Utilize you winter tyres? As a British driver, it's likely that you don't. Why? Usually, it's because most motorists wrongly think that they are just for use when it snows, and we don't get much of that in this country, right? Get Hankook Tyres Reading.
Would it surprise you to find that the main benefit of installing winter tyres is not to navigate icy roads safely? Consider this. Although it's true that they receive more snow than we do in northern Europe, snow doesn't fall constantly, therefore our northern European relatives fully embrace winter tyres. So why do they use winter tyres while driving?
In our most recent post on tyre safety, we not only describe what winter tyres are and how they vary from the summer tyres that are generally installed on your car, but we also discuss why switching to them during the winter makes sense and may even save your life.
However, let's begin by dispelling a persistent, false misconception regarding winter tyres.
Winter Tyres, Not Snow Tyres, Are What They Are.
A recent driver poll by premium tyre manufacturer Continental found that almost half of UK drivers were either unaware that winter tyres even existed or, if they were, believed that they were only required when snow or continuous ice had fallen.
Simply Put, This Presumption is Just Incorrect.
Of fact, even while winter tyres are noticeably superior than regular summer tyres for driving in snowy weather, this isn't their primary purpose. Winter tyres are actually designed for all-around general driving in cold weather during the winter, which is where they excel.
Temperature is The Key Factor in Winter Tyres.
To start, ponder this: In Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, or France, it doesn't snow nonstop from October to March, am I right? Why then do European drivers from these nations and elsewhere switch to winter tyres?
The reason is that when the temperature drops to 7°C or lower, winter tyres are substantially safer than summer tyres.
Winter tyres suddenly make sense when you consider this as well as how chilly it may be in the UK throughout the winter.
The main point for winter tyres is that they should be used in temperatures of 7°C or lower. To assist get the point across to UK drivers, several experts in the tyre business (including Continental) think that they should actually be named "cold weather tyres" rather than "winter tyres."
Winter tyres are so important to improving driving safety in cold weather, as well as lowering collisions, injuries, and fatalities on European roads, that many nations have made them mandatory. It is required by law for drivers in France, Germany, and other European nations to have them installed during the winter. And keep in mind that the same rules apply to UK drivers passing through these nations between October and March.
Then Why Are Winter Tyres So Much Safer at 7°C And Below?
Although summer and winter tyres may appear similar to the untrained eye, there are actually big distinctions between them. A snowflake sign on the sidewall will immediately identify a tyre as a winter tyre. Its tread patterns are also slightly (but significantly) different, with the inclusion of tiny grooves called "sipes" that are cut into the treads to better drain water, ice, and snow. They consequently produce less grip in the cold and rain.
Winter tyres' softer compositions allow them to grip the road far better in cold weather than summer tyres do, which makes it easier for drivers to stop swiftly and safely if they have to. More than merely shorter, safer braking distances are involved. Cornering is significantly safer in cold weather with winter tyres as well. They allow drivers to manoeuvre their vehicles more precisely, reducing the possibility of skidding directly into oncoming traffic or drifting towards it.
The ability to drive safely, or at least to safety, is made possible by the fact that winter tyres are significantly better at handling snow than summer or even all-season tyres. For better result try Cheap Tyres Reading.
