Summer’s coming and it’s tyre maintenance time

Author: halimakelly88 | Posted: 15.05.2012

The birds are singing again and the sky is clearing. It must be springtime! Temperatures keep rising and the snow is on it’s way out inevitably. This means that it’s time to think about getting the summer tyres out of garage and removing your winter tyres from your vehicle. Think of it as changing the shoes for your car.

Most of us in living in the countries where we have heavy seasonal climates need two sets of tyres. With the amount of snow and ice some of us get specialized tyres are increasingly being used. It’s good to realize that while winter tyres function much better than all season tyres in these areas, they can also create problems for the driver if they are left on too long.

Winter tyres are designed very different from summer tyres. More ice grip and softer rubber makes winter tyres, such as Nokian’s Hakkapeliitta excellent during winter but they won't last long if you drive them on hot, dry, roads. Winter tyres also have a higher rolling resistance on dry, warm roads. Using your winter tyres when it’s already warmer weather, means that your are shortening the life span of the tyres. Not to mention that winter tyres are much noisier than summer tyres.

Usually switching your tyres doesn’t take much time. It can be done with the right equipment in less than thirty minutes, and even if you do it by yourself you can have it done in less than an hour. If you don't know how or don't have the proper equipment, be sure to bring it in to your dealer, who shouldn't charge you more money than for a tyres rotation (if you have two sets of tyres and wheels). On the other hand, if you only have one set of wheels but two different types of tyres, switching the tyres will take much more time and cost more. With only one set of wheels for your vehicle, tyres must be dismounted and the summer tyres remounted, which usually means new valve stems, re-balancing, and reinstalling the tyres.

Either way, it’s advisable to change the tyres before it’s too late. Driving on winter tyres during the summer is a danger for multiple reasons, so be sure to find some time soon to make the change over. Summer is upon us, and it's time to change to summer performance tyres to get the best out of your vehicle!

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