Winter Tyre Checks
25th November 2016Winter can bring with it many challenges on the road and if your tyres aren’t up to the task, you may find yourself in difficulty. With ice, snow and slush to contend with, you need to make sure that your tyres can cope with the difficult weather conditions ahead or replace them before they let you down.
Are you Using the Right Tyres?
While winter tyres are not compulsory in the UK, it is important to bear in mind that summer tyres, also known as standard tyres, are not designed to cope with temperatures below 7°c and at this point they will stiffen and offer limited gripping and handling capabilities. In addition, they have less grooves and sipes so they cannot match the safety and shorter braking distances of winter tyres in winter conditions.
Instead, The Tyre Group would recommend fitting dedicated winter tyres to your vehicle as soon as temperatures are consistently below 7°c. Alternatively, you could fit all season tyres for a satisfactory driving performance all year round.
Do you Have Sufficient Tyre Tread?
Tyre tread enables tyres to provide good grip on wet roads; however, grip and resistance against aquaplaning will reduce as tyre tread naturally wears over time. When tyre tread becomes lower than 3mm, your gripping capabilities will be drastically reduced and your tyres will not be able to clear water from the tread effectively, resulting in aquaplaning.
During winter, road surfaces will often be covered with snow, ice, slush or water so having sufficient tyre tread is necessary when it comes to keeping you safe. You should check your tyre tread every three weeks – which you can do easily at home with these simple tyre tread checks.
If you find that your tyres have a tread depth lower than 3mm you should replace them as soon as possible.
Are your Tyres at the Correct Pressures?
To keep your tyres performing optimally, you should ensure that they are inflated to the correct pressures. Tyres that are over or under inflated will wear unevenly, resulting in a shorter tyre life and can be more susceptible to tyre damage on the road.
Check your tyre pressures every three weeks to ensure that they meet your vehicle requirements. If you have fitted winter tyres to your vehicle, check your vehicle guidebook or contact your vehicle manufacturer as the recommended tyre pressure may be slightly higher than usual.
Do your Tyres Show Signs of Damage?
Check the condition of your tyres regularly and make sure that there are no signs of cuts, tears, lumps or bulges which indicate that your tyre could be structurally damaged. A tyre that is structurally damaged is dangerous at any time, however, it becomes even more of a risk when you are driving on slippery road surfaces.
If you have any concerns that your tyres will not cope this winter, make an appointment to have them checked at your local Tyre Group branch.
Interested in fitting winter tyres to your vehicle? Simply contact your local Tyre Group branch for further information. Alternatively, you can call 01905 731905 or email websales@thetyregroup.co.uk.
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