Winter tires best with flake symbol

ADAC tire test: Use winter tires best with a flake symbol, avoid accidents and protect the health.

05/12/2010

Just in time for the winter tires compulsory, the weather conditions on Germany's roads are bad. Tires with the seal are now valid as winter tires Germany „M + S“ or „M & S“. The abbreviation designates „Mud and snow“ and indicates that the tires are for the weather according to the law. So far, it is still unclear what M + S tires actually are. There are currently no clear rules on which services the tires actually have to provide. Each manufacturer can attach such a sign without legal regulation. Reason enough for the ADAC to take a closer look and to carry out a test.

In the ADAC winter tire test are according to information also three cheap tires from China with the predicate „inadequate“ failed. For this reason, the Automobile Club strongly recommends using products bearing the snowflake symbol. These are produced according to the legal norms of the American traffic authority NHTS. The regulations in the US are more far-reaching than in Germany. The tires must undergo extensive tests and have minimum properties for mud, ice and snow. A uniform EU regulation is only planned for 2014.

As a consumer, one can see with a view of the tire tread, whether the tires actually withstand the weather conditions. Winter tires usually have a variety of slats on the tread to the tire shoulder. It should be noted that there are fine but zig-zag cuts in the tread blocks. These are responsible for adhesion to ice and snow. However, you can not even see how the mixture of rubber is. The material should be softer than the summer tires.

Those who do not gain winter tires in time not only endanger their health due to possible accidents, but must also expect sensitive fines of up to 80 euros. For this reason, the onslaught on the dealers is currently unabated. Since winter tires are currently in short supply, consumers should take care that they do not get old tires turned on. However, one can easily see the age of the tire at the DOT number. This number is stamped on the side of the tire. You can see a four-digit number, about 0710, so seventh month of 2010. It should therefore be checked before buying the age of the tires, because by the scrapping and the long winter last year, the camps were almost completely emptied. Only now are the dealers supplied with new tires. A set of winter tires costs around 350 to 400 euros. (Sb)

Picture credits: Dominik Pöpping