Friction Tyres
Friction tyres are winter tyres without studs: they grip snow and ice through a soft rubber compound and dense siping. They are quieter than studded tyres, suit cleared city streets and main roads, and in Latvia they are not tied to the stud season dates. Read the guide
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What a friction tyre is
A friction (non-studded) winter tyre has a tread cut with many thin sipes that create extra biting edges, while its soft compound stays flexible in hard frost. On bare ice it cannot match studs, but on packed snow and clean asphalt it holds its own and is noticeably quieter and more comfortable. This category also includes studdable tyres sold without studs – they are used as ordinary non-studded winter tyres.
Nordic vs Central European winter tyres
Nordic-type friction tyres have a softer compound and denser siping, designed for ice, packed snow and low temperatures. Some carry the ice pictogram on the EU label, which confirms tested grip on ice, while their wet grip class is often lower – a trade-off, not a defect. Central European winter tyres are firmer and work better on wet asphalt, in slush and at higher speeds, but are weaker on ice. If you often drive on ice or outside town, the Nordic type is usually the safer choice; for mostly wet city streets and motorways, the Central European type may suit you better.
Requirements in Latvia
From 1 December to 1 March, friction tyres – like all winter tyres – must carry the 3PMSF symbol (M+S alone is not enough) and have at least 4 mm of tread. The stud ban dates do not apply to them, so you can fit them before October and keep them on after 1 May. They are still a poor choice for summer: the soft compound wears quickly in the heat and braking distances grow. What the snowflake symbol means is explained in our article on the 3PMSF marking.
Who friction tyres suit
- drivers who mostly use city streets and regularly cleared main roads;
- drivers who value a quiet, comfortable ride;
- anyone travelling to countries where studs are banned or restricted;
- anyone who wants a winter set that is not bound by the stud season.
If you often drive on rural roads or bare ice, consider studded tyres.