Don’t wait for winter to hit before switching tyres, urges Cooper
This autumn has been relatively mild, yet despite this so-called “Indian summer” Cooper Tire Europe has reminded motorists that ice and snow covered roads may be just around the corner and therefore they should prepare their vehicles for the winter weather sooner rather than later.
While Cooper shares that October 2011 statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders indicate only 0.4 per cent of British vehicles are fitted with winter tyres, the tyre maker also observes that demand for these products has grown significantly over the past two years. And while it and other manufacturers have increased production levels to manage a surge in demand, Cooper notes that stocks are still predicted to run low before any significant snowfall arrives. The company says its UK winter tyre orders have been “strong” and its European dealer network began requesting winter tyre shipments earlier to support project sales. Cooper thus urges drivers not to wait for the bad weather to hit, as this will mean increased waiting times at dealers for orders to arrive.
“In central Europe and Scandinavia, it is commonplace for drivers to fit winter tyres in October and use them until Spring arrives in March. In Germany, winter tyres are used by 48 percent of the market,” commented Cooper Tire Europe managing director Julian Baldwin. “Here in the UK there is still some resistance to the additional cost and perceived inconvenience. However, more UK drivers are coming around to the benefits of winter tyres and we are seeing increasing numbers of people prepared to make the initial outlay on products. Not only do winter tyres have the ability to keep people mobile in very harsh weather conditions but the safety benefits are proven even in cold, wet weather. They can be exchanged with summer tyres in the spring to provide more than one winter’s worth of extra safety.”
Cooper Tire and its Avon Tyres brand offer winter tyres to fit a large number of vehicles with fitments between 14 and 20-inch wheel rims.
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