Winter tyres the ‘safest option’ for the season – TyreSafe

The autumn of 2011 was one of the warmest we’ve had in a while, but now the nip of winter has arrived and air temperatures are dropping. More importantly for motorists, the seven degrees Celsius threshold – the level at which the tread compound in summer tyres begins to harden – has been crossed. In light of this, TyreSafe has again shared it winter tyre message with Britain’s drivers.

“We all remember the particularly harsh winters we’ve had in last two years, but it’s not just these extreme wintry conditions that present dangers for drivers. Cold, damp roads can be just as hazardous and should be treated with the upmost respect. Fitting winter tyres is the safest option as they provide extra grip in these types of conditions, making driving much safer,” said TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson.

“Although winter tyres can be used all year round, they should be especially considered for fitment from October through to March when they come into their own and help reduce the risk of an accident. Normally, the temperature barely creeps above seven degrees during this entire period, especially in the morning and evening rush hours when the roads are at their busiest”

 TyreSafe shares results of testing conducted by the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association – a car braking at 60mph on a wet road at five degrees Celsius stopped five metres shorter when fitted with winter weather tyres. In icy and snowy conditions the differences were even more dramatic; at 30mph on snowy roads the difference increased to eight metres and on icy roads at just 20mph, the difference increased to nine metres.

Data from the Met Office, which can be read here, further supports TyreSafe’s argument that drivers should switch to winter tyres. Its latest average climate figures for the UK show that for three months of the year, the maximum temperature is below seven degrees Celsius and for eight months of the year the minimum temperature is also below this key threshold.