When to “change” your car to summer tires in 2021

When is it legal to change your shoes to winter tires in 2021?

Winter in Russia, as always, creeps up unexpectedly. And although September is just ending, many are already looking for information on when to change tires to winter ones.

Many people do not know that the deadlines for switching to winter tires in Russia are now established by law. When is it better to change your car's shoes for the winter in 2021 - recommendations from weather forecasters, traffic police

The “Ш” sign was canceled or not in 2021 Where to put the Spikes sign according to the rules of 2021 The Spikes sign was canceled or not in 2021 When to change summer tires to winter ones in 2021

When and why to switch to winter tires?

Most of the territory of Russia is located in the temperate zone, the northern continental territories are in the subarctic. Some regions located in the temperate zone are characterized by a clear division of seasons. In winter there is constant snow cover and the average air temperature drops below zero. In such conditions, the road surface is mostly icy or snowy; therefore, for safe driving, you must have special winter tires. They allow drivers to effectively maneuver on the road, reduce braking distances, improve traction with the road surface, and together contribute to driving safety in winter. This happens due to the following points:

• Winter tires are made from a soft rubber compound that becomes flexible at low temperatures. This type of rubber has a high level of wear resistance;
• Winter tires have a special tread pattern (asymmetrical, V-shaped, etc.), which ensures tighter contact between the road and the wheels, promotes better cross-country ability in snowy roads and guarantees effective braking;
• Rubber micropores (depending on the manufacturer) allow tires to effectively absorb moisture (including from the surface of ice), which ensures good grip;
• The studs found on some winter tires are designed to resist skidding. Their use will be effective outside the city on roads and highways that are rarely cleared of snow and have a smooth (ice or snow) surface.

Most drivers do not know what the fine is for not having winter tires in winter and, in order to avoid sanctions, change tires in advance. But the transition to winter tires, as a process that helps ensure road safety, is beneficial to the motorist himself. By changing summer tires to winter ones, he reduces the likelihood of getting into an accident due to weather conditions and road surface, thereby “saving” himself and other drivers from injuries and damage that may occur during accidents. There are no provisions in federal legislation on the transition to winter tires, but the Technical Regulations “On the Safety of Wheeled Vehicles,” which are in force in the countries of the Customs Union, oblige all drivers to make such a replacement. The table below provides information on the possibility of using certain types of tires depending on the season.

Table - Equipment of vehicles with tires depending on the season

Several times in the history of Russian lawmaking, proposals were made to introduce a fine for the lack of winter tires, but by 2018, none of the proposed laws had been adopted. The last one put forward for consideration was bill No. 464241-6, which proposed establishing a fine of 2,000 rubles. But during the first reading in the State Duma, the initiator of the bill withdrew it from consideration due to amendments to the Technical Regulations clarifying the responsibilities of drivers for seasonal tire changes.

Thus, Appendix No. 8 of the regulations states that studded tires cannot be used during the three summer months. But the fine for winter tires in summer is not established by the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Cars of categories “M1”, “N1” (passenger cars and trucks up to 3.5 tons) must be equipped with studded tires for 3 months of winter. It is possible that legislation may change the timing of the ban based on the climatic characteristics of a particular region. Traffic police officers should also not issue a fine for summer tires in winter in 2021, since there is no such norm in either the Traffic Regulations or the Code of Administrative Offences, the provisions of Chapter 12 of which are based precisely on the Traffic Rules.

Despite the absence of a statutory penalty for one type of tire or another in different seasons, every motorist must understand that he is responsible for what happens on the roads and highways. For the sake of your safety and the safety of others, it would be wisest to “change your shoes” to winter tires. When to do this depends on the territory where the vehicle is used. In some regions, snow may fall as early as September, while in others it will not even fall in December.

When is it legal to change summer tires to winter tires in 2021?

Many still do not know that on January 1, 2015, the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” came into force. This document contains Appendix No. 8, which sets out the legal requirements for tire seasonality. According to the regulations, in winter (December, January, February) winter tires must be installed on the car. That is, according to the law, you need to change tires to winter ones no later than December 1, 2021. Even fewer people know that there is no fine for failure to change tires in Russia yet. However, on December 1, winter is already in full control over most of Russia, so when changing tires you should be guided by common sense, and not regulations.

From what date can you legally stop wearing winter tires?

At the beginning of 2015, a single regulation began to operate in Russia and other states of the Customs Union, which regulates the use of summer and winter tires. According to this regulation, winter tires (no matter with or without studs) must be installed on a car between December 1 and February 28. From June 1 to August 31, you cannot use studded tires. Everything else is the off-season, when in general you can use any tire you like.

Please note that each individual Russian region can expand the framework provided in the technical regulations of the Customs Union due to the off-season period.

What does this mean in practice? Climatic conditions in the so-called Krasnodar Territory and in the so-called Yakutia differ radically. It would be quite stupid to describe the rules for using seasonal tires in one and another region, adjusting them to one standard. That is why the technical regulations left long periods of spring and autumn off-seasons, limiting the conditional winter and summer to three months for each of these seasons.

Regional authorities in the Krasnodar Territory have the right to extend the summer season and ban studded tires for a longer period than three summer months. In Yakutia, on the contrary, local drivers may be required to use winter tires not only from December to February.

Be that as it may, but in general, now, in April, we are in the midst of the spring off-season, when in most Russian regions you can use tires for any season and not risk a fine. You need to focus on common sense and your safety.

When should you change your tires for winter in 2021? — traffic police recommendations

The traffic police advises car owners to change summer tires to winter ones when the average daily air temperature drops to 5-7°C for at least a week. Changing tires in a timely manner will allow the driver to confidently cope with road situations associated with adverse weather conditions. This, in turn, will help to significantly reduce the number of road accidents, and therefore save the lives and health of road users.

