Winter Driving Advice from Micheldever

You’ve probably already noticed that our mornings have been a bit nippy of late. The start to the winter was in fact, reports Micheldever Tyre Services, the coldest for three decades. A number of counties have been hit with snow, with the balance experiencing very low temperatures – the sort ideal for the build up of ice upon roads. Driving in these conditions places more emphasis on a vehicle’s tyres, and Micheldever offers the following advice to help keep control in difficult driving conditions:

Driving in slippery conditions requires skilful and delicate use of the vehicle controls, steering, brakes and accelerator.

In these conditions accelerate and brake very gently.

Use the vehicle’s gears to help reduce speed smoothly.

Drive in as high a gear as possible to avoid unnecessary wheelspin.

If a vehicle is stuck in snow or ice, do not excessively spin the wheels as this can result in damage to the tyres or even cause a tyre to burst.

If the car gets into a slide keep off the brake, clutch and the accelerator until the vehicle is back under control.

Always keep well clear of other vehicles and try to anticipate what is happening.

One myth that Micheldever experts are keen to dispel is that motorists should reduce tyre pressure for driving in snow. This can be both illegal and dangerous, the company comments. For best traction in these conditions, all tyre pressures should be maintained at the manufacturer’s recommended pressures, details of which can be found in the vehicle’s handbook. And finally, says Micheldever, always listen to the weather forecast and traffic reports and do not travel if the police or motoring organisations advice against it.