4x4 tyres could see popularity rise

Britons may turn to 4x4 tyres in larger numbers in response to the cold weather conditions, it has been revealed.

Used car supermarket Carcraft has seen an increase in sales of larger vehicles take place over a number of weeks due to the cold snap.

The group said another reason that that 4x4s are becoming more popular is that many models do now not consume much fuel as they used to.

Mike Walsh, sales director at the company, said: "The extraordinary weather we're having just seems to have accelerated things. People simply need to get to work and lead their normal lives - a 4x4 lets you do that."

In addition, the company stressed that the cold weather shows no sign of letting up with official predictions suggesting that snow could continue to fall for up to a month, suggesting that the demand for 4x4 tyres will remain high during this time.

Last month, the Institute of Advanced Motorists urged UK drivers to take greater care on the road in response to the snowy conditions.