As of November 1, the situational winter equipment obligation applies again in Austria. Even though the temperatures are still mild in autumn, booking an appointment to change your tires is already advisable.
“If it comes to a sudden onset of winter, the workshops are often booked up for weeks,” said ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl.
At higher altitudes or at night, it can be sensitively cold even in October, as users of winter tires are at an advantage, according to Kerbl. Before changing, the old tires should be checked, however. “By law, the tread depth must be at least four millimetres throughout the winter, which means that depending on the mileage, it should still be about six millimetres when changing tires,” says the traffic expert. In general, the rubber compound hardens over time. New tires should be considered after about five seasons or in the case of visible cracks or other damage.
But it’s not just the tires that should undergo a winter check. The most frequent reason for failures is old batteries. So if the battery is older than four years or only used for short trips, a check should be carried out in any case before the cold season,” recommended Kerbl. But also the antifreeze for the windshield washer system, the inspection of the wiper blades, the impregnation of rubber seals and a check of the lamps should be carried out now.
– source: APA/picture: pixabay.com
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