Winter Types

Winter tyres, also known as snow tyres, are specifically designed to provide superior traction and handling in cold weather conditions, making them essential for driving in snowy, icy, and slushy environments. These tyres are engineered with a range of features that enhance performance and safety, ensuring drivers can navigate challenging winter roads with confidence.

One of the key elements that sets winter tyres apart is their unique rubber compound. These tyres are crafted from a special blend of rubber that remains flexible even in extremely cold temperatures. Unlike regular tyres that tend to harden and lose grip in the cold, winter tyres maintain their elasticity, enabling them to conform to the road surface and deliver exceptional traction. This flexibility is crucial in snowy and icy conditions where maintaining grip is paramount for safe driving.

The tread pattern of winter tyres is another essential aspect of their design. Winter tyres are characterised by deeper grooves and sipes, which are tiny slits in the tread blocks. These features work in tandem to enhance traction by effectively channelling snow, water, and slush away from the tyre surface. The deeper grooves act as channels, allowing the tyre to disperse accumulated snow and slush, preventing build-up, and maintaining contact with the road. The sipes, on the other hand, create additional biting edges that help grip the road surface, particularly in icy conditions, ensuring stability and control.

The number of winter tyres required depends on various factors such as the severity of the winter weather in your region, how frequently you drive in such conditions, and the type of vehicle you have. As a general recommendation, it is advisable to install four winter tyres on your vehicle to ensure optimal performance and safety. Using only two winter tyres, often referred to as a “two-wheel-drive” setup, can result in imbalanced handling characteristics, compromising your ability to control the vehicle effectively. By equipping all four tyres with winter-specific ones, you ensure consistent traction and maximise your safety on winter roads.

It’s important to note that winter tyres are not exclusively for use in heavy snowfall. They offer benefits even in cold weather conditions where temperatures consistently drop below 7°C (45°F). During colder months, regular tyres tend to stiffen, resulting in reduced grip and compromised handling. Winter tyres, with their specialised rubber compound and tread pattern, maintain flexibility and provide superior grip, even without visible snow or ice on the roads. By opting for winter tyres, you can enhance your safety, minimise the risk of accidents, and maintain optimal control in cold weather conditions.