Winter Tyres

Do I Need Winter Tyres?

Winter tyres may seem an unnecessary expense in the UK, where conditions are not as extreme as they are in other countries, such as Germany, where winter tyres are a legal requirement.

Many people do not realise, however, that as soon as temperatures drop below 7ºC, winter tyres provide superior driving safety in comparison to summer and all season tyres.

If you have ever experienced any of the following whilst driving during winter, then winter tyres may be the solution for you:

• Getting stuck in snowy or icy conditions

• Being unable to get your car off the drive

• Slipping on cold, wet roads

The Benefits of Using Winter Tyres

There is a range of advantages to using winter tyres when the temperature begins to drop.

Winter tyres are constructed with a special rubber compound that is softer than the compound used in summer or all season tyres. This enables winter tyres to remain supple when temperatures drop below 7ºC, where other tyres would stiffen. This means that they retain optimum contact with the roads surface and can provide superior grip even in snow and ice.

They are designed with an optimised tyre tread that delievers great results in winter. The tread on winter tyres usually features grooves that can provide resistance against aquaplaning whilst maintaining high levels of grip, so they are perfectly designed to cope with both, freezing or thawing conditions.

Furthermore, winter tyres provide superior braking capabilities due to the high level of sipes featured in the tyre tread. The results of braking in winter conditions are highlighted by the image featured below.

Long Term Economy

In the long term, the cost of using winter tyres will be no extra. This is because two sets of tyres will take twice as long to wear out, possibly longer if you switch to using the correct tyres for the season.

Dexel recommends that winter tyres should be fitted in late autumn. At this time, summer tyres will be removed and put in to storage with Dexel or the customer. Customers then return to their local Dexel branch in early spring to have their summer tyres re-fitted whilst their winter tyres are placed in storage.

This means that you will still get the maximum mileage from both sets of tyres.

If you switched to summer tyres when temperatures warmed up, it is important to remember to change back to winter tyres as soon as temperatures drop below 7°c. Alternatively, you may wish to consider fitting all season tyres to your vehicle if you wish to use the same tyres all year long.

 

To order your new winter tyres online simply search for your tyre size and select the winter tyres of your choice. You can then purchase online, or reserve and collect, and arrange a fitting at your local branch at a time to suit you.

For more information on winter tyres simply call your local Dexel branch where one of our tyre specialists will be able to offer further guidance.

Winter conditions can include ice, snow and cold temperatures. Make sure that you are prepared for driving in hazardous winter weather conditions by taking a look at our winter driving advice.