Winter is approaching.
For many motorists, this means they need the right tires.
Buying them will be an expensive affair this year - with a little savings potential.
Food, fuel and gas, new cars: Pretty much everything is becoming more expensive.
Some purchases that were actually planned may be postponed - possibly that of a car that would not be available anyway.
For some things, however, this is not so easy to do.
If you need new winter tires, for example, you won't be able to avoid buying them in the next few weeks: After all, you're obligated to use them in snow and ice - apart from the fact that a winter tour on summer tires can end badly.
(Conversely, you can drive with winter tires in summer, but this is not recommended.)
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Winter tires are more expensive than ever.
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© Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
Winter tires are significantly more expensive - so drivers can save money when buying them
Unfortunately, this year you have to dig deeper into your pocket than ever before for the tires with the snowflake symbol.
And clearly.
The rising costs for raw materials, energy and transport worldwide are also having an impact on the prices for winter tyres.
"Until a few months ago, the tire industry still largely obtained important raw materials such as carbon black and synthetic rubber from Russia and the Ukraine," explains the Federal Association of Tire Trade and Vulcanisers (BRV).
According to an analysis by the comparison portal Check24, the 100 best-selling winter tire types were on average 20.8 percent more expensive in August 2022 than in the previous year.
Those who – like more and more Germans – switch to all-season tires only get off marginally better: These tires now cost 15.5 percent more.
Winter tires are significantly more expensive - price comparisons are worthwhile
You can't completely avoid the price increase - but you can mitigate it a bit.
Because the comparison portal has found that the prices for the same tire brands vary greatly depending on the dealer.
So if you look around online on the free market and compare the prices, you can save a few euros.
However, this means a significant change for all those who, out of convenience, have previously left their car dealer to change tires and store the set they no longer need.
Don't miss anything: You can find everything to do with cars in the regular car newsletter from our partner tz.de.
In any case, it is not a solution to simply wait – in the hope that prices may drop a little again.
Because experience has shown that they tend to tighten even more as winter approaches.
And once the first snowflakes have fallen, the desired make with the right size is guaranteed to be sold out.
However, the BRV does not fear any fundamental delivery problems: "an alternative permissible tire can always be found at short notice".
(With material from dpa)
List of rubrics: © Julian Stratenschulte/dpa