Contradicting tests on winter tires

[ruinin]

As the weather is getting silly in the Czech Republic, a bit of snow and below zero temperatures are coming, I am wondering whether it is worth changing to winter tires or it is not necessary. Most people in our contry believe, and the tire companies claim, that winter tires are better than summer tires not only on snow and ice, but even dry roads, once the temperature drops below 7 degrees celsius. As the temperature is mostly below 7 during winter in our country, almost everyone switches to winter tires here. But as the winters are getting warmer and warmer and as the temperatures were around 8 or 10 degrees Celsius until recently, I thought, give it a try, maybe not worth changing to winter tires this year. Today I was driving on wet and try roads at about minus 2 degrees. I didn't notice any problems, but later I had an argument with some online people about it and started to look for tire tests and comparison. I found an ADAC, a serious Germany car testing company, an ADAC tests, where it is obvious that summer tires perform better, brake better on wet and dry roads. If only the test told us what temperature they were testing tires at! Such results are useless if the temperature is not listed. Everything else about the test seems serious. Other or most other tests suggest winter tires are always better once the temp drops below 7 degrees. What would you make of the ADAC test?

Look here, the first chart shows noise, not interesting, second braking and third handling. Letni means Summer tires. I wonder whether testing winter tires in summer temperatures would make sense.

http://www.autoforum.cz/zivot-ridice/testy-zimnich-pneu-jake-vybrat-pro-zimu-2015-2016/obrazek/6

 

[ruinin]

Here, an ADAC expert explains and confirms the charts are true even in cold weather, not sure how cold or if below zero...

Translation from German, Google translate, but I hope it makes sense perfectly except that we don't know what temperatures they mean.

The ADAC experts says:

It is true that the rubber composition of summer tires hardens at winter temperatures and then can build less grip. At the mark of 7 degrees can be the time when motorists from summer to winter tires should be replaced, but not fix. Fact: When snow and ice winter tires are still essential. Thanks to the sipes in the tread a car comes with winter tires on this surface while braking to a standstill much faster than one with summer tires.

Quite different it looks when wet. Here winter tires have in fact left behind. "A summer tire with wet-dry alternating the better properties," says Buckman. When winter tire test of the magazine "Auto Bild", for example, goes for comparison always a car with summer tires. The result: In full braking on wet and dry roads a vehicle with summer tires stops much earlier than one with winter tires. So who has the ability to waive the few snow days a year on his car, can get through the winter with summer tires. "The ADAC recommends winter tires from 31 October to 31 March only for drivers who rely daily on their car," says Buckman.

 

[welldc]

Search in Youtube for 'Auto Express winter tyre test'

(wouldn't let me post a link because I'm new!)

This Youtube clip give a very good idea of the difference winter tyres make.

I fit them every winter and have been able to drive straight past cars stuck with wheels spinning.
In the dry or wet, you don't really notice any difference.