When should you change summer tires to winter tires? Summer tires in winter: what are the requirements and the penalty? New traffic police law on winter tires.

Traffic accident statistics annually allow us to say that the level of traffic safety on the roads does not change for the better. In 2017, 169,432 road traffic accidents were recorded, in 2018 - 151,291 road traffic accidents (excluding December statistics). A law on winter tires in Russia could have a positive effect on the road situation by obliging drivers to install winter tires in the months when the road surface is snowy or icy. Is there a law on summer and winter tires in 2019? What regulations establish requirements for wheels and tires of cars? What liability is faced by motorists for non-compliance with the established requirements?

What is the reason for the emergence of the law on winter tires?

The law on winter tires is actually the Technical Regulation of the Customs Union, which has been in effect in Russia and other EAEU countries since 2015. The main purpose of the adoption of this document was to ensure the protection of human life and health by establishing specific requirements for the device, equipment and operation of vehicles.

Each car used in the territory of the Russian Federation must comply with the Technical Regulations. Manufacturers of cars and spare parts, just like motorists, must comply with the requirements of the official document. If they are not met, then in the first case the car simply will not pass certification, and in the second case the car owner will have to pay a fine if such liability is provided for by federal legislation.

Attempts were made several times to introduce a separate new law on winter tires, but none of the proposed projects passed all the readings in the State Duma. The latest initiative was bill # 464241-6, introduced to the deputies in March 2014. He proposed making the following changes to the Federal Law "On Road Safety" and to the Administrative Code:

• Cars must meet the requirements of the Technical Regulations;
• Imposition of a fine of 2,000 rubles for non-compliance with the requirements set for tires and wheels.

In the explanatory note, the purpose of adopting such a law was named to reduce accidents and ensure traffic safety on the roads. The initiators of the project cited examples when, due to "bald" tires during rain or snowfall, cars lost controllability, provoked accidents, created traffic jams. The introduction of the bill was also due to the fact that in the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation there was no separate provision on the responsibility of drivers for untimely replacement of tires. Despite the relevance of the proposals and the significant goals pursued by this initiative, the bill on winter tires was withdrawn by the initiators during the first reading in June 2018. The motivation for this decision was the changes made to the Technical Regulations, namely the clarification of the period in which cars should have winter tires and the establishment of a ban on the use of summer tires in winter.

Winter tire requirements 2019

Requirements for vehicles that are in operation, including wheels and tires, are established by Appendix No. 8 of the current Technical Regulations. From November 1, 2018, the Law on Winter Tires was amended and supplemented with new provisions on the categories of vehicles on which anti-skid tires must be installed, on the period of use of such tires, as well as on a number of prohibitions. According to the document, all motorists had to switch to winter tires from December 1, 2018 and not “change shoes” for the next 3 months, unless otherwise established by federal legislation. The technical regulations also contain the following requirements for winter tires:

• Installation on all wheels of the vehicle (section 5.4). It is not allowed to use winter, summer and all-weather tires on the same axle;
• Mandatory installation of winter tires on cars and trucks up to 3.5 tons;
• Ban on the use of spiked tires in summer (p. 5.5);
• A ban on driving a car in winter without winter tires (clause 5.5);
• Terms of use of winter tires may be changed by federal law;
• The ban on the use of winter tires with a residual height of the pattern not exceeding 4 mm;
• The presence of marking in the form of mountain peaks and a snowflake in the center;
• A ban on the use of vehicles whose tires are damaged (cracks, bulges, etc.).

Paragraphs 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 of the Appendix establish general requirements prohibiting the operation of certain tires. They relate to unusable tires, features of the use of retreaded tires. Separate provisions relate to the methods of mounting discs and their shape. The Studded Tire Act does not set a precise date for the installation of such tires on a vehicle. This is largely due to the fact that the territory of the Russian Federation is quite extensive and has significant differences in climate. But every driver must equip his car with winter tires before ice, icing and snowy surfaces appear on the roads.

