Everything You Need to Know about Winter Tyres

Do you use winter tyres? The chances are – as a British motorist – you don’t. Why? Typically, it’s because the majority of drivers (out of those who have even heard of winter tyres) mistakenly believe they’re just for driving when it snows, and we don’t get much of that in this country, right?

Would you be surprised to learn that safely negotiating snowy roads is not the primary reason to fit winter tyres? Think about it. Our northern European cousins fully embrace winter tyres, and while it’s true they do get more snow than us, it doesn’t fall all the time, right? So why do they drive on winter tyres?

In our latest tyre safety article, we not only explain exactly what winter tyres are – and how they differ from the summer tyres you typically have fitted to your vehicle – we also set out why switching to them in the winter months not only makes sense and could save your life.

But first, let’s start by blowing apart a long-standing, incorrect myth about winter tyres...

Not so long ago, premium tyre manufacturer Continental conducted a driver survey which revealed that almost half of UK motorists didn’t know that winter tyres even existed, or that if they had heard of them assumed they’re only necessary for when snow or persistent ice has settled.

Quite simply, this assumption is completely wrong.

Of course while winter tyres are much better for driving in snowy conditions compared to normal summer tyres (significantly better as it happens) this isn’t their primary function. The actual purpose of winter tyres (and where they come into their own) is for all-round general driving in winter – when it’s cold. 

Winter tyres are all about temperature.

To the casual observer, summer and winter tyres may look similar, but there are in fact significant differences. At a glance, you can tell if it’s a winter tyre if you see a snowflake symbol on the sidewall. They also have a subtle (but significant) difference in tread pattern, which includes the addition of fine grooves – known as “sipes" – cut into the treads, designed to better remove water, slush, and snow.

But what really makes them different and really matters is what you can’t see: the make-up of the rubber compound itself. Winter tyres are made from a much softer compound that enables the tyres to better grip the road when the temperature is cold. It’s the reason why winter tyres work best at 7°C and below. Summer tyres by comparison are made from a compound that enables them to provide better grip in warm weather conditions, but not as well in the cold.

And it’s because of reasons like this that Continental’s WinterContact™ TS 860 tyre has been awarded the much-coveted title of Winter Tyre Test Winner 2017 by leading UK car magazine, Auto Express.

It’s a fact. Summer tyres, with their harder compounds, don’t work as well as winter tyres when the weather gets cold – 7°C and lower – because they’re comparably less flexible. As a result, they generate less grip in the cold and wet.

Thanks to their softer compounds, in cold conditions like this, winter tyres don’t harden like summer tyres, and so they can grip the road much better, helping drivers to stop quickly and safely when they need to. And it’s not just shorter, safer stopping distances. With winter tyres, cornering is much safer in cold weather conditions too. They enable drivers to turn their vehicle more accurately, minimising the chances of skidding straight on, or drifting into on-coming traffic.

And then there’s snow to bear in mind. Sure, we don’t get too much of it here in the UK, but when it does fall we always seem to end up with travel chaos. Winter tyres are vastly superior at coping with snow than summer or even all-season tyres, allowing you to continue driving safely, or at least to safety. In snowy conditions, stopping distances compared to summer tyres are halved, reducing the chances of having an accident.

Winter tyres aren’t just for ordinary cars. Premium tyre manufacturers like Continental produce winter tyres for a wide variety of vehicles, including:

4x4s, SUVs and Crossovers typically provide drivers with better traction in snow and ice, so many people simply assume that they don’t require winter tyres. If you drive one of these vehicles with summer tyres fitted you would certainly fare better than most other drivers when it comes to getting your vehicle started, and driving in a straight line. The added traction these vehicles offer might also help you get up an incline or two.

But when it comes to cornering – particularly when braking – that advantage ends. Why? Because summer tyres struggle to grip the cold surface as well as winter tyres. As such, switching to winter tyres is a much safer choice, even with 4x4, SUV and Crossover vehicles. If you drive one of these vehicles you could consider Continental winter tyres, like the Conti4x4WinterContact or new WinterContact™ TS 860 S.

Safety has been the primary focus of this article so far, and while this is also a significant consideration for light commercial vehicle owners and drivers too, it’s not the only one when it comes to fitting winter tyres in the colder months. There’s another factor that’s important to these drivers: productivity. If your business depends on mobility, then winter tyres will help keep your business on the road during the colder months. If you drive a van or light truck you could consider fitting Continental winter tyres, such as the VanContact Winter or Vanco™ Winter 2. 

If you’re still unsure about whether your vehicle needs to have winter tyres fitted, or if you have any other tyre enquiries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local Kwik Fit tyre professionals. They’ll provide you with impartial, expert advice about tyre safety, which tyres are best for your vehicle, expert fitting solutions, and more.