Only high-quality winter tires will help you reach your favorite ski resort safely
Ideally, every driver dreams of combining a reasonable price, good quality, and confidence in driving on the iciest and snowiest roads. The first thing to remember: you need to change tires for winter trips. Even cheap winter tires on ice will be much safer and more reliable than the most expensive summer or all-season ones.
First, you should familiarize yourself with the offer. Don't rush to fully trust reviews about the manufacturer, as details are rarely mentioned — such as, for example, mileage on one set of tires. If the car is used for short trips on good roads, one set can last more than five years. But if the car is used frequently and on different roads, the tires can be "killed" in a single season.
You need to pay attention to the conditions in which you plan to drive and the maximum speed. If you are a fan of fast driving, buy more expensive tires; if you strictly follow traffic rules, then inexpensive winter tires will be quite reliable in your case.
The first difference in price is between domestic and foreign tires: the difference sometimes reaches 1.5-2 times. Moreover, the range of domestic tires is represented by two or three types, while on the shelves there are 5-10 "foreign" ones nearby.
For careful driving within the city, you can safely take domestic tires. The difference will be unnoticeable, and the savings will be significant.
The next point: studded or non-studded tires. As experts from the specialized website shinaexpert.ru note, each type has its own disadvantages and advantages. Non-studded tires perform well on dry road surfaces, while on ice and packed snow their safety indicators are much worse. Studded tires perform worse on asphalt, especially on wet roads. For example, the new model of winter tires Continental ContiVikingContact 6 is excellent for harsh winter tests not only in our country but also in Northern European countries.
Experts have found that at minus 15 degrees, both studded and non-studded tires have approximately equal performance. But at lower temperatures, "Velcro" (friction tires) are still more reliable.
And one more important note: choose winter tires based on the climate in your region (or in the region of your stay during a trip abroad).