Penalty for breaking the law on winter tires

Since the law on winter tires was not in force in 2018, and its bill was not even considered, representatives of the traffic police or traffic police had no reason to issue fines for the absence of studded tires. In 2019, in accordance with Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code, a motorist can be fined only for non-compliance of the wheels with the parameters stated in clause 5 of the Appendix to the SDA. It contains several requirements for the condition of wheels and tires, similar to those in the Technical Regulations. Thus, the Regulations indicate that the residual depth of the winter rubber pattern cannot be more than 4 mm, the tires installed on the same car cannot have a different tread pattern, different shape, etc. Also, tires with and without studs cannot be installed on the same vehicle. For such violations, the owner of the car will be fined 500 rubles.

It's free! Print

According to the law, it is necessary to change summer tires to winter ones in accordance with the provisions of the current regulatory legal acts. They fix the terms according to which the procedure must be performed, and also fix the punishment for non-compliance with the rules. If a person has neglected the provisions of the law on winter tires, a fine may be applied against him. In order to know in advance the amount of the penalty, the features of its imposition and to be able to avoid the sanction, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the current information on the topic.

What is the law governing rubber replacement?

The peculiarities of using and replacing rubber are fixed in Appendix No. 8 to the technical regulations of the customs union. It is valid from 01.01.2015. A regulatory act sets out the requirements for the safe use of a vehicle. After the adoption of the Regulation, car owners must, without fail, change summer tires to winter tires and vice versa.

The provisions of the regulation apply to passenger cars. The specifics of replacing tires on buses or trucks are not specified in the Regulation. The norm does not fix fines for non-compliance with the requirements. Experts view a regulation as a list of recommendations. It will not be possible to punish for non-compliance.

Why can't rubber be used out of season?

The need for a law on winter tires arose because of the danger posed by untimely tire replacement. A driver who continues to drive summer tires on an icy road runs the risk of losing control. It creates a danger not only for itself, but also for other vehicles and pedestrians. By neglecting the rules, a person runs the risk of facing the following situations:

• become a participant in an accident due to an increased braking distance;
• not be able to overcome even a not too steep climb due to the fact that the car is slipping;
• become the culprit of traffic congestion due to non-compliance with the speed limit.

Technical specifications

Summer tires differ from winter ones in tread depth. For rubber used in the warm season, the value of the indicator should be at least 1.6 mm. During the period when ice forms on the road, it is allowed to use tires with a tread depth of 4 mm. If the tread is worn out, you will need to replace the tires immediately. Otherwise, the machine may be declared invalid. This will allow the traffic police officer to apply a fine against the driver.

To make it easier for the layman to understand the types of tires, manufacturers put markings on the product. It is allowed to use:

1. Summer tires from March to November. They have no markings.
2. From September to May - winter studded tires. They are marked "M + S" (Mud + Snow) and / or "Winter".
3. All year round - studless winter tires. They are marked “M + S” (Mud + Snow), “Winter”, “All season” or “All weather”.

By law, it is necessary to change summer tires to winter ones before December 1. The reverse procedure must be completed by June 1. Such requirements are enshrined in clause 5.5 of Appendix No. 8 of the technical regulations of the customs union on the safety of wheeled vehicles. The above norm ascribes to drivers to move in summer on tires without studs, and in winter - on studded tires. However, the regulation contains only recommendations and does not provide for fines.

Penalties can be applied on the basis of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Its provisions state that it is prohibited to operate a faulty car. The machine will be recognized as such in the following situations:

• the tread depth does not meet the established requirements;
• different tires are installed on the same axle of the vehicle;
• the tires are damaged;
• studded and non-studded tires are installed at the same time;
• there are cracks on the disc or parts of the attachment are missing;
• the tires do not match the model of the car.

Don't forget about safety requirements. The regulation fixes only the recommended terms. If there is a need, a citizen can perform a replacement earlier. It is worth switching to winter tires when the road is covered with ice several times. It is impractical to carry out actions after the first frost. In Russia, they may occur as early as September.

However, there is no need to hesitate. Keeping a car without winter tires on a slippery road is problematic. It is better to replace it before the moment when the snow completely falls on the ground. The transition to summer tires should be carried out when ice on the road will not appear even at night.

What will happen for non-compliance?

