From Tuesday, October 15, it is allowed to use studded tires on vehicles, and from December 1, winter tires are mandatory. All-season tires used in the winter season must have three mountain peaks and a snowflake symbol.
If you travel during the day and mainly in cities or on major highways, then it would not be worth delaying the tire change anyway. According to the weather forecast, the temperature is expected to drop below zero, so the roads may become slippery. So it’s the right time to start thinking about changing tires.
“That’s why we recommend taking into account how much, at what time and on which roads you drive. If you have to drive long distances on different types of roads, often early in the morning or late at night, you shouldn’t wait to change the tires,” explained Jürgo Vahtra, head of the Transport Board’s technical department. “Driving on slippery roads with summer tires, we endanger our lives as well as those of fellow road users. It is also worth considering that already at temperatures below 5-8 degrees, the rubber compound of summer tires loses its elasticity and therefore also its grip properties. Therefore, it is recommended to change the tires before the first minus degrees come.”
When choosing lamellar tires, it is recommended to choose tires that, in addition to the three mountain peaks and the snowflake symbol, also have the ice grip symbol. The ice grip pictogram is used to mark the lamellar tires intended for northern climates that have passed grip tests on ice. In the case of used winter tires, it is important to remember that the residual tread depth of the winter tire must be greater than three millimeters.
Studded tires can be used in Estonia from October 15 to March 31. As an exception, in case of winter road and weather conditions, studded tires may be used from October 1 to April 30. The use of studded tires is regulated by Regulation No. 42 of June 13, 2011 of the Minister of Economy and Communications “Technical requirements for a motor vehicle and its trailer and requirements for equipment” Annex 1.
It is also important to assess the condition of the car to ensure good visibility even in more difficult conditions. What to pay attention to?
- With the arrival of autumn, every driver should check the condition of the lights, car windows and janitors.
- Janitors must be cleaned regularly to ensure good visibility.
- It is also necessary to clean the inside of the windshield so that it does not start to shimmer in the sun shining from low.
- The car’s lights must also be correctly adjusted. The easiest way to test the lights is to point the light beam at a smooth surface such as a building wall or door. If the height of the light beam of the lamps is the same, then the lights are fine. If they show differently, the lights must be fixed.
- The car must have a safety vest within easy reach so that the driver can wear it when getting out of the car in case of poor visibility and during emergency stops in the dark.
- It is reasonable to keep some reflectors in the car so that in the event of an emergency stop, the passengers are also visible when they get out of the car.
When navigating in the dark and in the wet, keep a safe distance and avoid dangerous maneuvers.
Source: online.le.ee
