The History Of Winter Tires
Posted on January 12, 2010
Filed Under Uncategorized
The idea to divide tires into summer and winter types appeared in the 1960ies. Initially it was extremely difficult to convince the drivers – at first time it sounded as incredible as if You were offered a set of winter doors for Your vehicle.
But increasing mileage as well as view of cars riding on ice-covered surface made people revise their opinion and purchase wonder tires. It is necessary to point out that fifty years ago the rubber differed from the modern one: it was very porous, soft and didn’t suit for winter tires.
The designers found only one decision: to make huge studs with an inch height and hope that it will help. On ice and snow such tires performed much better than “bald” ones but the steering control at low speeds left much to desire. New technologies were to be adopted.
In the 1970ies chemists offered a new rubber compound that was immediately adopted by the military forces. Tire manufacturers decided to use it for the production of passenger tires. It was the first time when the drivers didn’t have to worry about the traction performance on ice, snow and wet asphalt.
In 1975 the governments of many European countries prohibited the use of stud tires as they spoiled road surface.
The situation was quite interesting: no one wanted to use summer tires in the winter but at the same time it was impossible to produce new models. There appeared such crazy ideas as the use of suction cups on the tires or molding of wire into the tread. Both ideas failed as few years later the chemists offered a new durable and elastic material that resolved the crisis in the tire industry.
In 1982 the Michelin company presented a new model that later became the prototype of all modern treads. In 1999 one could operate winter tires at 150mph (not on ice-covered surface, of course).
Modern winter tires provide due level of safety and comfort and You are not forbidden to operate them in the city conditions.
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