In Continental they warn about unsafe winter tires

On December 1, 2024, a new law will come into effect in Sweden, according to which non-studded tires used in the winter season must be marked with 3PMSF, however, the product manager of the regional branch of Continental Antti Ahomäki warned that the "Alpine symbol" alone does not mean that the tires are well suited for the conditions of the northern countries.

According to him, the market can be found budget tires from China, which are approved for winter conditions, but at the same time show very weak results in independent tests. So, in recent tests, the results of which were published by the Swedish magazine Aftonbladet (the tests are conducted by the Finnish UTAC), three Chinese tires "failed", which experts particularly criticized for low traction and poor handling characteristics on snow and ice.

We are talking about studded Triangle IcelynX TI501, as well as friction Triangle Snowlink PL01 and Linglong Nord Master, the characteristics of which expert Aftonbladet Robert Collin described as "Very poor" and "The car is completely uncontrollable". At the same time, it was Triangle that became the most popular brand of non-studded winter tires in Russia on the Avito portal.

"All Continental winter tires have had the 3PMSF marking for two decades, so for us, there's nothing new here," says Ahomäki. "We offer premium-class tires adapted to the conditions of Northern Europe, and we have a large team of experts who develop each tire for at least four years. Obviously, this makes a difference."

A survey conducted by Norstat last year showed that during a recession, 11% of Swedish drivers put off buying new tires, and 15% opt for cheaper tires.

"While inexpensive imported tires may seem like an attractive option due to their price, it's essential to remember that safety always starts with tires," emphasized Ahomäki. "Of course, we would like people to buy Continental tires, but that's not the most important thing, and what's most important is that they choose a product from one of the major premium manufacturers. It's enough to familiarize yourself with the results of independent tire tests in Aftonbladet, Vi Bilägare, or Teknikens Värld, and the difference will be immediately apparent. Premium-class tires are indeed adapted to our climate, while imported budget tires can pose a real danger on the road."

In Sweden, winter tires must be used from December 1 to March 31 if required by the corresponding road conditions.