Car tires are generally divided into three main types depending on the season and driving conditions: summer, winter, and all-season tires.
1. Types of tires by seasonality
It is also important to understand what the seasonal symbols on tires mean. | |||
| Summer tires |
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| All-season tires |
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| Winter tires |
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* This type of marking is also used for passenger vehicles;
2. Types of tire tread
- Summer tire tread
 | tires with a highway tread pattern: they are designed for summer use on hard road surfaces in urban and highway conditions. The tread of such tires provides excellent grip and a low noise level on these types of surfaces. They efficiently channel water and road dust away from the contact patch. However, they perform poorly on off-road terrain and are completely unsuitable for winter conditions. |
 | tires with an all-purpose tread pattern: they are designed for mixed driving conditions, suitable for both paved roads and roads with mud and gravel. Compared to highway tires, they are noisier and offer less directional stability, but they perform better on light off-road terrain. The tread pattern of this type of tire features larger blocks with greater spacing between them, allowing for more effective clearing of mud from the contact patch. |
 | tires with an off-road tread pattern: they are designed for extreme driving conditions, such as rocky roads, mud ruts, and similar terrain. The tread features tall blocks with wide spacing to improve grip on the ground and facilitate mud clearance; side lugs may also be present. When driven at high speeds on hard surfaces, these tires produce a higher level of noise. |
- Winter tire tread
 | european type: they are designed for mild winter conditions and roads that are mostly clear of snow and mud. The rubber compound is softer than that of summer tires but firmer than Nordic-type tires. They are ideal for wet snow and rain. The tread features diagonal grooves for effective water drainage and side lugs for additional grip. In more severe weather conditions, it is common in Europe to use tire chains with this type of tire. |
 | nordic type: this type of tread is designed for severe winter conditions. The tires are made from softer rubber compounds that retain their properties even in extreme cold. For maximum road grip, they feature a large number of sipes and shoulder blocks with sharp edges. |
 | nordic studded type: for more confident driving in severe winter conditions, many drivers prefer tires with a “Nordic” tread pattern enhanced with studs. This is believed to improve road grip on ice and increase directional stability, especially during acceleration. However, this design also raises noise levels and negatively affects asphalt surfaces, which is why the use of studded tires is restricted by law in several European countries. Tread height: 9–10 mm. |
3. Types of tread patterns
- Symmetric tread pattern
 | symmetric non-directional tread pattern: these tires have gained great popularity because they represent a golden balance between price and quality. Not every driver prioritizes high-speed maneuverability; most prefer reliable tires at a relatively low cost. In addition to their good value, these tires are versatile and easy to replace, as their installation is not dependent on the direction of rotation. |
 | symmetric directional tread pattern: the most popular tread pattern features an arrow and the word “ROTATION” on the sidewall, indicating the correct direction of rotation, and these tires must be mounted on the wheel accordingly. The main advantage of symmetric directional tires is their excellent resistance to hydroplaning, which is especially important when driving on wet roads. The wide, symmetrically diverging grooves in the tread efficiently channel water away from the contact patch. Rear-wheel-drive vehicles achieve the best performance with this type of tire. |
- Asymmetric tread pattern
 | asymmetric non-directional tread pattern: this tread pattern has been increasingly used by tire manufacturers and is mainly found on higher-end models. An asymmetric tread design improves performance characteristics compared to a symmetric pattern, particularly in terms of enhanced water and snow evacuation without compromising other properties. These tires have specific installation requirements—they must be mounted according to the “Outside” and “Inside” markings, corresponding to the outer and inner sides. Failing to do so can significantly reduce their technical performance. |
 | asymmetric directional tread pattern: these tires have a designated direction of rotation, indicated on the sidewall by an arrow with the word “ROTATION,” and must be mounted on the wheel according to this arrow. Asymmetric directional tread patterns are much less common than asymmetric non-directional ones. Additionally, some asymmetric tires indicate both the direction of rotation and the inner (INSIDE) and outer (OUTSIDE) sides. They are further classified as left-side (marked L) and right-side (marked R) tires. Extra care is needed when installing these tires, as they have many more specific requirements. |
Yellow markers in the form of a small triangle or spot with a diameter of 5–10 millimeters are applied by the manufacturer to the tire’s sidewall at its lightest point, determined at the factory using the balancing method. During installation, this marked spot should be aligned with the “L” symbol on the rim (the light zone of the wheel), or if absent, with the inflation valve (nipple). Following these recommendations allows the assembled wheel to be balanced as evenly as possible, requiring fewer compensating weights during balancing. It is clear that the weight difference between individual zones of the wheel is minimal, so the relevance of the yellow mark diminishes during active tire use, even before the next tire remount.
Similarly to the previous mark, the red one indicates the stiffest—and therefore heaviest—area of the tire’s sidewall. Accordingly, it is placed on the side and should be aligned with the “L” on the rim or positioned opposite the valve. Red marks are most often found on tires supplied as original equipment for vehicles. It should be noted that rims from the original equipment set have a marking (white dot) that should be aligned with the red marks.
A white mark in the form of a circle, triangle, diamond, or square with a number inside, located on the tire’s sidewall, is analogous to the quality control (OTK) mark familiar to people since the Soviet era. Its presence indicates that the product has passed the factory’s final quality inspection and fully meets the stated specifications. In addition, this stamp identifies the specific company employee responsible for the accuracy of the quality control performed on the finished tire.
Colored lines on a tire’s tread are intended to identify tire sizes and models when stacked in racks or pyramids in a warehouse. Tires of a specific size are marked with stripes of unique color, width, and placement, which greatly helps warehouse workers recognize the correct product among many similar ones. Additionally, the colored lines serve as an indicator to determine whether the tire has undergone a break-in period.
Some tire manufacturers apply white circle or dot markers to products intended for original vehicle equipment. The location of this mark indicates the point of minimal radial force deviation. In other words, it is the most flexible point on the tire’s sidewall. When assembling the wheel, this marker should be aligned with the “L” on the rim or matched with the “top” mark on the wheel.
During the summer period (June, July, August)
During the winter period (December, January, February)
Mandatory requirement
– Порядок и условия выполнения испытательных упражнений первого этапа практического экзамена на категории «A» (г. Алматы)
– Порядок и условия выполнения испытательных упражнений первого этапа практического экзамена на категории «В» (г. Алматы)
– Порядок и условия выполнения испытательных упражнений первого этапа практического экзамена на категории «С» (г. Алматы)
Blind spots — the first cause of accidents! The blind spots correspond to the full right/left length of the vehicles. The driver is not able to see that someone is riding a bike nearby. Trucks and buses also have significant blind spots where cyclists are invisible.
Unfortunately, even impeccable compliance with traffic Rules does not guarantee complete safety on the road. If there is the slightest uncertainty or distrust of the driver of another vehicle, it is better to give way. The most common violations of cyclists that lead to accidents; riding in the oncoming lane, riding on the sidewalk, running a red light, maneuvering in front of moving vehicles, riding without lighting devices at night.