Prepare your car for winter

It looks like winter is well and truly here, snow is already falling in Scotland and on high ground in the north of England. Temperatures have dropped, and wet weather and gales will hit most of the UK over the next few days.

Now is the time to ensure your car is ready for the winter. Quinten Wilson the Sunday Mirror's motoring correspondent wrote in his latest column that now is the time to get your car serviced, top-up the antifreeze and check your battery (Battery failures over the winter period is one of the main reasons for call outs by the AA & RAC). Remember also to carry a phone charger, blankets, boots and supplies just in case you get stranded. It is also recommended to carry a small folding shovel if possible. Quinten also mentions that now is the time to get a set of winter tyres before they sell out. Some sizes are already scarce, as buyers in the North have been buying winter tyres since November.

We at Hometyre have been busy in the last week either swapping customers summer tyres for their winter tyres, or supplying and fitting new winter tyres.

Because winter tyres are only used for around 4 months of the year, for the average mileage driver they tend to last for 3 to 4 winters. This also extends the life of your summer tyres as they get a four month rest every year.

We have some great offers on Nokian winter tyres this year, but you will need to call in for prices as they are not shown on our website. Prices for a set of winter tyres are not as high as some people think. A set of four budget winter tyres can be bought and fitted for as little as £248 (depending of the size and brand you choose). Also because you are buying four tyres, we give you a discount compared to buying single tyres.

Many people in the UK think we don't need winter tyres as we don't get that much snow, especially here in the south. But what they don't realise is that winter tyres are not just designed for use in snow. They are made with a different rubber compound than summer tyres, ensuring that they stay soft and pliable in temperatures of below 7 degrees centigrade. This will give greater grip during the winter months, helping with acceleration, cornering and braking.

Also if you are considering a trip to Europe, then you need to check the regulations in the countries you will be visiting / crossing as in some countries winter tyres are mandatory over the winter months. You can check European regulations on our website here.