When to change to winter tyres?
Thursday 13th October 2022
Winter tyres are made up of a higher natural rubber content, meaning they have a softer compound. They are designed to provide optimal grip and traction in colder conditions where there is snow and ice. Winter tyres have narrow cuts, known as sipes, to disperse water to allow the rubber to move around which increases contact with the road and reduces the risk of aquaplaning, while the deeper grooves built into the tyre tread holds snow to help grip on packed snow.
It is easy to identify winter tyres by the snowflake symbol on the sidewall of the tyres. It is worth noting that tyres marked ‘M+S’, which stands for mud and snow, are not necessarily winter tyres.
Why should I buy winter tyres?
In the UK, winter tyres are not compulsory. However, in Europe, it is more common to have 2 sets of tyres and may even be a legal requirement depending on the country. There may be some reasons to have winter tyres here though such as;
- If you live in remote areas of the UK where bad weather conditions are likely to last for longer
- How confident you are when driving in bad weather conditions
- Whether you need to drive more often or longer distances on ice and snow
What are the advantages of winter tyres?
There are many benefits of having winter tyres, such as;
- They can be seen as more cost effective due to being more hard-wearing and more flexible than summer tyres, as well as offering greater safety in the cold
- They do not stiffen up like normal summer tyres when there is a dip in temperature
- They provide better handling and braking performance on ice, snow and wet roads in cold conditions.
- They provide great grip for cold, dry, wet, icy or snowy roads
- The tread grooves and narrow sipes help to grip snow and reduce aquaplaning
What are the disadvantages of winter tyres?
As with the benefits of winter tyres, there comes some disadvantages. Such as;
- They aren’t suitable for all-year-round, so you will need two sets of tyres making them more expensive
- Once the temperature rises above 7 degrees Celsius, you will need to replace your winter tyres with summer tyres which can take up a lot of time particularly as they aren’t compulsory
- In the UK, it is rare to experience sever weather conditions where you would need winter tyres making it hard to justify the hassle and cost of buying, storing, and fitting them
When should I change to winter tyres?
As a general rule, if you do have winter tyres you should aim to fit them once the temperature drops below 7°C as your summer tyres will be less effective. You can also switch to winter tyres when the clocks go back each autumn. As the weather in the UK can be unpredictable, it is recommended to keep your winter tyres readily available and mounted on wheels to make it easier to switch between summer tyres when needed.
Are all season tyres suitable for winter?
All season tyres, knowns as all-weather tyres, have a similar compound to winter tyres and a tread pattern in between a summer and winter tyre. As the name suggests, all season tyres are suitable to be used all-year-round and can be more cost effective and easier than having to swap your tyres twice a year. They provide a good compromise between winter and summer tyres as they ensure you are using the correct tyre for the right season.
If you are looking for winter tyres, you can browse our range of tyres online or visit your local Formula One Autocentre to have them fitted. For more information, contact our helpful team today who will be happy to help.
