What Are Winter Tyres?

In some European countries, it’s against the law to not use winter tyres in winter. But in the UK, there’s no law preventing you from using summer tyres all year round. So, do winter tyres really make a difference? Here’s some of the most key benefits of winter tyres:

• Confidence and control – most drivers find that the superior grip and traction of winter tyres gives them that extra security when they’re driving in challenging winter conditions.
• It’s not just about snow and ice – as a general rule of thumb, as soon as the temperature dips below 7°C, winter tyres outperform summer tyres. Whether it’s rainy or snowy outside, cloudy or clear blue skies, the high elasticity of winter tyres ensures you get better grip and a safer journey in cold temperatures.
• The colder, the more effective – made from specially formulated tread rubber, winter tyres make it easier for you to control your car on icy and snowy roads.
• Strong traction - winter tyres have wider pattern blocks and extra cuts in the tread called ‘sipes’ that give the tyre extra bite to grip winter roads, hills and sharp corners, and get rid of build-ups of snow.
• Aquaplaning– the deeper tread pattern in winter tyres are designed to disperse more water from under the tyre than summer tyres, meaning you’ll be less likely to aquaplane on any standing water.
• It’s the law in some European countries: if you plan on driving through European countries, you’ll need to make sure you follow the laws in each respective country.