Is this tire change mandatory in Poland, or is it simply up to the driver?
Tire changes are mandatory in Europe
While switching to winter tires is required by law in many countries on our continent, Poland has no such regulation. On the other hand, driving on summer tires in winter is quite difficult, especially because of their weaker grip on wet surfaces and problems with clearing mud and snow. We should therefore not be guided by regulations, but above all by common sense—a winter tire has different functions than its summer counterpart, and driving is more difficult in winter anyway, so we should not make life even harder for ourselves. This is particularly true when it is inseparably connected with an increased risk of skidding, poorer traction control or more difficult maneuvering. What should you pay attention to when using winter tires? Read more at https://www.uniroyal.pl/samochod/opony-poradnik/wiedza-na-temat-opon/biezniki-opon-zimowych.
Pay attention to the tread
Under Polish law, we may not use a tire with a tread depth of less than 1.6 mm. However, this is far too little for winter conditions—we should consider changing the tires when the tread begins to fall below 4.5 mm. Driving on more worn tires, especially during the winter season, has a significant impact on our safety and also reduces driving comfort. Using tires with a tread depth of less than 4 mm is simply dangerous in winter.
When should you change your tires?
If we care not only about driving comfort but also about saving time, it is better not to leave changing the tires until the last minute—that is when tire service centers experience the greatest rush. A winter tire outperforms a summer tire at temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius, so when we notice the weather cooling to around that level, it is worth looking for a service center and a set of tires.
Choosing the right tires for the conditions on the road is crucial to our safety and comfort while driving. If we fail to change them on time or choose lower-quality tires, we may not only notice that the car behaves worse while driving, but above all expose ourselves to an unnecessary risk of skidding or a collision. Winter tires are characterized by softer rubber and a different, more aggressive tread pattern, which significantly improves driving in difficult conditions.