Weather changes affect driving conditions on the road. In the UAE, summers are extreme and winters are short, which exempts the need of changing tyres every season. You can maintain your car tyres in the UAE summer and they will stay useful throughout winter – but that’s not the best strategy in regions with extreme differences in summer and winter temperatures. In some areas of the world, temperature varies greatly throughout the year and it is mandatory to change your tyres accordingly.
Today we will discuss what differentiates summer tyres from winter tyres. These tyres are completely different in most aspects, ranging from composition to maintenance. Each is prepared to function in specific weather conditions. Let’s take a look at some major differences between winter and summer tyres.
Ideal Compound Temperature Creates the Difference
To ensure the difference in the performance of winter and summer tyres, compounds with distinct properties are used. These compounds are distinguished by the ideal temperature, known as the Glass Transition Temperature (GTT) of tyres. Above the GTT, the molecules move freely which make the tyres more flexible. The winter tyres remain flexible at lower GTT (less than 7⁰C) and summer tyres are firm at higher GTT (more than 7⁰C). Therefore, the usage, performance and selection of these tyres depend on the temperature of the region you are driving in.
Summer Vs Winter Tyres
You may know when to change your car’s tyre. It is usually when it’s losing grip or near its expiry date. However, it is also important to know when to change them as per the weather conditions. See the following difference between the winter and winter tyres that also reflect their crucial role during seasons.
Composition
The composition of each tyre is different. Summer tyres are prepared from natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl and halogenated butyl rubber.
On the contrary, winter tyres are composed of other materials. It includes; natural rubber, aromatic oil, butadiene rubber, carbon black and silane coupling agent.
Grooves
The best summer tyres do not have many grooves. Instead, they have specially designed bars to reduce aquaplaning. This provides a strong longitudinal and lateral grip at higher temperatures. Moreover, it also allows the vehicle to run smoothly on wet and dry roads.
On the other hand, winter tyres have tiny grooves to disperse water. These tiny grooves or sipes grasp into the snow and provide enough grip to run on the road.
Tread Pattern
The summer tyres are designed with shallow tread depth supported by solid ribs. These treads provide stability and longevity with reduced rolling noises. The bigger tread block ensures to provide enough braking ability on wet and dry roads. You can check tyre’s tread depth by using a coin or depth checking gauge.
The winter tyres have a deeper tread pattern and smaller repetitive cuts to collect snow when you drive over it. These tyres are flexible to remain undaunted by cold weather.
Performance
The summer tyres can handle almost all the weather. These tyres are hard and brittle that provide an impressive braking distance. However, the harsh weather conditions below 7⁰C is not suitable for these tyres.
In comparison, the winter tyres can only be used in lower temperature regions. These tyres are prepared from soft material. Therefore, even a moderate temperature can reduce its functionality.
How to Distinguish Between Summer and Winter Tyres?
For a beginner, it’s really difficult to identify the type of tyre physically. It requires a professional level of experience for this. Here we have mentioned some easy ways to differentiate between tyres.
- Every tyre has a mark like ‘Temperature A’. This mark indicates the ability of tyre to bear temperature. A is the highest, B is moderate, and C is to be used in extreme winters.
- Winter tyres do not have tradeware index embossed on them.
- The grooves and treads are also visible to differentiate between different types of tyres.
Best Tyres for Cars in the UAE
The UAE features a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters. Therefore, using summer tyres will be the best option. These tyres can bear higher temperatures during the daytime. Using winter tyres can get risky, it will become brittle and fails to maintain enough grip with the road. Now you can buy tyres online in the UAE to ensure the security of your vehicle.
Make sure that the tread depth complies with the minimum legal requirements in the UAE:
- 1.6 mm for light vehicles.
- 2.4 mm for medium vehicles.
- 3.2 mm for heavy vehicles.
- 0.8 mm for motorbikes.
Tyres are directly related to the safety of your vehicle. They control everything from acceleration to braking, and hence having a proper set of tyres is important. Replacing old tyres is not an arduous job, but it may cost you some additional money, time and effort. Therefore, when you buy a used car for sale in the UAE, ensure that it has an adequate set of tyres. You can use a groove or tread checking method to verify the remaining life of tyres.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s best car blog for more information on tyres and their maintenance.
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