to use the same tire width in winter as in summer.

And in this respect, Mignoli also clears up another legend: Not only the tire size that is entered in the registration certificate can be fitted, but often many other dimensions as well.

“The vehicle registration document does not list all tire sizes that you are allowed to drive.

Many other permissible sizes can often be found on the inside of the tank cap.

Myth #8: The tires with the better profile always belong on the drive axle!

It seems logical to fit the two tires with the better profile on the front axle of a front-wheel drive car.

However, Mignoli doesn't think much of that.

"The better tires always belong on the rear axle," he advises.

Why?

"The cornering force is important, and that happens via the rear axle." In concrete terms, this means: With the better tires at the rear, the vehicle is more stable, so it doesn't break out sideways at the rear so easily.

Myth no. 9: Winter tires are mandatory in the cold season!

"That's not the case," explains Mignoli.

"In Germany, in contrast to other countries such as Switzerland, the only rule is that you have to have tires and equipment for the weather." So there is no deadline from which you can only drive with winter tires.

"So you can drive with summer tires with impunity even in January when it's 15 degrees and it's dry." However, if you're on tour in snow, mud and ice with the same, then fines and points in Flensburg threaten.