The Benefits of Fitting Winter Tyres
Freezing fog, bitterly cold winds and damp, horrible conditions – the British winter is a depressing sight, but just because the weather has taken a turn for the worse it doesn’t mean that your ability to drive everywhere has to suffer, too. Here, we’ll be showing you just how you can stand to benefit from fitting winter tyres on your vehicle this season. But first:
What Are Winter Tyres?
Winter tyres are a specially designed type of tyre that are perfectly suited to wintery conditions. They function excellently below temperatures of 7°C, giving you a degree of grip in wintery conditions that in a regular tyre is unprecedented. Normal tyres need to be heated up to improve their grip, but winter tyres are the opposite.
That isn’t to say that you can’t use winter tyres when it isn’t icy or snowing – they will continue to work just fine regardless, but they will outperform regular tyres in colder conditions.
Why Winter Tyres Work Best
Tyres are manufactured from rubber, but in a regular tyre the amount of natural rubber in it is a lot lower than in a winter tyre. The synthetic rubber of regular tyres hardens in the cold, meaning these tyres work best only when they have heated up. However, the higher proportion of natural rubber in winter tyres means that they withstand the cold for longer. They don’t harden as quickly, thereby improving grip even in wet conditions and temperatures below 7°C.
As a result, you can expect winter tyres to decrease your stopping distances, improve your fuel consumption rate, reduce tyre wear and the likelihood of being in an accident. It pays, therefore, to invest in winter tyres to get you through the cold season!
Are There Limits to Winter Tyres?
Primarily, there is only one limitation to using winter tyres and that is the issue of price. Winter tyres can be expensive, which to some may offset any benefits they may have. However, once you have made the investment you’ll be set for years.
Additionally, you’ll need somewhere to store your summer tyres during the winter. For those with a garage this isn’t a problem, but for urban and inner-city inhabitants it can pose a real problem. Likewise, you’ll also have to have the tyres changed twice a year, from summer to winter tyres and back again, which could be an inconvenience. Nevertheless, for people that are willing to make the investment, both in time and money, there are only benefits in the future.
Auto Exhausts & Tyres stock only the highest quality winter tyres for customers throughout Lincoln and the surrounding areas. We offer specialist fitting and maintenance services too, and your satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do. If you’d like to find out more about any of our products or services, including a full car service and MOT, simply contact our friendly team today – we’re always happy to help!
