The benefits of winter tyres

As snow and ice hit, driving conditions become far more treacherous. Ideally, it is recommended that you should only drive when absolutely necessary.

However, the demands of modern life means that going into hibernation mode every time there’s a snow flurry isn’t always possible. Plus let’s face it – other countries with far harsher winters still manage to carry on regardless.

So how can you still travel to work and back and remain safe?

Tyres play a vital part in how successful you are in getting from A to B in snowy and icy conditions. And choosing the right tyres will also have a significant effect on your safety. The majority of us will choose our tyres based almost entirely on price. As long as they fit and they’re cheap, they’re the tyres you want. The last thing you then want to do is buy another set of tyres just for the winter months.

But winter tyres exist for a very good reason. Winter tyres have been specifically developed to provide optimum driving performance in temperatures below 7ºC. Contrary to popular belief, they are not just for driving in the snow – if it’s cold, wet, icy, slushy or snowing, you will benefit from a level of grip and handling that no summer tyre can match.

You may think winter tyres are a waste of time, but believe us when we say that drivers in the UK would get plenty of use out of them. After all, the UK generally sees temperatures regularly drop below 7ºC from October to March – that’s six months of the year!

What are winter tyres?

The tread compound in a winter tyre contains more natural rubber than a standard tyre. This means that your tyres won’t harden when they get cold. Instead they remain flexible, maintaining excellent grip and reduced stopping distances when you need it most.

The tread on a winter tyre is designed to bite into snow and ice, which creates an interlocking grip. A winter tyre has more grooves in comparison to a summer tyre, so more snow sticks to the tyre. Snow then sticks to snow, further improving grip. Winter tyres also have far more sipes, which means that there are more biting edges that can lock into the road, enabling your car to accelerate and brake in icy conditions.

In addition, the tread pattern on a winter tyre can disperse more water than a summer tyre, reducing the risk of aquaplaning.

All of these features mean far better grip and handling on the road.

Road safety tests have seen the following results:

• Winter tyres vs summer tyres travelling at 62mph in 5ºC – stopping distance reduced by over 10m
• Winter tyres vs summer tyres braking on an icy road from 20mph to rest – stopping distance reduced by 11m
• Winter tyres vs sumer tyres braking on a snowy road from 30mph to rest – stopping distance reduced by 8m

European law

Are you planning a road trip to Europe in the next couple of months? Were you aware that in certain European countries it is a legal requirement to fit winter tyres? You are legally obligated to fit winter tyres to your car if you are travelling to Sweden, Finland, Austria or Germany.

Other countries strongly recommend winter tyres, although it is not a legal requirement. These include France, Italy, Poland and Switzerland.

What about the expense?

You will have to spend more money buying another set of tyres. However, remember that whilst your winter tyres are being used, your summer ones are not being worn down. Because you will have two sets of tyres in circulation, they will last longer. Plus there are several cheap winter tyres available for most makes and models of vehicle. You don’t have to break the bank and go premium.

Want to know more?

M&BM Motors can source and fit a wide range of winter tyres to suit every budget. Simply call us on 01375 379 401 for more information.