Winter tyres are the safest option

Tyresafe the independant tyre safety organisation has just sent out a reminder to all motorists not to be complacent this year, just because we have had a mild start to the winter. The safety organisation recommends that all motorists should have a set of winter tyres, but has also said that all-season tyres also provide an acceptable balance between summer and winter performance.

Winter tyres are ideal on British roads from October right through to the spring when temperatures rarely get above 7 degrees Celsius.

Stuart Jackson Chairman of tyresafe said "We've had one of the mildest autumns on record, but the colder, wetter weather is now most definitely here, bringing with it more hazardous driving conditions. While we can't know for sure if we will experience snow this year, we can be certain that drivers fitting winter tyres will have better grip and safety, throughout the entire winter period".

Many drivers in the UK mistakenly think that winter tyres only offer benefits when driving on snow and ice, this is not correct. As when temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius the tread compound in summer tyres begin to harden and as such they have reduced levels of grip. Winter tyres contain more natural rubber, this minimises the hardening effect and gives more grip in the cold and wet.

Tests carried out by the British tyre manufacturers association proved that a car travelling at 60 mph on a wet road at 5 degrees celsius stopped 5 metres shorter when fitted with winter tyres.

A alternative option is to fit all-season tyres, as these offer a more balanced performance without the need to change tyres between seasons.

Even if you do decide not to fit winter tyres, then you should at least ensure that your tyres have adequate tread depth. The minimum legal requirement in the UK is 1.6mm, but deeper tread does provide safer motoring, especially in wet conditions.

Always remember that illegal tyres can carry a fine of up-to £2500 and 3 penalty points on your licence per tyre.

Should you like more information on winter tyres, or wish to purchase a set then give us a call at Hometyre. We have some special offers at the moment on Nokian tyres, and if you are purchasing 4 tyres, then we offer a discount as a bulk buy.