A question as a driver you may ask yourself, winter tyres: Are they worth it? Changing from summer to winter tyres if you live in various European countries is completely normal. In many countries a requirement! So why in the UK do we not deem it necessary? The majority opinion seems to be ‘well why do we need too, we don’t get bad weather often enough’. However, statistics have shown using winter tyres in conditions less than 7 degrees and in icy conditions can be up to 30% more effective and safer on our roads!
The majority of European countries state the use of winter tyres or all-season tyres from 1 November to the 31st of March. Certain countries do allow summer tyres as long as they have a minimum tread depth of 4mm all around. Its confusing as each European country has a slightly different take on the law. Latvia for instance requires all 4 tyres to be identical! UK motorists are sceptical as to whether it is worth having a winter/summer set of tyres. However if budget allows it shouldn’t it be obvious if it keeps the occupants in our vehicles and others safer?!
According to leading tyre maker Continental: A car fitted with winter tyres braking on snow can come to a stop from 31mph in 35 metres. This is eight metres, or about two car lengths shorter than if it was fitted with summer tyres.
So what are the differences in summer and winter tyres?
Besides the obvious differences is the material in which are made with. Both tyres have a different rubber compound enabling them to react differently in the opposing weather conditions. They also have different tread patterns. Summer tyres have a tread pattern that doesn’t need to cope with snow and icy conditions. Winter tyres have a more compact pattern designed to grip onto the snow and ice without letting it sit in the tread.
It is worth noting winter tyres are not advised to be used all year round. Statistics show they have a slower braking distance throughout the summer months. As a country the UK currently advises winter tyres when the weather drops below 7 degrees consistently. However, there are no conrtrolled rules in place. We would advise All season tyres throughout the year if you are unable to swap to winter tyres over the colder months. We would also advise making sure there is a minimum of 3mm tread depth around the tyre. If you are unsure how to check the depth of your tyres you can find more information on a previous blog here:
Are your tyres safe?
A question many of probably don’t know the answer too, are your tyres safe? Many of us overlook our tyres, forgetting they are the only point of contact to the road! Safety in acceleration, braking, steering and cornering all depend on a relatively small area of road contact. But how can the quality of your tyres keep you safer, be more efficient and stop other issues from occurring within the vehicle?
The safety of the tyres are the most important aspect, so what makes tyres safe? Tyres have ratings, brought in from the EU to give consumers more information on tyre safety. These rating include; wet grip, fuel efficiency and external noise. By comparing the rating you can see which tyres are more suited to your needs. You should also make sure you always get the correct size and speed rating for your car as it could be very dangerous if you choose the wrong ones. Ask for recommendations when needing to change your tyre, the experts will be able to give you the best advise.
Checking your tyres
If you find any cuts, lumps or bulges, get a professional to check your tyres immediately. The wear pattern on the tread should also be examined as irregular wear can be a sign of other vehicle issues such as misalignment. We created a post on Facebook ‘here’ about how to check your tyres properly!
Secondary problems
When we replace your tyres, we road test the vehicle and check for things like pulling to the left/right. This is usually a tell-tale sign you need your vehicle aligning. We carry out 4-wheel alignment when we also replace things such as arms, bushes and springs. You can also tell if you have alignment issues by the wear on your tyre. They should wear evenly, all tread on the tyre reduces at the same level. If you have alignment issues, you could have new tyres on and 6months later the inner edge is wearing too quick, and the cords are showing. Therefore, requiring new tyres again and costing money sooner than they should!
Another problem from misalignment would be more pressure on the other parts. Bushes and arms will have more strain and must overcompensate. Causing them to perish much sooner than they should.
We also carry our wheel-balancing when a tyre is replaced. The wheel is placed onto the machine and tiny weights are added to the inside of the wheel in specific places. This ensures the best performance from the tyre and longevity from uneven wear!
Tips:
We also advise having equal tyres on the front and back ie; if your replacing two tyres for bulges one front one back. Swap the two old tyres to both the front/back depending on your wheel drive and have the new on the opposite side. This is to minimise uneven wear and alignment issues occurring.
If you have already changed a tyre, you’ll need to update its opposite, too. Changing tyres in pairs saves several headaches, including uneven rolling resistance and grip caused by different treads on the same axle.
Tread patterns
If your drive a performance car you may be conscious of tread patterns. They aren’t just random patterns within the tyre, there is a lot of science that goes into creating the tyre pattern and they all have different benefits.
- Symmetrical tire tread patterns deliver smooth driving, high directional stability, and low rolling resistance.
- Directional tire tread patterns provide high protection against aquaplaning, excellent handling on snow and mud, and very good road-holding at high speeds.
- Asymmetric tire tread patterns offer excellent handling, high curve stability, and good grip in wet conditions.
- To maintain optimal safety and performance, avoid mixing tire tread patterns where possible.
We all have different requirements when choosing what tyres are going to be best for us. Whether its where you live and weather conditions or fuel economy. Ask when replacing your tyres which is the best fit. You can contact us ‘here‘.
