Drivers are more at risk of accident in winter than summer. Inadequate preparations, especially for winter conditions, increase the accident rate.. Sabancı Group’s online shopping platform, Kliksa, announced the 10 golden points that female drivers should pay attention to when choosing winter tires, which are vital for driving safety and reduce risks as the winter season approaches.
Which criteria should be considered in the selection of tires?
- When choosing winter tires, the tire size recommended by the vehicle manufacturer must be used.. This information is written in the owner’s manual or on the vehicle (usually on the inside of the front door).. Authorized services of the vehicle can also provide information on this subject.
- The tire’s braking properties on dry and wet roads, braking on snow and traction on snow should be considered in order of importance.
- The selected winter tire must have the “Winter Tire” sign on it.
- The winter tire to be used may vary depending on the region of residence, Tire selection should be made considering the climatic conditions.
- The tread depth of winter tires should not be less than 4 mm.
- The year of manufacture of the winter tire should be checked. Tires produced within the last 5 years should be preferred.
- Tires with fuel economy and long life should be preferred, as well as safety.
- Warranty conditions of winter tires should be learned.
- Winter tires should be mounted on all 4 wheels. 2 winter tires are not enough for driving safety.
- Winter tires should be changed in November if possible
Important information about winter tires
The penalty for not complying with the regulation is 519 TL
Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications According to the “Regulation on Measures and Methods for Loading Vehicles, Weighing and Dimension Measurement Tolerances”, which was prepared and entered into force 2 years ago, vehicles that are not suitable for winter conditions and that are not fitted with snow tires are not allowed to continue on the road.. Operators of vehicles that do not comply with the rule are fined 519 liras.
Why are winter tires important for safety?
The decrease in air temperatures in winter also changes highway conditions. Since summer tires harden faster in cold weather conditions, their grip ability is very low compared to winter tires.. Winter tires, due to their structural features, provide better grip on dry asphalt, snow and ice and therefore safer driving when the temperature is below 7 degrees.
· Winter tires Thanks to its special mixture, it does not harden in harsh winter conditions, maintains its adhesion properties and ensures driving safety.
· Increases driving safety on wet surfaces with its high silica content.
· Offers up to 25% advantage in traction compared to summer tires on snowy, melted snow and muddy surfaces.
· While the braking distance of a vehicle traveling at 50 km/h with summer tires is 44 meters, this distance decreases to 36 meters with winter tires.. This shortened braking distance of 8 meters corresponds to the length of approximately two passenger vehicles.
· The braking distance of a vehicle traveling at 45 km/h on a snowy surface, with chains attached. While it is 31 meters with tires, it drops to 12 meters with winter tires.
· Winter tires are branded in two different ways according to their compatibility with weather conditions: M&S (Mud&Snow – Mud and Snow) and Snowflake (Heavy snow). M&S marking is found on the sidewalls of tires that perform better on muddy and/or snowy surfaces.
makes it difficult to control the vehicle. For this reason, winter tires should be used as a set of 4.
· Unused tires should be stored safely in dry, cool, and sunlight-free environments.
· Winter tires should not be perceived as an additional cost by vehicle owners; because when they spend the whole year with one set, the tires wear out much more than they normally should.. However, with 2 sets of tires suitable for summer and winter conditions, this period can be doubled.. On the other hand, there is a slight price difference in winter tires compared to standard tires, which is due to the special structure of the tire developed for safe driving in winter conditions.. There is a price difference of 10-15 TL between winter tires and summer tires of the same size.. Safe driving comfort in winter conditions, which is obtained in return for this price difference, is undoubtedly more important.
When should winter tires be changed?
The obligation to wear winter tires in Turkey is valid for the period of 1 December-1 April. However, replacement of winter tires should be done in November if possible.Is it necessary to use winter tires on 4×4 vehicles?
4×4 vehicles have traction power There is a false perception that there is no need to use winter tires on these vehicles with confidence.. For a safe driving and handling ability, winter tires must be used on 4×4 vehicles on snowy and icy roads in cold weather.
When should winter tires be changed?
The obligation to wear winter tires in Turkey is valid between 1 December and 1 April. However, the replacement of winter tires should be done in November if possible. The obligation to install winter tires on light commercial vehicles, buses and trucks was brought to cars in 54 provinces with a new regulation made in 2013.
The obligation to wear winter tires provinces that are; , Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kırklareli, Kırşehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kütahya, Manisa, Muş, Nevşehir, Niğde, Samsun, Sakarya, Sivas, Tekirdağ, Tokat, Tunceli, Uşak, Van, Yozgat, Zonguldak, Aksaray, Bayburt, Karaman , Kırıkkale, Batman, Şırnak, Ardahan, Iğdır, Karabük and Düzce.
H In which provinces winter tire replacement is more preferred?
With the effect of the climate and population density, the city with the largest winter tire market is Ankara, the capital city.. Other provinces that we can count after Ankara are Erzurum, Kayseri, Bursa and Van.
