With the approach of cold weather and predicted frosts in Ukraine, drivers are starting to think about the need to replace summer tires with winter ones. Driving instructor Mykola Krepets provided several important recommendations regarding this process.
Considering that the Ukrhydrometeorological Center warns of intense frosts in Ukraine over the next two nights due to an anticyclone from the north and a drop in temperature to 0.5°C in most regions, except for the southeast, the question arises of replacing summer tires with winter tires.
Many drivers put off the decision to replace their tires until later, but after the first snow falls, it may be too late. Driving instructor Mykola Krepenets advises drivers to change tires in the so-called five-degree mode - from +5 degrees to +10, because summer tires harden in the cold and turn into slippery plastic.
If the temperature fluctuates from +5 to +10 degrees, then this is an indicator that the tires need to be changed. There are frosts at night now
He noted that all-season tires are not effective in either winter or summer.
It’s like shoes. If you take demi-season shoes, they are cold in winter and hot in summer. This rubber works in exactly the same way.”
He also emphasized that you can drive on winter tires in the summer, but you can't drive on summer tires in the winter.
The patrol police have already urged drivers to consider replacing their summer tires, emphasizing that summer tires lose their grip properties at low temperatures, while winter tires, on the contrary, remain elastic even at sub-zero temperatures, which allows for better control of the car on winter roads.
The patrol officers also reminded us about the winter washer, which can already be replaced, because the summer one can simply freeze in the tank.
Also, some drivers start changing tires before the cold weather sets in, so as not to stand in kilometer-long lines for tire fitting, or wait for an appointment, afraid to drive a car so as not to get into an accident.
Ukrainian legislation does not regulate when it is necessary to change summer tires to winter tires. According to traffic regulations, it is prohibited to operate vehicles with a residual tread height of less than 1.6 mm. For vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tons - 1.0 mm, buses - 2.0 mm, motorcycles and mopeds - 0.8 mm.
In January of last year, the People's Deputies submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada that would establish fines for driving a car not equipped with winter and/or all-season tires during the period from November 1 to March 31.
The fine for such a violation was proposed to be set at 340 hryvnias. The draft law is currently under consideration in the Rada.
