The 7-degree rule: why and when you should urgently change your car into winter tires

The first snow is about to fall. Of course, it will melt right away, but the roads will remain slippery for some time afterward. This is where drivers who have already changed to winter tires will have a safety advantage.

But the question remains: when is the right time to change tires? Toyota experts assure that it should be done when the air temperature drops to +7 degrees Celsius. And they give 7 reasons why.

Winter tires work better at low temperatures

Winter tires are specially softer than summer or all-season tires. The reason is that the rubber hardens at low temperatures, and the car, as a result, loses traction The effect of the difference in stiffness becomes noticeable at a temperature of 7 degrees.

A retreaded car sticks to the road better

Just like tires, the road surface becomes harder in the cold. Remember that during the summer heat, you can even sink into the asphalt while walking, but in winter this no longer happens. Softer tires, meanwhile, do not lose their ability to stick to the cold road while driving and thus make the car more controllable.

Deeper treads handle snow better

Snow is a thing that may be gone in the evening, but in the morning it's already a thick layer. Deep treads are designed to bite through the snow and maximize tire contact with the road.

Zigzag grooves are ideal on wet roads

The wavy or zigzag grooves on winter tires are a brilliant development that makes them feel better on wet roads. When they touch the road surface, they open like small pockets and draw in water, and when they come off the road, they spit the liquid out. The car is unlikely to slip with such protection.

Hydrophilic rubber – another protection against water

Even in the most severe frosts, moisture is present on the road surface. This is due to the pressure exerted by cars – it melts a small part of the snow and ice. The hydrophilic tread inherent in high-quality winter tires acts like a microscopic sponge, improving traction in such unfavorable conditions

Short braking distances are a key to safety

The British magazine Auto Express Magazine tested a set of winter tires stopping on wet asphalt at 7 degrees Celsius compared to summer tires. During emergency braking with ABS at 80 km/h, the car's stopping distance was 35.5 meters on the winter tires and 42.5 meters on the summer tires. The difference was as much as 7 meters. A huge advantage!

Microbubbles prevent the tires from "balding" prematurely

The best winter tires are made with microbubble technology. The tire compound used to make them is specially designed to contain many, many bubbles. They are exposed as they wear out and act like water drainage grooves, enhancing slip protection.