Winter tyres infographic
Winter tyres infographic
Many British drivers still don’t consider winter tyres a necessary purchase, despite there being 6,500 more vehicle accidents on UK roads in winter than summer every year.
Winter tyres are a legal requirement in other EU countries such as Austria, Germany and Finland, and many offer specific winter recommendations. In the UK, it is estimated that only 3% of drivers have winter tyres fitted.
Winter tyres have an optimised blend of rubber and silica compound resulting in improved grip allowing you to corner, brake and accelerate more efficiently than with standard tyres at the same speed. Standard tyres begin to harden when the temperature drops below 7°C, which can compromise performance, grip, braking and safety.
The open tread block design of winter tyres helps dissipate standing water reducing the risk of skidding and aquaplaning in wet conditions. Winter tyres offer you greater control on icy, wet and untreated roads, and braking distances are shortened by up to 20% in icy conditions and 10% in wet conditions.
Christine Joyce, spokesperson from TyreSafe, said: 'During the winter months, the weather can make driving much more hazardous. While most people recognise that extreme weather such as snow and ice present a major safety challenge, cold and damp roads can be just as problematic.
Winter tyres will work year round, so there’s no real need to replace them during the summer if you don’t want to. However, it is recommended that you fit your winter tyres November – March, as this is when the weather drops to below 7°C, although you will see the benefits for the months either side of this time frame too when roads are slippy and wet. You can then put your standard tyres back on during the summer. This is so your winter tyres last longer when they’re really needed.
While many are aware of the importance of tyre safety, many consider other options such as snow chains or snow socks, and while these do help, they are not as effective as buying winter tyres.
Snow socks must be cleaned regularly to avoid damage, and they must be removed on a cleared road surface, so that your car meets the legal tread depth.
Snow chains, while better than snow socks, aren’t compatible with all tyres. These are also only able to use on roads with snow, by law.
Many people see winter tyres as an unnecessary expense, although it should be noted that they would of course last twice as long as just keeping your standard tyres on. It also means drivers (particularly in rural areas); don't necessarily have to fork out for a four-wheel drive vehicle to get through the winter, as winter tyres bring the road holding of a four-wheel drive to a two-wheel drive vehicle for a fraction of the cost.
No. There was some speculation in the media a few years ago that winter tyres affected your insurance premium, but this is not true. Policyholders are still encouraged to check with their provider, but winter tyres should not constitute as a modification.
If you’re still unsure about the danger of driving in winter, check out our winter driving tips and guidelines.
Arnold Clark is also offering a free winter health check and winter survival kit this year, so make sure you take advantage and ensure your car is ready for winter.
Watch the above video to see how much winter tyres improve the cornering grip, stopping distances and general safety of winter motoring.
