Different parts of the world experience winter differently. In some places, it means heaps of ice and snow whereas in others it means heavy rain, fog and chilly weather. Winter roads can be highly challenging and you need to be prepared so you don’t damage your vehicle and have a safe ride.
It is our lack of suitable equipment and never the weather to blame for bad vehicle performance. You can go out to build a snowman, go skiing or just take a long drive to appreciate nature without being worried about the difficulties of driving when you are well prepared.
Winter tyres are not ice tyres or snow tyres invented for particularly snow or ice. Instead, they are just built to be used in low temperatures and on slippery roads. They are tyres that will provide you with heightened grip and handling in temperatures lower than 7degree Celsius even on dry roads.
Why Winter Tyres are Important
1)Lower temperatures make rubber less flexible and this tends to hinder the grip and braking system to a large extent. Winter tyres are manufactured using elements with an elevated content of natural rubber that maintain their flexibility.
2)tread patterns are specifically designed to deal with difficult winter road conditions.
3)They have small channels called sipes that cut into tread blocks and help in clearing residue water, slush or thin snow.
4)Deep tread grooves help interlock with the snow providing more grip.
Depending on the place you stay you might have to make this switch according to law but even if it is not a necessity you must consider it for your safety and better car performance.
When to Switch
If you have decided to make the switch of tyres after carefully mulling over your necessities you should make sure you make the switch at the right time. The softer compound of winter tyres isn’t as sturdy in warmer temperatures, if you make the switch too early this leads to faster tread wear. If you fail to make the change when necessary and take more time this could lead to serious tyre damage and major accidents. It poses a high risk to safety, grip and braking systems.
In certain regions and countries switching to winter tyres is a necessity by law and if you fail to follow this mandatory instruction you can be fined for it.
Optimum Tyre Pressure
Temperature affects the air pressure of your tyres in a significant manner. Lower pressure is observed when it is cold (they will drop by as much as 10% once they’re outside in the cold) and higher pressure is observed in warm temperatures. Your vehicle comes with a suggested air pressure limit that you must fill in your tyre but sometimes it is recommended that you inflate winter tyres 0.2 bar above this limit to counter this drop due to temperature.
Winter Tyres are Costlier?
The brand, size and features affect the cost of winter tyres. Good quality tyres that last you long might tend to be costlier in comparison to all-season tyres but taking into consideration the tyre life, performance and safety it is a better choice and is more cost-effective in the long run. Matador Tyres Coventry gives you a cost-effective option of winter tyres that work well in extreme conditions.
Can you use Winter Tyres in Summer?
Winter tyres don’t provide the necessary grip and performance in warm weather in comparison to summer tyres. The cost of maintenance due to the quicker wear out could be avoided.
How to Store Winter Tyres
To prevent any form of degradation of the rubber compounds these tyres must be stored in a dry, cool place away from any harmful chemicals. They must be kept away from direct sunlight or any motor engine that could cause heating up and reduce their quality.
Winter Tyres vs All-Season Tyres
All-season tyres are the compromised version of winter tyres and summer tyres. Tyres Coventry is specialized to cater to all your needs on harsh winter roads unlike all-season tyres meant for use in moderate climates. All-season tyres work well in places with a dry moderate climate that dont face extreme weather conditions.