According to paragraph 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, you cannot use a vehicle if there are malfunctions or there are conditions under which it is prohibited to operate the machine. The use of rubber that does not correspond to the season also falls under this paragraph.

If a citizen has not made a timely replacement of tires, a warning may be applied to him. If a person has not corrected the situation, a fine of 500 rubles may be imposed on him when he stops again. A similar rule applies if the driver drives bald tires. However, the penalty is not applied for the use of summer tires during the winter period, but for the non-compliance of the tread depth with the established requirements.

In the provisions of Chapter 12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, there are no references to the norms enshrined in the technical regulations of the customs union. This means that it is impossible to fine the driver for driving on tires that do not correspond to the season. However, this can be considered a malfunction. In this situation, Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation comes into force.

Today, the development of the law on winter tires continues. So, the State Duma committee proposed to increase the amount of the fine for the use of tires that do not correspond to the season, up to 2,000 rubles. However, to date, the bill has not yet been adopted.

Looking ahead, we will immediately make a reservation that riding on summer tires in winter, as well as in summer on winter tires for 2019, is prohibited. But this ban is not valid from November 1, 2019, but from December to February inclusive. But let's talk about everything in order! So, in winter on summer tires: what is the fine for this today, what are the conditions, requirements and subtleties of the auto-law on summer tires in winter?

Can you ride summer tires in winter?

No, this is prohibited. Such a prohibition is regulated by the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union in its clause 5.5 in their "requirements for vehicles in operation" (Appendix 8 of the regulation). At the same time, this normative act clearly regulates the winter and summer months. The former are December, January and February, the latter are June, July and August.

At the same time, these months may differ if any region of Russia establishes its own rules, which is quite logical; and only in the direction of increase, which ... is completely illogical. Indeed, in the same Krasnodar Territory, winter tires may not be required at all. But alas, this is the law!

5.5. It is prohibited to operate vehicles equipped with tires with anti-skid spikes in the summer period (June, July, August).
It is prohibited to operate vehicles that are not equipped with winter tires. satisfying the requirements of paragraph 5.6.3 of this annex, in winter (December, January, February)... Winter tires are installed on all wheels of the vehicle.
The terms of the prohibition of operation can be changed upwards by regional authorities state administration of the member states of the Customs Union.

Thus, it is forbidden to ride summer tires in winter - in December, January and February (the terms may vary by regions). It is not necessary to change your shoes to winter tires from October 1st and November 1st.

Where can I find out about the increase in the ban in my city?

Alas, there is no way to unequivocally answer this question. For 2019, not a single region and city has changed the provisions of the Technical Regulations regarding summer tires in winter.

With the onset of the cold season, every car owner thinks about changing summer tires to winter ones.

Therefore, questions arise: when to change tires for winter according to the law and whether the terms of "changing shoes" can vary depending on weather conditions.

The answers to these questions are contained in the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union, which has been in effect on the territory of the Russian Federation since 2015.

After studying the relevant section of this document, the following rules become clear:

1. Summer (June to August inclusive) it is forbidden to use studded tires.
2. In winter (December, January and February) only winter tires are allowed. This means both tires with spikes and without them, while they must be marked "M + S" (also found "M&S" or "M S") plus an icon with the image of mountains and snowflakes.
3. Local authorities have the right to extend the ban on the use of a particular type of tire. This is due to the fact that the weather conditions in Russia vary greatly from region to region, so the decision when it is necessary to change tires must be made locally. For example, your area may be banned from using summer tires from November to March. But local authorities cannot shorten the time of the ban, that is, in the winter months in any region, winter tires must be on the cars.

What does this mean in practice

When considering these rules as applied to practice, the following picture is obtained.

If you have studless winter tires, you can use them all year round. If, in the warm season, you use summer tires, then it is necessary to change it to winter tires from September to November, and the reverse operation should be performed in the spring, from March to May.

To navigate the question of when to change winter tires to summer tires and vice versa, you can use the data in the following table:

These deadlines are extreme, so it is better to carry out "changing shoes" a little earlier than the indicated dates - and the queue at the tire service will be less, and there will be no risk of getting on the icy road on summer tires.

