Summer tires: It's time to change 🎥
PLEASE NOTE Although it is not illegal in Switzerland, anyone who drives with winter tires in summer is sacrificing a great deal of safety. It's all about the tread depth and condition of the old tires. Expert Reto Blättler, project manager for tires at TCS, explains in the video what you need to pay attention to. Where a car with summer tires on dry [...]
Expert Reto Blättler, project manager for tires at TCS, explains in the video what you need to pay attention to.
Where a car with summer tires comes to a standstill on a dry road after braking from 100 km/h to 0, a vehicle with winter tires will still pass at over 30 km/h. Summer tires differ from winter tires both in terms of tread pattern and rubber compound to ensure optimum grip and stability even in hot summer weather.
Minimum tread depth 1.6 millimeters
In Switzerland, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 millimetres. However, the safety-relevant driving characteristics start to deteriorate earlier. When the summer tires are put back on the car, the tires should have a tread depth of at least 3 millimeters.
Tip: Insert a 1-franc piece into the tire tread. If you can't see the base of the Helvetia yet, the tires still have enough tread for the summer season.
Danger due to low tire pressure
Also check the air pressure regularly, including the spare tire. This is because driving becomes increasingly dangerous when the air pressure is too low (the car is more difficult to control during braking and evasive maneuvers) and wear increases. Reduced tire pressure on all four wheels also doubles the risk of aquaplaning. Underinflated tires also increase the likelihood of tire damage and blowouts.
Professionals tested the latest tires
The TCS also tested numerous summer tires in 2019. While the 16 tires tested for small cars were all convincing, the results of the van tires tested for the first time were disappointing. The results in detail and detailed evaluations of all tested tire models can be found on the Internet.
