Every spring and autumn, all drivers ask themselves the question: When should the tires be changed? Boreal also asked itself that question in Vesterålen – and decided that the time had come. This despite the fact that the deadline for Nordland, Troms and Finnmark is not until 15 October for studded tyres. But after the Swedish Road Administration was quoted in Bladet Vesterålen as saying that a premature change could lead to a fine, the company chose to switch back to summer tires on some buses. – It is always a difficult trade-off when switching to studded tires on buses. Safety comes first, and this is about being well prepared before winter sets in – and it can come quickly. This is what communications manager John Kristian Fadnes in Boreal says and adds: – It is too late to postpone the day when the need is real. The dates for studded tires in Norway: Studded tires can only be used from and including 1 November and up to and including the first Sunday after Easter Monday. In Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, studded tires can only be used from and including 16 October to and including 30 April. If the guide requires it, it is permitted to use studded tires and chains outside of these dates. If you use studded tyres, the vehicle must have studded tires on all wheels. You can use studless winter tires all year round. Source: Norwegian Public Roads Administration Replacement bonanza on 11 buses Therefore, on Thursday, the company put the summer tires back on some of the buses in the region. – We will keep summer tires for the time being in areas close to the city centre, while out in the rural areas we will run studded tyres. Fadnes states that there are 11 buses that are now getting their “summer shoes” back on. – Of course we want to drive as little as possible on studded tyres, but at the same time we also don’t want delays, adjustments or dangerous situations. We transport school children and other passengers, and want it to be safe and predictable. John Kristian Fadnes is director of communications at Boreal. Photo: Boreal – Does the Road Administration take too little account of local conditions? – We have a good dialogue with the Swedish Road Administration and the rules must be followed. – How long do you dare to wait before finally changing to winter tyres? – It is a bit difficult to say. We will keep a close eye on the weather forecast and check with people who know the local conditions well. Boreal has hired an external company to carry out the tire change on the buses. The tire changes have not affected the traffic in any way, says Fadnes. Boreal will keep summer tires for the time being in areas close to the city centre, while out in the rural areas they will drive with studded tyres. Here is one of the summer tires for the buses to Boreal. Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / news Road Administration: – Use common sense Frode Johansen is head of field control at the Norwegian Road Administration. Both the Swedish Road Administration and the police regularly check whether vehicles are properly shod. And both can impose fines if they are not. – If you were to cross Saltfjellet (where there was snowfall, editor’s note) yesterday, you will not be allowed to drive for a month afterwards just because you passed a mountain pass. – Timing for tire changes is perhaps difficult for the bus companies that have many buses? – Undoubtedly. The law is the law, but the weather does not obey the law. So we use common sense – but everything has a limit. Frode Johansen is head of field control at the Norwegian Road Administration. They check whether vehicles have the correct tires on them at all times. Photo: Frode Johansen / Statens Vegvesen – Has Boreal pushed the limit a little far here? – We assess each situation when we are out on the road. I don’t think the buses that go over Bjørnfjell should change to summer tires again. – Isn’t it better to stay a little too long on the winter tires than the summer tires? – Yes, absolutely. For example, we are not very hard on it in May. He thinks Boreal has chosen a sensible solution when they now put summer tires back on the buses that run in areas closer to the city centre. – You have to make an assessment when you go out for a drive. And if an assessment has been made, we are mostly on board with it, says Johansen in the Swedish Road Administration. Advice on changing tires How to change tires correctly: Place the car on a level surface, preferably not on loose gravel. Apply the handbrake. Make sure you jack up the car at points that can withstand the load. This is to avoid damage to the car which can later lead to rust problems. Never move under a car that is only on jacks. Check pattern depth. Loosen the wheel nuts/bolts before you start lifting the car in earnest. Check if the tires have a specific rolling direction. Some tires have arrows or markings that show the direction. Make sure you use the bolts that come with it. Be sure to fit any centering rings correctly. Incorrect assembly leads to an imbalance in the wheels. The rims must be tightened with torque. Too hard screwed steel rims are destroyed because it takes away the tension around the bolt hole. An aluminum rim screwed on too hard causes the wheel to be very difficult to remove, for example in the event of a puncture or at the next wheel change. Check the air pressure. Remember to tighten the wheel bolts after some driving. Many people forget this, which can lead to losing a wheel.
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Changed to winter tires too soon – now the company is turning around – news Nordland
