It's time to change tires.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), there may still be snow showers in the coming days on the edge of the Alps or in higher mountain locations, for example in the Harz Mountains and in Saxony.
In most regions, however, mild spring weather prevails, which is why summer tires are allowed to drive freely.
Questions and answers:
When should summer tires be fitted?
There is no generally prescribed time for changing tires in Germany.
The legislator only stipulates that the equipment must be "adapted to the weather conditions".
The widespread rule of thumb, according to which summer tires belong on the car "from Easter to October", should therefore be treated with caution.
According to the Federal Association of Tire Trade and Vulcanizing Trade (BRV), summer tires can be mounted when the morning temperatures are reliably above seven degrees Celsius.
Otherwise, at very low plus degrees, the rubber compound of summer tires hardens more quickly, which can noticeably reduce grip on the road.
But there are also summer tires that still offer enough grip on dry roads below seven degrees.
What are the advantages of summer tires?
The driving characteristics of winter and summer tires are adapted to different seasons and weather conditions.
Winter tires, for example, offer better grip in snow, among other things.
Summer tires, on the other hand, have a number of advantages: fuel consumption is lower, braking distances are shorter and driving stability is higher.
All-season tires are very similar to winter tires in terms of their properties, so fuel consumption is higher in summer.
They are marked with the mud and snow symbol (M+S).
At what tread depth do tires need to be replaced with new ones?
A legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimeters applies to tires.
According to the ADAC, adhesion can decrease significantly at four millimeters, for example when it is wet.
The Automobile Club and the German Road Safety Service therefore recommend renewing summer tires from a maximum of three millimeters and winter tires at four millimeters remaining tread depth.
How long do winter tires and summer tires last?
According to the BRV, after ten years at the latest, a tire has become obsolete.
But even tires that are six years old can pose a risk if they are not treated properly.
The date of manufacture can be read in an oval on the sidewall of the tire with an indication of the month and year.
What information does the tire label provide?
According to the ADAC, the marking shows fuel efficiency, tire grip in the wet and rolling noise.
The properties are evaluated in terms of rolling resistance, which is important for fuel consumption, and wet grip in classes A to G or in the traffic light colors from green to yellow to red. The rolling noise is given in decibels and graphically stylized in the form of sound waves - the fewer black waves, the quieter the tire.
ADAC: How good are summer tires in the test?
The ADAC is currently testing 34 models.
The car club rated six models for small cars as “very balanced”, including a cheap brand.
Five models made it into the top group for tires for compact cars and SUVs.
The broad midfield – including almost exclusively cheaper second brands from premium manufacturers – is “satisfactory” and was devalued in equal parts due to weaknesses on dry and wet roads.
What should be considered when fitting and storing tires?
Before storage, the tires should be marked with chalk at which position on the car they were mounted.
This makes assembly easier when changing.
When storing tires on rims, it makes no difference whether they are stored horizontally or hanging up.
They should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place.