Are bad winter tires still better than summer tires in winter?

Question

We bought a car recently which has very bad winter tires on. We didn’t realise how bad they are until it snowed last week. They lost all grip, the car barely stopped while braking or even go in the wrong direction while steering. So, they’re really bad. They might even lose some air, there was a warn light on once but we refilled them and now it’s off.

It came also with summer tires and now we‘re wondering - is it better to put the summer tires on now? Winter should be over in around a month or maybe two. We don’t plan to drive if it snows again. Now it’s really mild - spring might start soon. It’s just about when there might be an icy spot on the street that we didn’t expect to be there - what would be less dangerous to drive on it?

We‘ll replace the winter tires next year. We had a lot to repair so we can’t afford them right now.

Answer 1

Neither option is ideal.

The way the current winter tires are described, it seems that they would be equally bad on ice as a set of summer tires.

If you don't plan on using the car in snow, it makes sense to at least have grip for non-icy conditions. Fresh summer tires would be much safer in this scenario.

Please bear in mind though that weather is unpredictable, and this is a matter of safety. The right thing to do here is to get a fresh set of winter tires for the winter (or not use the car until the winter is over, if possible).

Answer 2

This sounds like the winter tyres are past it.

I have winter tyres and they only ever do two winter seasons and then they are changed. Also, they are stored out of sunlight during the summer as the UV degrades the compounds...

As for using summer tyres in winter conditions - most of the tourists are the ones who get stuck - with summer tyres...

So, yes put the summer ones on but don't drive in winter conditions as you say - also be aware that in some countries if you don't have winter tyres in winter conditions you won't be covered or covered completely by insurance if you are involved in an accident.

Answer 3

Winter tyres won't really stop you skidding if you hit ice. That's not what they're meant for. Their compound is formulated to give better grip at lower temperatures and in wetter conditions (so rain and snow). However, tyres do go off after a period of time even if they have a lot of tread left on them.

As the weather improves the temperatures increase, and the compound isn't designed to deal with warmer weather. That's when summer tyres come in to their own. All Weather tyres do exist which should provide the best grip in both cold and wet conditions as it would in hot dry conditions.

Check the tyres for any signs of cracks on the tyre wall, or near the tread. This can indicate the tyres age and/or condition. You can also check the date the tyres were manufactured, follow this article for a guide. A general life expectancy of tyres is usually 5 years.

It's also worth mentioning that cheap tyres don't perform the same as more expensive tyres. I've had tyres that cost £20 each and the moment the road got a bit moist the tyres wouldn't grip. There are some rare exceptions to this, but generally it's best to steer clear of budget tyres. They're the only things, aside from brakes, that stop you from crashing in to something. So don't cheap out on them. A good general rule is to go for mid-range tyres.

If it was me, and I've been in your position before, I'd stick new tyres on there and be done with it.

Answer 4

Lots of misinformation in the answers here.

Old winter tires are preferable to summer tires in snowy conditions.

The OP mentions "we didn’t realise how bad they are", so I conclude that the tread is fine, thus the likely problem is that the compound (rubber) has hardened. In that aspect, the compound will behave very similar to summer compounds, which are harder. However, the winter tire still has a winter tread pattern, winter sidewalls (thicker due to the greater temp differences between driving and parking conditions), and other winter features. Additionally, the use of summer tires in winter may violate certain laws or void certain insurance claims.

Answer 5

Check out the production date on your winter tires:

If they are more than 10 years old, they have probably hardened to the point there's little difference in grip compared to summer tires. Replace them, or put your summer tires on and refrain from driving when it's +3°C or below outside.

Otherwise, your tires are probably fine. What you should do is tone down your expectations about traction/grip you'll have in winter conditions. Whatever tires you'll get, it will never be as good as in summer.

I assume your tires are not worn out or visibly damaged, if that's the case you should obviously get rid of them.

Answer 6

First it does not only matter how much profile you have left, but also how old your tires are. The rubber gets harder over time, and with cold weather grip gets worse. The make and model and the dimensions will also make a difference.

Then it really depends on the conditions:

• If it´s snowing or icy, a worn-down winter tire may fare better then a newer summer tire.
• On rain the summer tire will probably win.
• On a cold but dry street I would see the winter tire in the lead.

(But as stated, this all may vary with age, dimensions and model)

As you say you are in Germany: You are legally required to have winter tires on as long as it is below 7°C! Your tires have to have at least 1.6mm of profile on them, but 4mm min is recommended!

At last, a word of warning: Don't save in the wrong places. The brakes and tires are about the most important safety parts. Your tires are your only contact to the street. Even the smallest of accidents will cost you more than a decent set of tires! Not to mention the responsibility of operating two tons of steel at deadly speeds in public.

Answer 7

If you can't afford new winter tyres, put on good summer tyres and buy some snow-chains, in case you find bad weather and/or police, you can show that you're prepared to drive on bad road. To check if tyres are good, take a 2€ coin and put it in the tyre's grooves, if all the outer 'ring' remains inside the groove (test 2 cm away from tyre side wall) tyres are OK, in other cases, throw away even summer ones and get a set of 4-season.

Answer 8

I have driven on both old little-driven quality winter tires and new "all-season" tires in light snow. With the old winter tires, I drove also in heavy snow and ice.

I can definitely say that the new "all-season" tires are in snow worse than old (more accurately, about 20 years old) Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded tires.

This shouldn't be surprising. The tread pattern of winter tires is designed for snow. Even with age, the tread pattern won't go away.

I won't recommend installing over 6 year old tires to your rims. If the tires are 10 years old and your budget allows, consider replacing even though there can be tread left.

To make it absolutely clear, I don't recommend to others driving around in 20 years old winter tires. When I did so, I never exceeded 100 km/h and usually limited my speed to 80 km/h for safety reasons. The tires never gave me any problem despite their age.

Are your winter tires from a reputable brand? How many kilometers on them? Treadwear can affect the tread pattern, but age doesn't.

My recommendation would be to install new quality winter tires. Whatever you do, don't start driving around in snow with summer tires! Winter tires are an extraordinarily good safety investment and not the place to save money.

I know the difference between old and new quality winter tires. The difference is noticeable. Yet the difference between old winter tires and summer tires is noticeable too, with old winter tires being better than summer tires.

Answer 9

I've done a good deal of experimentation in the area of snow tires vs. all-season radials, and here's what I found:

1. Not all tires are created equal. Some all-season radials are great in the snow and some are terrible.
2. Not all vehicles are good in the snow - so no matter what tires you use they can still be terrible to drive.

Some notes from my experience:

• My Lexus RX330 was like a tractor in snow and ice with Blizzak snow tires and drives well with worn all-season Yokohama Geolanders.
• My Camry Hybrid is awful in slippery conditions with any tires - even with Bridgestone Blizzaks. I'm considering testing out studded snows for next winter.
• My Cadillac Escalade is awful to drive in the snow with General all-season radials, but it's a dream in the snow with Firestone winterforce radials.

In conclusion, I don't think you can rate a vehicle's performance and handling in slippery conditions on the tires alone. So the tires might not be the only problem, part of the problem might be the car.