Winter Tyres

The main difference between winter tyres and standard tyres is the tread depth. A winter tyre tread starts at between 8 and 9mm, as opposed to 7 and 8mm on a standard tyre. The grooves within the tyre are wider and deeper as well, forming a larger channel for snow and water to travel through, which maintains grip on the road.

More importantly, the rubber used to make winter tyres contains a larger percentage of natural rubber and silica in the compound. This doesn’t harden as much as synthetic rubber in cold weather, which maintains flexibility and improves the tyre’s grip.

As well as enhancing road grip, which is obviously a boost for road safety in wet and icy conditions, winter tyres affect stopping distances.

Tyre manufacturer Continental states that a vehicle fitted with winter tyres will come to a standstill on a snow-covered road (from a speed of just 30mph) after 35 metres. On standard tyres, the braking distance required for the same road conditions is a further eight metres (43 metres). That’s another two car lengths.

Winter tyres are effective in temperatures below 7°C, which we generally see during UK winters. Cold weather tyres provide much better grip in both wet and dry conditions when the temperature falls below 7°C, so they offer extra safety typically from October to March.

Like most tyres, the cost varies depending on the vehicle and the quality of the tyre. However, it is worth noting that winter tyres can save money. They are usually cheaper to buy than summer tyres and because you are using these, you could save wear on expensive summer tyres, making them last longer.

As you may expect, winter tyres aren’t as effective as summer tyres in temperatures above 7°C. For example, the grip can become impaired and braking distances lengthened compared to their warm weather counterparts.

Winter tyres can also become worn more quickly if used during warmer months. However, such issues can be overcome by changing tyres when the weather starts to warm up again.