Drivers also need to psychologically adapt to winter driving style. It is necessary to refrain from sudden lane changes and other maneuvers without ensuring their safety. Also, do not forget about the need to maintain distance and lateral spacing between vehicles. It is mandatory to drive a car with the external lights on at any time of the day or night; in bad weather, be sure to use fog lights; and in heavy fog, reduce the speed to the safest possible speed and drive with the hazard warning lights on.

Drivers need to be extremely careful when driving across bridges, railway crossings, at multi-level intersections of roadways and interchanges. It is also necessary to concentrate near pedestrian crossings, and when approaching a zebra crossing, reduce speed in advance, warns the traffic police.

Procedure and timing for changing tires

The procedure and specific timing for switching to seasonally appropriate tires depends on the weather in your region, as well as local regulations.

For passenger cars

According to the law, passenger cars must use wheels without studs only in the summer - from June 1 to August 31. However, the timing may be changed in accordance with the regional climate. There is also a ban on driving on summer tires in winter - from December 1 to the end of February. And here regional authorities can regulate the deadlines.

For trucks

There is a specific procedure for changing tires for trucks, with adjustments made for regional climatic conditions. This situation is fraught with a number of misunderstandings: for example, a truck traveling from Krasnodar to Khabarovsk must undergo tire changes several times during the journey.

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In addition to established seasonality standards, there are several other reasons for replacing tires:

• jumpers have become clearly visible on the tread, which indicates that the rubber is unsuitable for further use;
• tread depth is less than 1.6 mm (for summer tires) and less than 4 mm for winter tires;
• The studded tires are significantly worn out; some of the studs are noticeably missing.

If at least one of the listed factors is detected, the tires on the truck must be replaced.

When to change tires for winter in 2021? — general recommendations

Proponents of changing tires late most often motivate this by the fact that with an early change, tread wear increases and studs may fall out. Proponents of early tire change want to prepare for the season in advance and install winter tires while it is still warm enough.

Indeed, with prolonged use of winter tires at high temperatures, their wear increases, so if you install winter tires too early, their service life may decrease somewhat. On the other hand, if you want to install winter tires when the first snowfall occurs, there is every chance you won’t even get to the tire shop. How to find the golden mean?

The timing of replacement depends on whether you change the wheels yourself or entrust it to a tire service. If you change your tires at a tire shop, you should do it in advance, since when the temperature drops, the queues at these organizations grow like a snowball. If you change the wheels yourself, then you can delay the installation of the winter kit a little. The timing of tire replacement varies from year to year. For example, in 2021 the author changed tires on October 16, in 2015 - on October 5. In any case, it is better to be prepared in advance for changing tires. Even a small accident when snow falls unexpectedly, as always, will cost you more than a pair of lost studs or slightly more than usual tire wear.

Penalty for using summer tires in winter

When it comes to when to change your tires, experts insist that you keep an eye on the weather. It is best to use data from the last 24 hours. If the air temperature has stabilized at +7 degrees, this is that very moment. This year, according to officials, there is no law according to which car owners can be fined if their vehicles do not have winter tires. But we must not forget that tires that are too worn can still be fined. This is the case if the tread is less than 4 mm from the condition of the new tire.

In addition, this fine may also apply to the summer period of the year. If summer tires are badly worn, a fine will be required. Based on all that has been said, it turns out that from December 1, people will be fined for summer tires or heavily worn winter tires. The fine will be 500 rubles.

When should you change your car to winter tires in 2021? Reasons to switch to winter tires early

Queues at the tire shop. The first reason why you should switch to winter tires earlier is the seasonal rush in tire shops. Traditionally, 90% of drivers leave changing tires until the last day, which is why after the first snow falls, there is a sharp rush and queues at tire shops. By changing tires in advance, you will avoid wasting time.

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Running in winter tires . If you have installed a new set of winter tires (especially studded ones), they need to be broken in. For the first hundred kilometers, sharp braking, slipping, and driving at speeds over 80 km/h should be avoided. It's easier to break in your tires in advance, before snow falls.

Convenient tire replacement. If you have two sets of seasonal wheels and you change them without resorting to tire service, early tire replacement is also preferable for you. It is much more pleasant to change tires on the street under the October sun than after a week or two of digging under the car, sheltering from sleet, rain, unscrewing bolts with frozen fingers.

Prepare for the vagaries of the weather . The last but most important reason. If you changed your car's shoes in advance, then you are ready for any vagaries of the weather. Even if tomorrow morning the city is covered in ankle-deep snow, you can go out and go to work, watching as your neighbors try to get out of the parking lot on summer tires or stubbornly call an overloaded taxi line.

Penalty for summer tires from November 1, 2021

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the legislative changes that will come into effect in November. After all, ignorance can lead not only to inconvenience, but also to a certain responsibility.

First of all, we are talking about the entry into force on November 11 of the requirements according to which it is prohibited to drive cars and trucks up to 3.5 tons with summer tires in the period from December to February.

In addition, installing different tires on one axle according to model, size, speed, tread pattern and, of course, according to the season, when some wheels are wearing winter tires and others are wearing summer tires, can also result in punishment.

How to find the golden mean?

The timing of replacement depends on whether you change the wheels yourself or entrust it to a tire service. If you change your tires at a tire shop, you should do it in advance, since when the temperature drops, the queues at these organizations grow like a snowball. If you change the wheels yourself, then you can delay the installation of the winter kit a little. The timing of tire replacement varies from year to year. For example, in 2021 the author changed tires on October 16, in 2015 - on October 5. In any case, it is better to be prepared in advance for changing tires. Even a small accident when snow falls unexpectedly, as always, will cost you more than a pair of lost studs or slightly more than usual tire wear.