Are you one of those who kept studless winter tires this spring and drove them this summer?
It can be a costly saving. Winter tires are made of softer rubber compounds than summer tires, and wear down significantly when driving at summer speeds on hot asphalt.
The Swedish Road Administration requires winter tire tread depth to be at least three millimetres, and this applies to the entire winter season from November 1st to the first Sunday after Easter Monday. This means that if you pass the requirements now, your tires will likely be too worn to be legal during the winter.
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Although the tires do not have studs, they are intended for driving on winter roads only. If you use them during the summer, they will wear out quickly, and can be downright dangerous in an emergency. Image: Nokian
Longer range
Many people in this country have acquired electric vehicles, and Goodyear is now launching the UltraGrip Ice 3 studless winter tire, which will be designed to give electric drivers some extra benefits.
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An electric car uses electricity, among other things, to overcome air resistance, which is affected by the car’s design, and rolling resistance, which is related to the amount of energy required to rotate the tire when it comes into contact with the asphalt.
According to Goodyear, the pattern design and construction of the UltraGrip Ice 3 should reduce rolling resistance by ten percent, compared to the previous generation. This will result in lower power consumption and longer range, which is definitely welcome when the protractor turns blue.
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When frost comes, it becomes very important to extend the range between charging stations. Image: Nokian
Less noise
As is known, there is no engine noise in an electric car, which highlights other sources of noise to a greater extent, including the sound of tires on the road.
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Goodyear wrote that they will produce the UltraGrip Ice 3 with so-called “SoundComfort Technology.” It consists of a soundproof pad located inside the tire, which should reduce the noise level inside the car by up to four decibels compared to non-insulated tires.
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Goodyear UltraGrip Ice3 should have better grip even at very low temperatures and better stopping ability. Photo: Goodyear
The braking distance is shorter
Low power consumption and noise level are all well and good, but the most important thing about a winter tire is that it keeps you on the road when it snows. The new rubber compound in Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 should be 35 percent softer than this year’s model at very low temperatures.
With the number of treads and treads on this pattern increased by 21 percent, Goodyear promises the new tire will have better grip and shorter braking distances in the snow than ever before.
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Nokian_Tyres_Hakkapeliitta_R5_EV Contains microscopic crystals molded into the rubber to ensure good grip throughout the life of the tire. Image: Nokian
Low rumble
The Finns have also inserted themselves into the battle for electric car customers, and Nokian has developed the Hakkapeliitta R5 EV for those who drive with Watt.
Like Goodyear, Nokian has also taken noise reduction measures, and its SilentDrive technology is supposed to reduce rumble with a layer of foam inside the tread.
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To provide the best possible grip on snow and ice, the Hakkapeliitta R5 EV is equipped with a so-called “dual block” pattern.
This means they’ve increased the number of grooves, which are the thin dividers that divide each of the large rubber sections into smaller, flexible sections. When driving on snow and ice, it is important that the tire is soft and flexible, so that it adapts to the ever-changing surface.
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Some palm trees
In the last millennium, winter tires were the same as studded tires.
Basically, it’s easy to understand when you look closely at how little your car connects to the surface. Even if you have 22-inch tires and wide tires, most of the rubber is outdoors all the time. The contact surface itself is no larger than two capacitors at each corner.
Electric cars are usually slightly heavier than their fossil counterparts, and can often weigh two tons or more. But driving with spikes is not very comfortable, especially in an electric car, as the noise level on bare asphalt quickly becomes very high.
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At any given time, a very small portion of the tire is in contact with the road surface. Image: Nokian
Crystals
So Nokian found what they believe is the solution, by baking what they call “Arctic Grip” crystals into rubber. There are small crystals present throughout the thickness of the tread. According to the manufacturer, they act like a multitude of microscopic studs, and since they are molded into the entire tire, new layers will constantly be exposed as the tire wears.
Check the pressure
Regardless of whether you choose a non-studded tire or a studded tire, and regardless of which manufacturer you choose, this is a factor that has a significant impact on both fuel and power consumption, as well as the tire’s performance on smooth roads.
Always remember to check the tire pressure carefully, then fill it according to the table in the instruction manual. On the vast majority of new cars, the correct tire pressure is also specified in the door frame on the driver’s side.
Please note that during periods of large temperature fluctuations, such as autumn in this country, the air in the tire will expand and contract. This can lead to low tire pressure, resulting in poor driving characteristics and increased consumption as a result.
This article was first published in Finansavisen engine.
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