Winter Tyres
Winter Tyres, also known as cold weather tyres, improve traction and reduce stopping distances in
temperatures below 7°C. Widely used across many Northern European countries, winter tyres (cold weather tyres) offer many benefits over
summer tyres once the temperature drops to below 7ºC.
For more information Click here to watch the TyreSafe video.
Click here to view 'cold weather tyres: the facts and figures'
stop a full eleven metres sooner than a car fitted with standard tyres (Source: TyreSafe.org)
"There is a misconception that cold weather tyres are not appropriate for drivers in the UK. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Cold weather tyres provide much better grip in both wet and dry conditions when the temperature falls below seven degrees, so they offer extra safety typically from October to March."
Stuart Jackson, Chairman TyreSafe
.JPG "Cold Weather Stopping Distances")
[Source: TyreSafe.org]
Cold weather isn't just about snow and ice, it's about the temperature too. For the last 50 years the UK's mean temperature during winter months has consistently been 7° Celsius or below.
[Source: UK Met Office]
According to TyreSafe's research as part of an omnibus survey conducted with 1,500 motorists on 2nd & 3rd October 2010:
- 54% of drivers said they felt less safe when driving in the winter
- 45% of drivers said their biggest fear about driving in the winter was that they were more likely to have an accident because the roads felt more slippery
- 18% of drivers said they didn’t make any specific winter preparations to their car
- 3% said they fitted winter tyres;
- 49% said they checked their tyre tread depth;
- 60% said they checked and topped up their anti-freeze levels.