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Chains or Winter Tyres? The Ultimate Guide

Chains or Winter Tyres? The Ultimate Guide

A. P.

Miércoles, 22 de enero 2025, 09:05

"Winter tyres enhance vehicle control and mobility due to their special characteristics in terms of rubber compounds and tread design. They offer better capability to start a vehicle's movement (traction), maintain its path (grip), or stop it (braking) than standard tyres, not only on dry asphalt and at low temperatures but also on wet roads, in rain, or when there's ice or snow on the road," says José Luis Rodríguez, general director of Afane.

Recognising them is easy; they are marked with the M+S (mud+snow) initials on the side and a pictogram representing a three-peak mountain with a snowflake inside, known as "3PMSF". M+S is a self-certification by the manufacturer, where they check their own product. In contrast, the three-peak mountain indicates that the product has passed an external standardised test conducted by an accredited laboratory, proving it is suitable and safe for use on snow without chains.

It is common among Spanish drivers to use chains when it snows, although two-thirds admit they do not know how to fit them correctly, and their handling and installation are complex. "Moreover, chains cannot be used on all vehicles; they are unstable because they are mounted on the drive axle, causing the second axle to slide. They are prohibited on non-snowy road sections as they damage the asphalt and the vehicle, and if poorly adjusted, they can come loose and damage other vehicles on the road," explains José Luis Rodríguez.

However, there is another safer option than summer tyres in a snowy landscape, which also fits with the seasons when the sun shines: All Season or All Weather tyres. These tyres are suitable if you live in a place where the temperature is stable: it does not drop below zero in winter nor become scorching in summer. They ensure grip on dry, wet, and slushy roads. Some even have the 3PMSF certification. "In recent years, they have been adapted and are now available in most sizes required for cars, SUVs, 4x4s, and vans," explain sources from Afane.

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