When to change tires to winter ones: opinions are divided

There is no need to talk about thorns now

Forecasters gave advice to motorists near Moscow: the best time to change shoes from summer to winter tires this year is at the end of October. The fact is that the cold rainy weather will soon change again to dry and warm. This means that there is no need to rush to the tire shop – the automotive summer continues, as it were. “MK” found out how tire service workers themselves feel about the “ideal time to change tires”, what will happen if you rush into changing shoes, and which tires should be preferred in the Moscow region.

According to the letter of the law, in Russia from December 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024, the movement of cars and trucks up to 3.5 tons on summer tires is prohibited. This means that any respectable motorist must get to a tire shop before December.

For a long time there were no fines for non-seasonal tires in Russia, despite the presence of a ban in the Technical Regulations. However, on September 1, 2023, a new list of faults for which the operation of vehicles is prohibited came into force.

According to the amendments, a fine of 500 rubles under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation will now be imposed if the following violations are detected:

1. Vehicles of categories M1 and N1 are not equipped with winter tires during the winter period (December, January, February);

2. Vehicles are equipped with tires with anti-skid studs in the summer (June, July, August).

A similar fine will be imposed if winter tires are not installed on all wheels of the vehicle.

It is clear that for most of Russia, the legal requirements to prohibit driving on summer tires after December 1 are irrelevant – you need to switch to winter tires in advance, and much earlier than the start of the calendar winter, unless, of course, you live in the south.

Car tire manufacturers themselves recommend “re-shoeing” your car for the winter when average daily temperatures drop below +7 degrees Celsius. At such temperatures, summer tires no longer hold the road well; ice may form at night and in the morning.

“If you and I had listened to the automakers, we would have gone to the tire shop this weekend,” says auto expert Nikita Soloviev. – The average daily temperature on Friday was already +5 degrees. In some places in the capital region, wet snow is predicted for the coming days. The situation on the roads will be difficult due to precipitation. It definitely needs to be changed.

“Also pay attention to how you store your tires and where you change them,” adds auto mechanic Sergei Kiselev. – For example, if you don’t have a second set of wheels, the tires are stored in a tire hotel, a car dealership or in the country, and you “change your shoes” at a tire shop, you should think about “changing shoes” in advance. Otherwise you will encounter queues. And if it snows suddenly, you won’t even have time to pick up and deliver your winter tires.

But if you have a ready-made second set of tires on rims, which is lying on your balcony or in the garage, and you are replacing them yourself, then it is enough to check and balance them in advance. If the weather starts to worsen, you can change the wheels in the evening in just an hour, in your yard or garage.

Many are also interested in the question of whether it is necessary to put a “Spikes” sticker on the glass in 2023 if you have studded winter tires. Everything is very clear here – by Government Decree No. 1414 of November 24, 2018, from December 8, 2018, the driver’s obligation to install the “Spikes” identification mark on cars with studded tires was canceled. This sign is currently excluded from the traffic rules.