Three Tips for Tire Changeover Season

It may not be winter on the calendar, but it’s winter for your tires.

Most of us here in North America still have a few weeks to go before the first snowfall. But that’s not when you want to be swapping out your tires, because the rest of town will be at the tire shop, too.

With that in mind, we’d like to offer three helpful bits of advice to help you prepare for tire changeover season.

When to change to winter tires

Forty-Five Degrees, Not Freezing

As the inventor of the winter tire, Nokian Tyres recommends changing to winter rubber when temperatures drop consistently below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). For many of you, that’s now.

Why 45 degrees and not freezing? Because all-season tire compounds harden when temps drop below that level. That makes them less responsive to the road, even when conditions are dry.

The 45-degree mark also builds in a buffer that insulates you from unexpected early snow or ice. Sure, it’s possible for conditions to drop from 65 to snowy overnight, but you’re more likely to experience a gradual temperature decline. Go ahead and swap to winter tires when things get chilly and you’ll be ready when things get frosty.

If you live in an area that experiences winter weather, you should change over to winter tires (like the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5 pictured above) when the weather is consistently dropping below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).

What is the ice grip symbol?

A New Symbol That Makes a Big Difference

You may be familiar with the three peak mountain snowflake emblem that certifies a tire has met minimum winter driving requirements. It’s what differentiates winter and all weather tires from their all season counterparts, which are actually more like three-season tires because they aren’t built with wintry roads in mind.

But there’s a new emblem that tells a more extreme story: the ice grip emblem.

Nokian Tyres is the first tire manufacturer to offer an Ice Grip Symbol, which indicates the tire has been rigorously tested on icy surfaces, according to standards established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

For the first time last winter season, the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 10 and R5 passenger, SUV and EV tires were produced with a new ice grip symbol on the sidewall that indicates they have been subjected to rigorous testing on icy surfaces, according to standards established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

To be eligible for the ice grip marking, a tire’s ice performance is verified through an internationally agreed-upon ice braking test by an accredited independent test laboratory. Tires have to perform at least 18 percent better than a standard reference tire to receive the symbol. If you see the ice grip symbol, you can have faith in your tires’ ability to handle extreme winter conditions. Nokian Tyres is among the first tiremakers to release tires emblazoned with the ice grip symbol.

Saving Energy Saves Money and Time

They say time is money, and choosing the right tires will help you save both this winter.

That’s because the rolling resistance of your tires directly impacts fuel mileage and driving range. The lower the energy required to propel a vehicle along the road, the more efficient that vehicle will be. That means you’ll drive a greater distance per fill-up or charge.

It also means a lighter environmental footprint, because low-rolling-resistance tires also help vehicles reduce emissions. The non-studded Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5 winter tire is the most energy-efficient winter product we’ve ever made, which saves valuable time and cash while also following through on our mission of sustainability.

Tires have a bigger impact on the driving experience than many realize, and that’s especially true when roads get slick and the stakes rise. We’re here to help you pick the right tires for your needs this winter. Click here to learn more about staying safe on the road in winter, and visit our Dealer Locator to make an appointment at a shop near you.