Simple trick
This means the grip of winter tires is better
Updated 11/18/2025 – 13:34Reading time: 2 minutes
Winter tires offer a lot of safety – but it also depends on the air pressure. There are very specific recommendations that you should follow.
Whether the road is dry or wet, drivers should maintain tire pressure exactly as recommended by the manufacturer. However, different rules apply on snowy or icy roads.
In snowy and slippery conditions, the air pressure in winter tires should always be 0.2 bar higher than the manufacturer’s specified value. This will open the tire blade profile. So it can make better use of its advantages: it grips better and keeps the car on track more safely. Braking and steering behavior also improves.
There is always confusion regarding the requirements for having winter tires. From a purely legal point of view, situational obligations apply. It is stated that winter tires in Germany are only required in winter road conditions. In fact, soft winter tires offer more safety than summer tires even in temperatures well above freezing (plus 7 degrees). Winter tires also excel at dealing with slippery leaves and frost, which can occur as early as October.
Experience shows that winter tires are very cheap at the beginning of the season, but by the end of December they become much more expensive. These are the results of a comparison by the Check24 comparison portal. Therefore, prices may increase by about a tenth of normal levels in September by the end of the year.
If you take it early, you can take advantage of another advantage: empty workshops. Many drivers don’t change their tires until the first snow falls. But it was too late. Even if your car has to go to the mechanic for a routine check-up at the same time as the first cold snap, you shouldn’t wait to switch to winter tires. The time has come for a change in October.
By the way: You can not only save a lot of money by buying early, but also by comparing prices. This means you can buy tires for half the price or more.
