Tyres: summer tyres & winter tyres – driving licence theory

Studded winter tyres.

Studded winter tyres.

Different types of tyres

  • Summer tyres are the type of tyre you must use when the prevailing road conditions are not wintry.
  • Winter tyres come in 2 varieties:
    • Studded tyres: Good grip on snow and icy surfaces, but cause a lot of wear on the roads.
    • Friction tyres: Good grip on snow, slightly less on ice, less wear on the roads.
  • Year-round tyres are not suitable in Sweden.

The main differences between summer and winter tyres are the tread pattern and the rubber compound. If summer tyres are used in the winter, the more sensitive rubber can become hard and therefore have worse properties.

Tread depth

Tyres Tread depth
New tyres 8–9 mm
Worse wet grip 3–4 mm
Minimum permitted on summer tyres 1.6 mm
Minimum permitted on winter tyres 3 mm

When it is obligatory to use winter tyres, and when it is prohibited

  • The legal requirement for winter tyres in winter road conditions: 1 December–31 March.
  • It is prohibited to have studded tyres 16 April–30 September unless the prevailing or expected road conditions are wintry.

Winter road conditions exist when there is snow, ice, slush or frost on some part of the road.

Clarification about winter tyres

It is 4 May, and there are winter road conditions. Am I allowed to use studded tyres?
– Yes, as there are winter road conditions.

It is 1 July and no winter road conditions can be expected. Am I allowed to use non-studded winter tyres?
– Yes, only studded tyres are forbidden. However, consider that the performance of the winter tyres will be degraded in hot weather. If your car is not safe to drive, it is forbidden.

It is 10 December and autumn weather (no winter road conditions). Am I allowed to use summer tyres?
– Yes, the dates forcing you to have winter tyres only apply during winter road conditions. However, consider that the performance of the summer tyres will be degraded in cold weather. If your car is not safe to drive, it is forbidden.

Tyre-related facts

Correct air pressure is important.

Correct air pressure is important.

  • Correct air pressure is important for safety and the lifespan of the tyres. See the car’s user manual and information from the tyre manufacturer.
  • It is prohibited to combine summer tyres and winter tyres. It is also prohibited to combine studded winter tyres and non-studded winter tyres.
    • Exception: If you get a puncture on a car fitted with winter tyres, you may use a summer spare tyre until the winter tyre has been fixed.
  • Changing only one tyre leads to a deterioration of the car’s handling. You should therefore change both tyres on the same axle. It is best to change all tyres at the same time.
  • After changing a tyre, you should re-tighten the wheel bolts after several tens of kilometres of driving in order to reduce the risk of them loosening.
  • Summer tyres with snow chains may be used as an alternative to winter tyres.
  • Tyres are subjected to greater wear at higher speeds.
  • Smooth driving is better for the tyres.
  • The tread is the patterned part of the tyre that is in contact with, and is worn by, the road surface.
  • Retreaded tyres are used tyres that have been fitted with new treads. These are cheaper, but may potentially have worse properties than brand new tyres
  • Friction is the resistance between two objects sliding against one another. Ice skates on ice = low friction. Eraser on paper = high friction. The friction between the tyres and the road must be high in order to achieve the best grip.
  • Tread wear indicators are small pieces of rubber which sit inside the grooves of the tyres. When the tyre tread has worn down so much that it is level with the tread wear indicators, the tyre should be changed as soon as possible.

Tyre fault

  • Incorrect wheel alignment causes the car to pull to one side if you hold the steering wheel loosely on a straight road. This leads to uneven wear on the tyres. It can be caused by the tyres bumping into something.
  • Incorrect balancing causes the steering wheel to vibrate occasionally. This leads to increased tyre wear.

Spare tyre in the event of a puncture

  • A regular spare tyre is exactly the same type of tyre that the car normally has. You are allowed to drive with this just as with a regular tyre. However, it is often best to repair the old wheel and put it back, as having a brand new tyre on one side can impair the car’s handling.
  • A temporary spare is a narrower tyre version that is only suitable for use in order to get the car to a workshop. The car’s user manual contains instructions regarding the maximum speed, maximum distance and the air pressure for the temporary spare.

If the regular or temporary spare is a summer tyre and the others are studded tyres, you are permitted to drive with the tyre until the studded tyre has been repaired.

Studded tyres on a trailer

If the car has studded tyres, then the trailer must also have studded tyres in winter road conditions. If the trailer has studded tyres, then the car does not need to have them.

This is to avoid the risk of jack-knifing, which occurs when the car has better grip than the trailer during braking. The result will be that the trailer skids to the side in an uncontrolled manner.

Examples

Car with studded tyres and trailer with studded tyres

Car with studded tyres and trailer with studded tyres = permitted

Car without studded tyres and trailer with studded tyres

Car without studded tyres and trailer with studded tyres = permitted

Car with studded tyres and trailer without studded tyres

Car with studded tyres and trailer without studded tyres = not permitted

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