But it also happens that in which month to change the tires, it is generally difficult to guess - sometimes after frosts, warm weather comes again and continues until the beginning of winter.

At the same time, experienced drivers answer the question of when to change summer tires to winter tires like this: when the air temperature stays below +7 ° C for several days.

All-season rubber is a type of tire that is used in European countries in mild climates.

These tires are designed to operate at any time of the year, both summer and winter.

But in winter, such tires are legally allowed to operate only if they are marked "M + S".

Owners of this type of tire wonder if they should necessarily change tires for winter tires.... This is not required by law, but experts do not recommend using this type of tire at temperatures below +7 ° C.

And even at high temperatures, the safety of their use is reduced, since the braking distance becomes 40% longer.

In 2019, chapter 12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation does not contain instructions on specific fines for the lack of winter tires.

But there is a fine for the use of rubber in winter, the wear of which exceeds the established norms, namely, if the tread depth is less than 4 mm at the most worn-out place.

For summer tires that have traveled a sufficient number of kilometers, the tread height is often less than the specified value.

It turns out that the use of such rubber in winter is subject to a fine for this very reason. The same rule applies to winter tires.

Thus, there is a fine for the absence of winter tires from December 1 to the end of February and it is 500 rubles.

So, from the article we can conclude that the legislation does not clearly indicate at what temperature tires should be replaced on cars.

Car owners have ample time during the fall and spring seasons to change tires for the season. However, one should focus on the weather conditions of a particular region: from what date to switch to another set, nature itself will tell.

Finally, it is worth clarifying the question of whether it is necessary to do wheel alignment after replacing tires. Experts say that tires do not have any effect on this parameter, so there is no need to adjust it after changing wheels.

Remember that changing tires is a safety measure for all road users. You should not expose yourself and your passengers to the risk of getting into an accident and ride in the snow on summer tires.

If you have not had time to change tires before the cold weather, then it is better to wait a few days and not use the car until the winter kit is installed.

Automobile wheels are the main component of a vehicle that is subject to the most wear and tear. The reason for this is the constant contact of rubber with the track and road reagents. To extend the service life of wheel tires, to protect yourself and other road users, it is worth adhering to the technical recommendations for the use of tires. Take into account the end of winter and the onset of warmth and do not wait for a warning from the traffic police about when to change tires for summer tires.

Replacing wheels in a timely manner will help to avoid the following causes of tire wear:

• seasonal deterioration in the quality of roads (ice, pits after winter, hot asphalt);
• exit from snow drifts and off-road;
• with sharp braking, the protector is retained;
• imbalance of air pressure in tires depending on the season;
• violation of the norms of car operation.

Some thrifty car owners change tires on only one pair of wheels - front or rear. Such savings are fraught not only with vehicle breakdowns, but also road accidents.

2 Change of winter tires to summer tires

Every car enthusiast has his own beliefs about seasonal tire replacement:

• supporters of the early replacement of the winter period motivate their position by the need to prepare early for the coming cold weather and to secure their traffic on the road in the event of sudden frosts or icy conditions.
• supporters of the late summer change change tires when it is already warm enough, not considering that this increases wear and tear and significantly reduces its service life.

The practice of using winter tires confirms that the use of treads in hot summer months significantly increases their wear. Therefore, if a replacement is made in time, then the rubber resource can be extended.

When changing shoes on your car, you should arm yourself with the recommendations of manufacturers who advise you to put on winter protectors if the average daily temperature drops to + 7C. At low temperatures, summer protectors harden and their properties deteriorate.

According to the law of the Russian Federation, winter tires should be changed from March 1 to 15, depending on the harsh weather conditions and territorial location. In Russia, by mid-March, the temperature indicators become more stable, the snow cover disappears and the asphalt becomes dry, as a result of which the technical characteristics of winter tires are not relevant.

Of course, changing the car according to the rules is good, but the owner must take into account the quality of the road surface (after winter) of the area on which he drives: the city highway is more well-groomed and clean than rural or provincial roads, which sometimes remain snowy until mid-April.

