Winter has come: Tyre Up.

Vehicles design and technology has advanced so much in the last few years, and with that we often forget that the tyres they use do too. We all know that the weather in the UK is indecisive to say the very least, and when it does decide to drop below changing to winter tyres is essential to saving money and indeed, saving lives. With the fact that most of the country has ground frost for over 50% of the winter, it’s a fact to be taken into serious consideration. Winter tyres give you a significant safety advantage in wet or icy conditions, with reports showing up to an bus length and a half shorter stopping distance – and of course due to their tighter grips, you have a superior traction on the road to ensure you keep control on those slightly dangerous roads. How do they work, exactly? Winter tyres are produced from a different mixture of materials than standard/summer tyres. They typically have more ‘natural’ rubber in them and this is less affected by colder days. They don’t harden and give better flexibility. The tread is also different, with more grooves than your standard tyre, meaning more snow sticks to the wheel, aiding the vehicle to attain a better grip. They also have a much higher number of ‘sipes’ (little slots or channels) creating a tooth effect that lock into the ice, helping with braking and accelerating alike.