The +7 °C rule: what it means
A summer tyre is made from a compound that grips well in warm weather. When it gets cold, that compound hardens: the tread grips the tarmac less, braking distances grow and on a wet road the wheel slips more easily. The point where the difference becomes noticeable is generally taken to be around +7 °C.
A winter tyre is the opposite: its rubber stays soft in the cold, and the small slits in the tread (sipes) bite into wet tarmac, snow and slush. In hot weather, though, winter rubber wears quickly and brakes worse, so it isn't worth running it in summer either.
So the rule is: switch to winter tyres when the average daytime temperature stays below +7 °C for several days in a row. Not after one cold morning, but steadily, during the day and not only at night.
When that happens in Chernivtsi
In Chernivtsi and the region this cooling usually arrives in late October or November, but it varies from year to year. Morning frosts in Bukovyna can come earlier, especially if you often drive out of town, towards the mountains or early in the morning.
The easiest way is to watch the weekly forecast. If daytime temperatures drop to +5…+7 °C or below and nights get close to zero, it's time to book your tyre change. That way you're done before the first snow, when tyre shops across town get busy.
Why you shouldn't wait for snow
The most dangerous days are not when snow is already on the ground, but just before: cold tarmac, wet leaves, fog, the first ice on bridges and in the shade. That's exactly when summer tyres are already hard while drivers are still driving as if it were summer.
The second reason is practical: in the first snowy week everyone wants their tyres changed at once. Book in advance and you arrive at your own time instead of waiting in line.
How to check your winter tyres are still fit
Before fitting last year's set, give it a look. Here's what to check:
- Tread depth. Every tyre has wear indicators, small bars in the grooves. If the tread has worn down to them, the tyre needs replacing. For winter, experts recommend more than the bare minimum, because a worn winter tyre clears snow and water poorly.
- Tyre age. The sidewall has a DOT code; its last four digits are the week and year of manufacture. For example, 4521 means week 45 of 2021. Rubber hardens over the years even without mileage, so show an older set to the fitter.
- Cracks, bulges and cuts on the sidewalls. A bulge on the side means the tyre must be replaced. Small cuts can sometimes be repaired, and the fitter will tell you after an inspection.
- Even wear. If the tread has worn on one edge, have your wheel alignment checked, or new tyres will wear the same way.
What to do during the changeover
A seasonal change is more than swapping wheels. We take the wheels off, swap the tyres on the rims or fit your ready-made wheels, balance every wheel on the machine and set the pressure. Balancing matters even for wheels you ran last winter: weights can shift or fall off over a season.
Take a look at the rims too. Pothole hits over the summer often cause runout, and in winter you'll feel it even more. An alloy rim can usually be straightened after an impact, and a crack can be welded with argon.
Check tyre pressure more often in autumn: it drops in the cold. You'll find the right pressure for your car on the sticker in the driver's door frame or on the fuel flap.
Where to keep your summer tyres
Keep the summer set somewhere cool and dark, away from radiators and sunlight. Tyres on rims are stored lying in a stack or hanging; tyres without rims are stored standing up and turned from time to time.
If there's no space at home, leave them with us for seasonal storage. We label every wheel and photograph the tread, and the photos and a reminder for your next change will be in your personal account.
What about all-season tyres?
All-season tyres are a compromise: better than summer tyres in the cold and better than winter tyres in the heat, but beaten by dedicated tyres in each season. For city driving with mild winters and low mileage they can be a sensible choice. If you often drive out of town, into the mountains or early in the morning on icy roads, a separate winter set is more reliable.
If you're not sure what suits your car and the way you drive, ask the fitter during your visit: we'll look at your tyres and give honest advice.
In short: a pre-winter checklist
Save this list so you don't miss anything:
- Average daytime temperature below +7 °C for several days: time to change tyres.
- Check the tread, age (DOT code) and sidewalls of your winter set.
- Book your tyre change in advance, before the first snow.
- Ask for the wheels to be balanced and the rims checked for runout.
- Check the pressure more often: it drops in the cold.
- Summer tyres go into storage somewhere cool and dry, or with us.
How to book your tyre change at MaisterShyn
You can book online on the website: choose your vehicle type, tyre size, services and a free slot. The form shows an estimated price, and we send reminders the day before and two hours before your visit. We have two bays, so with a booking you arrive at your time without queuing. If you'd rather talk, call us or message on Viber.