When to Switch Between Winter and Summer Tires
“I switch tires at Easter and All Saints’ Day” — that’s the most popular rule Polish drivers follow. The trouble is, the calendar has nothing to do with the weather, and it’s temperature that actually decides which rubber compound performs best.
The 7°C rule
Winter and summer tire compounds react to temperature differently:
- Below 7°C the hard summer compound starts losing flexibility — the tire “goes wooden,” grip drops, and stopping distance grows, even on dry asphalt.
- Above 7°C the soft winter compound starts wearing out faster, and its braking and cornering behavior gets worse.
So the simplest, tried-and-tested rule is: if the average daily temperature hovers around 7°C for a week or two, it’s time to switch. In the Polish climate that’s usually late March to early April (switching to summer tires) and late October to early November (switching to winter tires) — though those windows can shift by several weeks depending on the year.
What do the regulations actually say?
In Poland there is no law requiring a seasonal tire change, and no fixed cut-off date. The legal requirement concerns the tire’s technical condition regardless of season: a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm, and tires that are in good technical condition and suited to the vehicle. Driving on winter tires in summer (or vice versa) isn’t an offense in itself — but in the event of a collision, an insurer or expert witness may take into account whether the choice of tires for the weather conditions contributed to the incident.
In other words, it’s not a matter of formalities, but of real safety and responsibility toward yourself and other road users.
How do you know it’s time to switch, right now?
You don’t need to watch the forecast every day — a few simple signals are enough: the first morning frost, frost on the windshield, forecasted temperatures dropping below 5-7°C for the coming week. In spring, it works the other way — several days in a row above 10°C during the day is a sign the winter tires have done their job.
Want it off your plate? Book a tire change at our workshop — we’ll check tread depth and pressure while we’re at it, and if you’re after a new set, take a look at our tire offer.