Winter Tyres- Why do I need them?
Have you ever thought about fitting winter tyres to
your vehicle? Are you unsure about spending the money in case the conditions
are fine? Fitting winter tyres, even if it doesn’t snow, can help to ensure
your car is kept safe in colder temperatures.
Winter tyres are designed to keep drivers and
vehicles safe when the temperatures are 7 degrees or lower. Standard tyres are
useless in these weather conditions as the compound used within them hardens
when the temperatures decrease to this level, and thus causing them to lose
grip. Winter tyres avoid this completely as they are made of a more natural
rubber and an advanced silica. These tyres also contain small slits in the
treat blocks, which are there to give extra grip that is needed in frosty and
icy conditions. Multiple countries have made fitting specialist winter tyres in
the colder months a legal requirement, and in the United Kingdom alone there
are more than 6000 accidents on the road due to winter conditions.
Winter tyres have better grip and performance
levels in all cold weather conditions, including snow, ice, mud and rain. When
the ground is covered in snow and ice especially, winter tyres are a great way
of ensuring your stopping distances are shortened. A car travelling at 20mph
and has been fitted with specialist winter tyres is going to have a stopping
distance of around 11 metres sooner than a car that is fitted with standard,
all year round tyres. Driving a car
fitted with winter tyres is a great way of obtaining more control of your
vehicle due to the tyres improving the stability and steering of your car. This
is a great way to ensure your car isn’t prone to skidding due to ice or frost
on the roads.
Though winter tyres are a great idea for everyone,
if you live in an area that is away from main roads and tends to be less busy,
winter tyres will work to your favour. It is advised that you buy winter tyres
wherever you reside, and purchase them well before the cold weather hits in
order to ensure you’re ready for the seasonal changes. Winter tyres can be
fitted to your vehicle as early as mid-autumn right through to spring.
As winter tyres are not a legal requirement within
Britain, it’s important that if you don’t want to make the change to winter
tyres, you carry out some current tyre checks. Your tyres need to be in a good
condition to get you through the winter as safely as possible, so ensure they
have a legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, though at least 3mm is better
advised. Ensure that none of your tyres have any signs of damage to the tread
or sidewalls, as impairment here could result in tyre failure. If you think
you’ve found some issues with your current tyres, take them to a professional
to get a better look.
If you’re interested in getting more information
about fitting winter tyres to your vehicle, or how to get your car ready for
the colder months in general, get in touch with a member of the Express
Services team by visiting our
contact
page
or giving us a call on
01603 425055
.
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Published: 16/12/2016
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