From The Times In Gear Supplement
January 21st 2007
Q ” I’ve heard a lot about “winter Tyres” but cannot see why I would need them in the UK.” What would I gain and would I need to switch tyres for summer and winter driving?” Also will winter tyres wear out more quickly when driven in hotter weather?
——-
A. Most people think that winter tyres, more accurately perhaps cold-weather tyres, are needed only in Scandinavian countries, where snow and ice are prevelant for months at a time. Not so, At temperatures below 7C from(from roughly the end of October – to end of March in Scotland and northern England, for example) “summer tyres” will harden, giving them less grip.
Cold weather tyres are designed for use below this temperature and have more rubber in the compound to prevent hardening, along with the tread pattern better able to cope with slippery winter roads. This will bring shorter stopping distances on both dry and wet roads in low temperatures.
Stastitics from Continental Tyres (0845 6000801 www.conti-online.co.uk) suggest that for a car on cold-weather tyres below 7C, stopping distances at 31mph will be reduced by 36ft compared with summer tyres on dry roads, by 26ft in snow and 16ft on wet roads.
Winter tyres don’t wear out more quickly than summer tyres and experts say it is more advisable to drive all year on winter tyres than on summer ones. However swapping from one to the other every spring and autumn is still the safest option. All leading tyre manufacturers list cold-weather tyres on their wen sites, along with dealer lists and /or centeral call centres.
