When to Switch to Winter and Summer Tyres
In Poland there is no legal requirement to use winter tyres, but the difference in braking distance on cold roads is huge. We explain when to switch tyres and how to judge their condition.
3 min read · Pulsecar team · updated:
The 7°C rule
Summer tyre compound hardens in low temperatures, while winter compound wears out too fast in the heat. The rough dividing line is an average daily temperature of about 7°C. In Warsaw that usually means switching to winter tyres in October or November, and to summer tyres in March or April.
How to judge tyre condition
- Tread depth — the legal minimum in Poland is 1.6 mm, but a winter tyre loses effectiveness already below about 4 mm, and a summer tyre below about 3 mm.
- Age — you will find the production date in the DOT code (week and year). Older rubber hardens.
- Damage — cracks, bulges and sidewall cuts disqualify a tyre.
- Even wear — wear concentrated on one edge points to an alignment problem.
Fitting and balancing
With every tyre change we balance the wheels — this eliminates steering-wheel vibration at higher speeds and uneven wear.
How much a tyre change costs
At Pulsecar, a full tyre change with balancing costs from 180 PLN (R14) to 320 PLN (R21) and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. Seasonal tyre storage costs 200 PLN.