Time for a change?

It’s getting colder outside and you’re wearing clothes that match the season, so why not let your car ‘wear’ a suitable set of tyres? With winter approaching, TyreSafe is encouraging motorists to consider winter tyres, and to ensure their tyres are in good shape and ready to face all possible road conditions.

As Met Office data indicates that the UK’s average mean temperature is below 7°C throughout the winter months, TyreSafe opines that winter tyres are the optimal choice for motorists. “Even at low temperatures, they stay supple and provide the best levels of grip unlike summer tyres which harden in these conditions. Winter tyres also have an increased number of sipes or grooves in the tread, allowing more contact with the road in icy or wet conditions.”

All-season tyres are an increasingly popular option as they provide better performance than summer tyres in winter and are designed to be driven all year-round. “However, they do not offer the optimal performance of summer tyres in warm weather or winter tyres in the cold,” adds TyreSafe as a caveat.

When deciding whether winter or all-season tyres are their best option for the months ahead, TyreSafe recommends owners consider their own driving requirements and, most importantly, ensure they and their tyres are prepared for winter driving.

That starts with checking the tyres are in good condition and free of visible signs of damage, they are inflated to the pressures recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and they have good tread depth above the 1.6mm legal minimum limit. Tread depth is especially important when driving in the wet as it clears water from between the tyre and the road, keeping grip levels at an optimum.

However, drivers should also be prepared for unexpected tyre-related incidents, especially with high winds scattering debris on the roads and increasing the risk of punctures. While only eight per cent of new cars are sold with a spare tyre as standard, many owners are not aware their vehicle doesn’t have one. This is in part due to the number of run-flat and ‘space saver’ tyres being fitted, allowing the car to be driven to the nearest tyre retailer for inspection. Emergency puncture repair kits may also be found in the boot of many cars.

TyreSafe recommends all drivers familiarise themselves with what their car is equipped with in case they suffer a puncture.

“The weather across Britain varies substantially, not just between regions but even by the hour,” says Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe. “We’re now facing our first proper cold snap and being prepared is the universal advice for all drivers. In some instances that will mean winter tyres, in others all-season are an option but even those using summer tyres will enhance their safety by checking they’re roadworthy and knowing how to deal with a puncture if it does happen.”