What’s the deal with winter tyres? Is there much of a difference and why invest in a set of winter tyres?
We all know that the UK long range and even short range weather forecasts can be unpredictable and that cold weather can creep up on us without warning! Some winters being very harsh with below freezing temperatures and others mild without a spec of snow!
Winter weather can and often does catch us unawares with ice, snow and anything in between. The main thing to be aware of is that winter weather can bring with it treacherous and hazardous driving conditions with an increased likelihood of road accidents.
Also, when the weather turns wintery, it can leave some people stranded if they live in isolated areas and road conditions elsewhere can be unpredictable.
Winter tyres are designed for safety and better performance in a mix of winter weather conditions which is why it may be worth thinking about being prepared with a set of winter tyres and changing over to winter tyres before the start of the season.
Let’s look at the main differences:
Winter tyres:
Summer tyres:
Wait… does that mean you have to have two sets of tyres?
It is recommended that you have tyres suited to the season. Expense may be something important to you when deciding if you should buy another set of tyres, however the advantage of having two sets of tyres is that they will last twice as long! So the initial outlay may be more but you will get more life out of your tyres as a result.
If you are considering winter tyres, you should prepare yourself and have them ready to fit before the winter weather arrives as you don’t want to get caught out trying to change them over in the ice or snow.
Can I just buy two winter tyres?
No, you will need to fit your car with all four winter tyres.
What about all season tyres?
All season tyres are a compromise for all year round driving instead of buying a set of summer and winter tyres. However, they do not perform as well as summer tyres in the summer or winter tyres in the winter.
Tips for driving in snow and ice
If you need further information on Summer or Winter tyres, please give us a call on 0800 009 6867 and one of our friendly fitters will be happy to help.
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