In a week, the calendar winter will arrive, which means that the most unhurried car owners have only a few days left to install seasonal tires.

Of course, new winter "footwear" for your trusty steed is not a cheap pleasure. However, by setting aside funds for its purchase, a car owner can forget about such expenses for the next five to six years. Although with low mileage and careful operation, this period can double.

But how safe are such "aged" tyres, even if the tread depth meets the standards and the surface is evenly worn? Experts advise on how to extend their service life.

Tyre "fatigue" is indicated by small cracks that appear in the tread or on the sidewall of the tyre. Such superficial signs of ageing should not be ignored.

One of the main enemies of tyres is ultraviolet light, so during the off-season, they must be stored away from direct sunlight, and if this cannot be avoided (e.g., on a balcony), they should be covered with a dense cloth.

The position in which the tyres remain stationary for about half a year is also important. It is undesirable to store winter tyres without rims: during the warm season, they become very soft and easily deform. The ideal way to store assembled wheels is in a suspended state.

The tyres on the front and rear axles should be swapped from time to time – this will extend their service life.

The air pressure level should be checked every two weeks. Wheels should be inflated when the car is cold (during driving, tyres heat up and the pressure inside them increases by 0.2 - 0.3 bar).