Can You Put Summer Bike Tires In Winter Season?

Do you want to ride your bike during the winter season? But confused about it, can you put summer bike tires in the winter season? Actually using summer bike tires in cold weather is a bad idea.

If you use summer tires in winter conditions, you might risk damaging them. If there is snow, ice, or frequent freezing temperatures, summer tires are not recommended. The winter is the perfect time to put winter tires on your bike. And today, I will explain the difference between summer bike tires and winter bike tires, and why you cannot put summer tires in winter.

What Is the Difference Between Winter Bike Tires And Summer Bike Tires?

Summer Tire

Wet and dry roads are no problem for summer tires because they have a dedicated rubber compound. In addition to providing increased fuel efficiency and generating less road noise, they have reduced rolling resistance.

Road Condition In Summer

• The contact patch with the road is maximized since summer tires have fewer grooves for water clearance.
• The bicycle has better traction and braking during the summer months when it is dry.

Why Not For Winter Use?

However, summer tires are not suitable for winter driving conditions due to their unique rubber compounds and simple tread designs. But in low temperatures, the compound hardens and becomes brittle, and the tread design becomes ineffective.

Winter Tire

Winter tires provide excellent grip on snow-covered and icy roads, as well as wet roads during cold weather.

• Due to their high content of natural rubber, winter tires have tread compounds that do not harden below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).
• When it is cold, it remains limber and flexible, which reduces braking distances. And deeper blocks in the tread provide more grip on snow and ice.
• As the winter tire has many spies that clear water and slush from the cycle’s path, reducing the risk of hydroplaning.

Why Not In Summer Use?

But Winter tires are not appropriate for the summer season.

• It wears out much faster on dry asphalt because of the compound’s softness.
• In addition, the increased rolling resistance will result in higher fuel consumption and increased road noise.

A Short Chart: Summer Tires Vs. Winter Tires

Advantages & Disadvantages Of Winter Bicycle Tires

There are some advantages and disadvantages of winter bicycle tires that are shown below.

Benefits:

• A winter tire helps reduce braking distances compared to a summer tire and an all-season tire.
• Depending on speed and road conditions, winter tires reduce distance coverage by 25%.
• With their high void ratio, they effectively channel water and snow away from the tire treads.
• There is a large open space in the treads of winter tires that makes them capable of pushing through the snow.
• A winter tire is designed to withstand extreme winter conditions, unlike other tires that can easily break down when temperatures are low.
• Low temperatures enable winter tires to stay on the ground, so they keep their grip on the ground.
• When you need to brake, winter tires provide a steady grip on ice.

Disbenefits:

• You need to change winter tires quickly after the winter because there is no snow on the ground. And they quickly destroy the asphalt on the road during the summer season.
• When used in average weather conditions, winter tires are made with soft rubber that easily tears and wears out the treads more quickly than regular tires.
• The grip and braking of winter tires make them difficult to handle.
• Unlike regular tires, they have poor handling to ensure that drivers drive more carefully on ice and wet surfaces.

Advantages & Disadvantages Of Summer Bike Tires

There are some advantages and disadvantages of summer tires that are going to discuss below.

Conveniences:

• During acceleration, braking, and cornering, summer tires provide better handling due to their lower grooves in the tread.
• Tire treads made from rubber compounds work better on wet roads, reducing hydroplaning risks.
• In the right conditions, summer tires improve fuel economy. Because they provide less friction on the road and provide better energy efficiency.

Inconveniences:

• The use of summer tires in temperatures under 45 degrees has been shown to be unsafe.
• There are some limitations to tire rotation due to the unique tread patterns of summer tires.
• You will need two sets of tires if you live in an area with temperatures below 45 degrees since summer tires do not hold traction in colder weather. It is more expensive to buy two sets of tires than to buy one set of all-season tires.

Can You Put Summer Bike Tires In The Winter Season?

If you use summer tires in winter conditions, you might risk damaging them. Summer tires shouldn’t be used in snow, ice or freezing temperatures because of:

Poor Traction And Grip

Compared to winter tires, summer tires have a lower rolling resistance, which improves handling and efficiency.

• On ice and snow, however, these tires are poor.
• The acceleration of summer tires is poor in winter weather. A snow tire or winter tire will perform better on snowy roads.

Compared to summer tires, winter tires have softer compounds that are less susceptible to cold temperatures.

• Summer tires have a rubber compound designed for warm weather.
• As rubber stiffens during cold, these tires lose traction even without snow or ice.

Braking Issue

A summer tire has low rolling resistance, so it is difficult to brake quickly on ice or snow because of its low rolling resistance. As winter tires have deep tread, which digs into snow and grips ice, and reduces braking distances.

Cold Temperatures Can Cause Damage

Despite the lack of ice and snow on the roads, winter brings colder temperatures. Therefore, summer tires should not be used in cold weather. Also, now you know summer tire treads tend to stiffen over time.

• This is not only dangerous for traction, but also for the tire itself.
• There is a loss of elasticity and cracking of the tire.
• The thread block is overly stiff, causing it to chip.
• And it is dangerous to drive on cracked and chipped tires.

What Is The Best Time To Get Summer Tires?

• During the warmer months, when temperatures rise above 7 °C, you should fit summer tires to your wheels.

As a result of their dedicated tread patterns and tread compounds, they provide high levels of traction on wet and dry roads.

Furthermore, summer tires provide maximum mileage performance in summer temperatures and high curve stability. So the warmer months will allow you to drive your bike both on wet and dry slippery roads.

Therefore, winter tires should be switched when the seasons change.

What Is The Best Time To Get Winter Tires?

• Below 7 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit).

This tire is suitable for all winter conditions, including snow and ice. Their deeper tread pattern allows them to dig into snow and provide enhanced braking performance in snowy and icy conditions.

Additionally, they’re made from a custom rubber compound that stays soft and flexible at low temperatures for better control. But the softer compound of winter tires wears out faster on dry tarmac and needs replacing more quickly in warm weather.

Conclusion

At the end of the topic, using summer tires in winter riding is a bad idea and vice-versa. It may increase the risk on snowy and icy surfaces. For smooth winter cycle riding, you must use winter tires.