Russia is an immense country, and the inhabitants of the southern regions have some peculiarities in terms of seasonal wheel replacement, since in winter there is no snow at all, the asphalt is dry and the temperature indicators are quite high. In this regard, the use of studded rubber in such areas is not widespread, there is more all-season in fashion. The date of changing winter protectors there fluctuates relative to weather conditions, drivers need to track from what date the temperature has leveled off and is kept at +5, + 7C and higher, then you can safely change the car's shoes.

Car owners of the North, on the contrary, use studded tires more, since driving in snowfalls and severe frosts requires special technical characteristics - protectors with metal studs. And the terms requiring the replacement of studded rubber are somewhat different there than in the central and southern regions, they are determined by territorial temperature parameters.

3 Change of summer tires

According to Appendix No. 8 of the technical regulation of 01.01.2015, the operation of machines with studded tires in the summer from June to August is prohibited. Consequently, the law of the Russian Federation does not prohibit driving in the summer on winter tires without studs, but you can ride on studded tires until June 1.

The conditions for replacing a summer car tire depend on the average daily temperature not lower than + 5, + 7C. If even in the daytime the air warms up to +10, + 11C, then in the morning frosts may appear in places and the movement of the car on summer protectors can create an accident. Moreover, summer tires used in winter lose their elasticity, and the vehicle's braking is doubled.

If the summer has dragged on and the winter season is just beginning to remind of itself, it is useful for motorists to familiarize themselves with the following parameters of the relationship between the seasonal temperature and the replacement of the summer tire:

• the lower the thermometer readings, the harder the summer protector;
• the harder the rubber, the lower its adhesion properties;
• the worse the grip properties, the higher the fuel consumption and the higher the tread wear.

To balance these processes, car wheel manufacturers have developed tires that differ in chemical structure and tread pattern.

Car tires used in summer are stiffer and withstand better contact with hot asphalt. At low temperatures, the rubber becomes stiff and traction decreases. The movement process turns into a sliding process.

The minimum average daily temperature, after which we understand that it's time to "change shoes" - +7 degrees Celsius

In addition to winter-summer tires, there is another, third option for tires - all-season tires. "Vsesezonki" are characterized by greater disadvantages than advantages, because in the summer they wear out more and in winter they are not very elastic. All-season tires are most practical at 0 degrees.

There are 4 main reasons why experts advise changing summer tires in advance:

1. The excitement at the service station.
2. Running in studded treads: for the first 100 - 200 km, avoid slipping and sudden braking. The recommended movement is 70 km / h.
3. It is more comfortable to install in a warm season than in a cold season.
4. The car is ready for the sudden whims of nature.

A few lost studs are not as dangerous as the possibility of being in a snowdrift or icy with summer tires.

4 Additional reasons for timely tire change

Car tires need to be changed, primarily for reasons of their own safety. The economic reasons for this are also not unimportant: winter tires wear out quickly in summer, and driving on summer treads in winter leads to accidents and unforeseen expenses.

Insurance companies, as a rule, refuse insurance if tires that are not suitable for the season are installed on the vehicle during an accident.

The timing of replacing tires depends on the conditions of use of the car: if in spring the car is used mostly in the mornings and evenings, and at this time there may be frosts, then you can not rush to change tires, if in autumn the car is used in the morning and evening, then changing the shoes of the car is worth hurrying up.

The geography of operation is also very important, because on suburban roads and urban temperature indicators of night and day are usually different. Consequently, the likelihood of the appearance of ice is greater, and snow melts on country roads longer than on urban ones.

5 Penalty for seasonal non-conformity of tires

Financial punishment for summer tires in winter from January 1, 2015 is 500 rubles, thanks to the entered into force technical document of the Customs Union. The decree prohibits the operation of a car without winter tires from December to February. Regional structures have been given the right to regulate the terms of the ban, depending on the weather conditions in different regions of Russia.

The law of the Russian Federation does not provide for a fine for the operation of non-studded winter tires in the summer.

Also, the legislation does not provide for a fine for the absence of the "Ш" sign on a car with studded tires.

Replacing car tires, like everything in our life, must be done on time, especially if your own safety depends on it.