Many Serbian drivers have already changed their summer tires for winter ones thus avoiding last-minute queues and preparing for November 1st, when winter tires will be required by law.
Tire replacement costs an average of 500 to 900 dinars per tire, while the price of winter tires varies from 3,500 to 20,000 dinars per piece, depending on the type of vehicle and manufacturer.
“Drivers have become more conscientious due to the pandemic. They are aware that not everyone will be able to change tires on November 1st, so they are already calling for an appointment. A tire replacement set per wheel, which includes disassembly, assembly and balancing, costs 500 to 900 dinars depending on the vehicle, ” a worker at a tire shop explains.
Winter tires last an average of three to four years and the purchase of these tires is no small expense for the family budget.
“The cheapest tires, which include both of Chinese and local origin, cost around 3,500 dinars for, say, a Fiat Punto, while premium tires are three times more expensive, so their approximate price is 10,000 dinars per tire. On the other hand, for a medium-class vehicle such as a Renault Laguna, the prices of winter tires ranges from 4,500 to 7,500 dinars. Obviously, the most expensive winter tires are used by SUVs and cost between 6,000-7,000 to 20,000 dinars ”.
“It is very important to put winter tires on all four wheels. If, for example, we put them only on the front wheels, when braking the car would go into a tail spin and probably cause an accident. It is extremely important that the brakes adhere evenly to each tire. In snowy or icy weather, tire pattern must be at least 4 millimetres deep”, a car mechanic says.
Many find a compromise solution for both their wallet and road safety in having universal tires. This is a compromise solution only in one case.
“Universal tires are only recommended for drivers who travel no more than 10,000 kilometres annually with their vehicle. It is a compromise between summer and winter tires and is on average 20 to 30% more expensive than winter or summer tires. These are tires that have sufficient softness and do not lose the necessary properties when the temperature falls to 7 degrees Celsius. However, this softness makes these tires wear out more in summer at temperatures of +40 degrees and, as a result, they can last only between 30,000 to 50,000 kilometres,” experts say.
The summer tire loses its properties when the temperature falls below 7°, so you need a winter tire when it’s cold, no matter if there is snow or not.
“If the air temperature drops below 7 °, summer tires lose their properties, skid much more easily and have a longer stopping distance. The land is often much colder than the air, which has its impact too,” explains Damir Okanovic, director of the Traffic Committee.
Penalties for using summer tires instead of winter tires on a road covered with snow, ice or ice, range from 10,000 to 20,000 dinars for individuals, from 60,000 to 800,000 dinars for legal entities and between 30,000 and 200,000 dinars for small business owners.
(Mondo, 22.10.2020)
https://mondo.rs/Info/Ekonomija/a1388272/zamena-guma-zimske-gume-kazne-pneumatici.html
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