Why Do You Need Winter Tyres In Winter Weather?
The Winter season is all about snow-clad roads and blizzards. This is the time when it’s cold in many parts of Europe, and there’s slush all over the roads. Driving on such roads is quite a tedious task. After all, seasons can have a lot of impact on the tyres. Roads in winters become pretty slippery. Many times, a thin layer of water comes over the ice, and that causes aquaplaning too. It’s dangerous to drive on such roads if the right tyres are not fixed to your vehicle. There are chances of accidents happening on the road.
Tyre manufacturers understand this need very well. That’s why they make tyres which are safe for you to drive on the roads. There are two types of tyres which are mainly available according to the seasons. Summer tyres and winter Goodyear tyres Walsall. Both these tyres work best in the seasons they are made for. If you try using summer tyres in the winter season, you’re going to risk your life profoundly. There’s a third category too, called by the name of all-season tyres. But these tyres also have some limitation of their own. We’ll see the reasons below what makes these tyres unique in their particular season. Let’s read on.
When Do We Need Winter Tyres?
When the temperature goes below 7°C, then it’s the time for winter tyres. In many parts of Europe, winter tyres are mandatory in the winter seasons. If you’re living in an area that experiences extreme temperatures, then you should have winter tyres fixed to your vehicle.
What Sets Winter Tyres Apart From Other Tyres?
The Symbol On The Tyres
Winter tyres sport a snowflake symbol on them. It’s a mountain with three peaks. This symbol means that the tyres comply with the regulations set by the law. It’s easy to spot winter tyres with the help of this symbol. You can also find M+S engraved on the tyre. ‘M’ stands for mud, while ‘S’ stands for snow.
The Compound Of Winter Tyres
Winter tyres need to have a superb grip on the roads to prevent those catastrophic accidents. That’s why they are made with a soft rubber compound. The quantity of natural rubber is more in these tyres, and that’s what makes them flexible. That’s how the tyres get a good contact patch on the roads. The tyres also get that remarkable traction in the snowy and icy roads. If you try and use summer tyres in this place, they would become hard and won’t provide any traction.
The Unique Tread Pattern
Winter tyres have numerous slits on them in between the grooves, which are called sipes. These sipes dig deep into the snow and make them hold the ground firmly. The snow gets stuck into the grooves. But it’s this snow that makes the Tyres Shenstone run on the icy roads. It’s this technique that solves the problem of aquaplaning as well.
Things To Keep In Mind When Buying Winter Tyres
Tyre Size
Make sure the size of the winter tyres is what given by the manufacturer in the owner’s manual or on the side door of the driver’s side.
Tyre Pressure
When you fix winter tyres, check their pressure carefully. The temperature in the winter season keeps dropping, leading to a dropping in tyre pressure. Keep checking your tyre pressure every few weeks.
Symbols On The Tyres
Make sure there are symbols on the tyres. If those symbols are not there, then you might not be able to call them winter tyres.
Maintaining two sets of tyres can be expensive for you, but you need winter tyres if the season demands so. Safety is very important, and you shouldn’t compromise it at any cost.