Tom
I've seen it snow in July, but that was in the mountains.
Can be quite dramatic in properly hot conditions. Was wearing out some old winters a few years ago when we had a late May heatwave (temperatures up above 30°). Even moderate braking caused the ABS to kick in.
I sometimes wonder why so many have a don't care attitude to tyres. You can have the most powerful braking system on top of perfectly set up suspension, but at the end of the day it's the sticky black things which decide how useful the rest is.
Same as other rubbers, don't cheap out or it could cost you in the long run.
The rule of thumb in Zurich is from October to Easter.
In Tessin you may as well avoid winter tires completely (but not recommended).
Personally I book in advance for my Winter tyres to be put on mid -to late October ... no fixed date (earliest snows I've seen in Zurich were 17 October over the last 10 years)
And I get Summer tyres put back probably by end April... or whenever it looks well and truly that temps aren't going below that magic 7 degree celsius point. Wild annual variations, so i go with the weather not a date (or movable Pagan Feast dates)
I'd agree with above that winter tyres become melty and slippery in warm weather - nearly came sideways out of a corner once in 25 degree spring weather. Lesson learned. And yes, normal tyred basically become hard like plastic in cold weather, and they might as well have a smooth profile by the time there's any frost.
I know several people who run winter tires year round (we do on the Panda).
Tom
So that's why there are so many skid marks in Tessin!
why, poor panda got a dodgy tummy?
Kind of hard to make skid marks on forest roads (where it spends most of it's time).
Tom
while on the subject you might be interested in: https://arstechnica.com/features/201...l-about-tires/
tidbits:
- winter tyres out-perform all season tires around 7c. relatively 'warm'.
- snowflake symbol on car generally warns around the 2c mark when ice is often 'wet' which gives little traction. when very cold (and so no water as all frozen) ice can be quite grippy.
Next week seems a bit premature this year, I think I'll add a month to that.
I still look straight at fully snow covered roofs at the moment. Second half of April is when I get my summer-tires mounted.
My car beeps at me, telling me "Glatteis" (black ice) at +3°C - when the streets are "aper" as we call it here = totally free of anything and totally dry.
Very contra-productive in my opinion. But as this is the first time I have this gadget I stick to common sense anyway. An other one of these useless things which cost money when they're broken as the mechanic won't just let it rest in peace.