Winter tires remain more efficient than summer tires with snow chains
A TCS test shows that on snow, winter tires alone give better results than summer tires equipped with chains. In regions where snow is scarce, winter tires do not have the...
13/03/2023
A TCS test shows that on snow, winter tires alone give better results than summer tires equipped with chains.
In regions where snow is scarce, winter tires do not are not popular. But, it is often repeated, they are effective as soon as the temperatures drop below 7°C, which is already much more frequent. And when the flakes fall, they will serve you well.
Do you think the snow chains you have for your ski holiday are sufficient? A test by the Swiss Touring Club has shown that winter tires cannot really be replaced by summer tires fitted with chains.
The TCS tested two cars, one fitted with very good winter tyres, the second fitted with the snow chain duo on summer tyres. According to the Swiss organization, the results "are final". In terms of braking, there was no comparison: at 50 km/h, it took 24 meters for the car fitted with winter tires to stop, whereas the car fitted with summer tires fitted with snow chains stopped after 34 meters. In the start test, the winter tires made it possible to reach 50 km/h more quickly.
In addition, the TCS points out that road behavior becomes "very unstable" when the vehicle has summer tires and chains on the drive wheels: "a front-wheel-drive car skids, especially on bends, because of 'insufficient lateral guidance of the rear axle'. According to the TCS, the vehicle's electronics have difficulty managing the very high level of grip that the chains give to the front: "ESP and ABS act strongly on the vehicle, which reduces traction and extends the distance braking".
Four good winter tires will therefore be more effective. Their thin sipes provide grip, as does their rubber designed to remain flexible at low temperatures.