Why You Need Winter Tyres For The Colder Months
Traditionally, the mild nature of British winters have seen UK drivers stick with the same set of tyres all-year round. However, with recent experience of harsher winters and more hazardous driving conditions, British drivers have increasingly opted to install winter tyres during the colder months between October and March. Some may question whether it's really worth the hassle and expense of changing their tyres between winter and summer sets two times a year, but tyres for use in the winter really do offer significant benefits that make them an attractive choice for UK vehicle owners. But just what are these benefits, and why are summer tyres so unsuitable in winter conditions?
The first thing to say is that winter tyres offer major safety advantages when the weather has started to drop below 7 degrees Celsius. Whether it's on rain, ice or snow, tyres for the winter significantly decrease breaking distance, with some estimates putting the difference at as much as 10 metres. It goes without saying that such a difference could prove to be a life-saver on dark, icy roads in the middle of December, making the switch to colds weather tyres a relatively easy choice for those concerned about safety.
Winter tyres are also significantly more effective when it comes to driving on snow, with the characteristics of the tyre tread and rubber compound offering greater grip, flexibility and control. This also helps with both acceleration and breaking performance, leading to greater efficiency out on the road. Furthermore, this boost in performance isn't offset by a decrease in speed, with even the lowest-rated tyres allowing top speeds of up to 130mph. And while you might think that the different profile of winter tyres would lead to a lesser ride comfort, both types of tyre offer roughly the same experience in terms of both comfort and noise.
Are winter tyres really worth the extra expense of buying a second set of tyres though? Actually, you'll probably find that having a special set of tyres for the colder months could end up saving you money in the long term. Because winter tyres are specifically made for difficult conditions, they're more durable than summer tyres which means that your standard set of tyres will have more longevity than they otherwise would have. So, in the long run, you'll find yourself making fewer trips to the garage to buy completely new sets when you've got two specialist sets of tyres sharing the workloads between them.
In the end, the benefits of winter tyres outweigh any fears about potential costs. Having a specialist set for the colder months improves safety and driving performance without any impact on the overall driving experience. In addition, switching between two sets as conditions change can increase the longevity of your tyres and produce a greater return on investment. In fact, the benefits of winter tyres have seen them enjoy a high level of demand, so maybe it's time to start planning ahead to make sure you enjoy their clear advantages this winter.
The first thing to say is that winter tyres offer major safety advantages when the weather has started to drop below 7 degrees Celsius. Whether it's on rain, ice or snow, tyres for the winter significantly decrease breaking distance, with some estimates putting the difference at as much as 10 metres. It goes without saying that such a difference could prove to be a life-saver on dark, icy roads in the middle of December, making the switch to colds weather tyres a relatively easy choice for those concerned about safety.
Winter tyres are also significantly more effective when it comes to driving on snow, with the characteristics of the tyre tread and rubber compound offering greater grip, flexibility and control. This also helps with both acceleration and breaking performance, leading to greater efficiency out on the road. Furthermore, this boost in performance isn't offset by a decrease in speed, with even the lowest-rated tyres allowing top speeds of up to 130mph. And while you might think that the different profile of winter tyres would lead to a lesser ride comfort, both types of tyre offer roughly the same experience in terms of both comfort and noise.
Are winter tyres really worth the extra expense of buying a second set of tyres though? Actually, you'll probably find that having a special set of tyres for the colder months could end up saving you money in the long term. Because winter tyres are specifically made for difficult conditions, they're more durable than summer tyres which means that your standard set of tyres will have more longevity than they otherwise would have. So, in the long run, you'll find yourself making fewer trips to the garage to buy completely new sets when you've got two specialist sets of tyres sharing the workloads between them.
In the end, the benefits of winter tyres outweigh any fears about potential costs. Having a specialist set for the colder months improves safety and driving performance without any impact on the overall driving experience. In addition, switching between two sets as conditions change can increase the longevity of your tyres and produce a greater return on investment. In fact, the benefits of winter tyres have seen them enjoy a high level of demand, so maybe it's time to start planning ahead to make sure you enjoy their clear advantages this winter.