Many motorists are interested in questions about whether the operation of a car on rubber is justified out of season and whether it is possible to drive studded tires in general in the summer. Given the mentality in our country, such a situation is by no means uncommon. They explain driving in winter tires in winter as follows - the difference is in the increased noise level and in a slight deterioration in the behavior of the car on the road. Drivers believe that this can be safely neglected. But is it that simple? Let's see what threatens rubber drivers out of season.
In terms of law
In the Russian Federation, due to the fact that the territory of the country is huge, and the climate in different regions can be different, there is no single answer to this question. But from January 1, 2015, amendments and clarifications to the law were introduced that prohibited studded tires in the summer.
There is one more nuance. It consists in the fact that there is no penalty for such a violation as such. The only possible punishment that a driver can wait for is an oral warning. Motorists should be extremely careful when police officers try to write a fine for winter tires.
In Ukraine, for example, there are no fines for this either. And so you can ride on any tires. They cannot legally punish a driver. But under certain circumstances, the road can be punished. Therefore, although there is no fine, the risk is not justified. It is first and foremost your safety.
Fine
We have already considered above that a fine for studded tires or winter tires in the summer season is not provided for in the Code of Administrative Offenses. But this document includes several articles that punish offenses relating to tires and their condition.
In the process of developing bills for driving on tires that are out of season, lawmakers wanted the amount of the fine to be two thousand rubles. But this initiative was not supported, therefore, under the Code of Administrative Offenses for violation of seasonality, a minimum penalty is provided. For repeated, the same fine in the amount of five hundred rubles is provided.
But motorists should not relax. In the near future, amendments to the legislation are planned, and, possibly, the size of the fine for studded tires will increase. The impetus for the development of changes were traffic jams in Moscow. According to authorities, off-season tires on cars make it difficult to drive.
Tread height
Thus, the Code of Administrative Offenses indicates that it is prohibited to operate a car with worn rubber. From January 1, 2015 (and it was then that the amendments to the law came into force), the minimum tread height on tires should be 0.8 millimeters for cars belonging to category L, 1 millimeter for vehicles of categories N2-3 and O3-4. For vehicles of categories M1, N1, O1, 02, the minimum tread height should be 1.6 mm. On winter tires, the tread height should be at least four millimeters.
If these requirements are not complied with, then this qualifies as operation of a car with malfunctions. Responsibility is provided for these actions. It is established under Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. The amount of the fine for the violation is 500 rubles.
Tires of various types
The installation of studded and non-studded, with different tread depths, worn and new on the same axis also belongs to the category of faulty vehicles. The penalty for such a violation is all the same 500 rubles.
Limitations
Although there are no fines, the regulation contains provisions that prohibit driving on summer tires in winter - from December to February, as well as on winter tires in the summer months (from June to August inclusive). In spring and autumn, you can ride on any tires. In this case, drivers do not violate a single law.
The regulation provides that the rules and dates when to change winter tires can be adjusted by the authorities in a particular region according to climatic and weather conditions.
Spiked wheels
Many drivers are interested in whether it is possible to ride studded tires in the summer. No specific penalties were established this year, since the new provision of the Customs Union does not have such a thing as studded tires.
In this case, only general rules will apply to drivers. Tires with spikes will be equated to winter tires, the driver can get a fine of 500 rubles for driving on it in the summer if there are inconsistencies.
Why ride it in the summer?
Beginners and inexperienced motorists who choose not to take off winter tires in the summer are guided by simple logical conclusions. If the tire works in snow and on ice, then it will be quite effective on wet as well as dry asphalt. Even more - some people think that winter tires in the summer are safer. Factors of possible accident risks are not the main ones in such cases. The main factor that forces not to change the car is saving. Moreover, such savings are only one-time.
Also, winter tires are used in summer because the tread on it is worn out and can no longer be confidently used in snow and on ice. Therefore, the only purpose of a worn tire is to operate it on dry roads.
The difference between summer and winter tires
Summer tires and winter tires differ in tread pattern and chemical composition. On the first in the figure, smooth checkers and long longitudinal grooves are clearly marked. Checkers provide maximum traction on the road surface. Grooves are required to drain water from the point of contact with the road if it is wet.
Winter studded Velcro rubber is distinguished by a tread pattern in the form of a Christmas tree. The grooves are not located longitudinally, but diagonally towards the edge. There are slots on the checkers. There are a lot of them. Due to this picture, the handling on ice and snow is increased. As for the composition, the winter tires are much milder than the summer counterparts.
These tires do not harden at low air temperatures. Slots on the tread can be sequentially closed during movement, thereby ensuring reliable grip on an icy or snowy road.
The technical part of the question
The question of whether it is possible to ride studded tires in the summer torments many. Technical experts are sure - it is impossible. There are three good reasons for this:
- The chemical composition of winter tires is designed for low temperatures. Only then can they provide good adhesion to the roadway, especially if snow porridge is present on it. Winter tire is much milder. Once the asphalt heats up to 10 degrees, all the properties of winter tires are lost. Manageability worsens, acceleration dynamics decrease, braking distance increases. Strength characteristics of winter tires in the summer heat are seriously reduced. The tire may burst even from exposure to a small stone or other object that has fallen into the tread. If a wheel with a winter tire gets into a puddle, then aquaplaning cannot be avoided.
- The budget for the maintenance of cars on winter tires in the summer is significantly increased. Due to the fact that the contact spot increases, the fuel consumption also increases. Wear of winter tires in summer is much faster than in frost. If the tires are equipped with spikes, then before the winter they will all wear out or fly out. The owner will have to purchase a new kit.
- Driving on tires with spikes wears out a lot.Velcro driving provokes uneven tire wear and noise. As for safety, controllability is reduced, and the service life of various suspension and chassis elements is also reduced. Summer tires (not even new) are much better for their season. And save, using the "winter" will not work.
Another thing is if a used car was bought and only winter tires are on it. However, even this is not a serious excuse. Now you can buy tires in any condition very cheaply.
All season
There are such tires. There are opinions that they are universal. Yes it is. But it should be borne in mind that they are intended for countries with a mild climate, where there are no serious temperature differences. In most regions of the Russian Federation, all-weather tires are ineffective. Due to the special composition, wear in this case is even faster than summer or winter tires.
findings
Is it possible to ride studded tires in summer? It is possible, but not necessary. The point is not a fine and not the opportunity to save on a set of summer wheels, because winter tires are no longer suitable for a full winter. This is a security issue. Winter tires are dangerous, but there are no advantages to using them in the summer. If possible, for this season it is better to purchase a used set of tires and not risk your life and your passengers.