Reputable isn't always best. Which tires should you choose?

With winter approaching, a very challenging time for drivers, it's crucial to ensure your own safety and the safety of others as much as possible. Besides the technical condition of your vehicle, tires play a key role in driving quality and grip on poor surfaces. Choosing the right tires for your car isn't easy, especially since not everyone is familiar with tire markings, and this lack of knowledge is often exploited by tire repair shops and salespeople who try to sell you expensive or unpopular products, disregarding your safety and budget. With each of you in mind, we've prepared some tips on how to avoid being scammed and drive safely.

The basic step in selecting tires is determining the technical parameters, such as width, profile, and diameter, that our tires should have. This information can be found on the currently installed wheels or in the vehicle's owner's manual. This information is presented in numbers, e.g., 195/65/R15 – this means that our tire is 195mm wide , its profile (height) is 65% of the width, and its diameter is 15 inches . Once we know these values, we can start searching for the right tires.

European Union regulations, which require every tire model to be labeled with its parameters, were the first to come to our aid. These labels contain three basic characteristics, identified by a letter index and a numerical value. The first characteristic listed on the label refers to the tire's impact on fuel consumption . The best rating for this parameter is A, while each subsequent letter of the alphabet works against us and indicates an increase in fuel consumption. The same applies to the next rating, indicating braking distance on wet surfaces – the lower the letter, the shorter the braking distance. However, it should be noted that very few models achieve an A rating, and this does not mean that these tires are of poor quality. It is generally accepted that C ratings indicate very good driving characteristics. Another important characteristic listed on the label is its noise level , which is expressed in dB. The quietest winter models reach values of 68 dB, but this parameter conceals additional information, because the low noise level of the tire is caused by the soft rubber compound, which affects the increased abrasion .

Below is an example comparison of the parameters of Nokian WR D4 , Michelin Alpin A5 and Continental ContiWinterContact TS860 tires:

The next step in choosing a tire is to review tests conducted by various organizations and magazines. It's important to note, however, that such tests are often conducted in different conditions, and therefore their results may differ. Therefore, it's important to pay attention not only to the first place in the test, but also to models that appear at the top of tests conducted by various magazines and organizations. This will ensure that a given tire will perform well in most road and weather conditions. Unfortunately, this season, we only have the ADAC test available, but other rankings compiled by magazines should be released soon. It's worth noting, however, that you can refer to tests from previous years, as manufacturers don't introduce new models very often, and last year's tests tend to be quite up-to-date.

The Goodyear ULTRAGRIP 9 and Michelin Alpin A4 rank high in all tests. Among the favorites is also the premium Scandinavian brand Nokian with its WR D4 model. It's also important to pay attention to the size of the tires you're testing, as changing them will affect the results.

The third step in choosing tires is to read the opinions of users who have tested them in various conditions over time. Large online stores often offer product reviews, which makes things a bit easier.

We recommend Nokian tires, which demonstrate excellent handling in challenging conditions. Furthermore, these models are available at a lower price than the highly popular competition, where quality doesn't necessarily equate to price. Nokian's Scandinavian origins provide the brand with exceptional expertise in snow traction. Another highly recommended, yet lesser-known product is the VREDESTEIN tire, which earned a high 4th place in the ADAC winter tire test for the 2016/2017 season.

We should approach the selection of appropriate wheels very carefully, keeping safety in mind. At the same time, we shouldn't think in a box and choose tires only from the largest companies, as this doesn't guarantee the best performance. We should pay close attention to labels and read them carefully. Any tests should only serve as a guide. It's crucial not to rush into decisions and seek the opinions of both users and trusted, more experienced individuals.