What are Winter Tyres?
Winter tyres are engineered to give you maximum grip and traction in adverse weather conditions. The tyres are designed to do so by possessing softer rubber compounds, deeper grooves and thin jagged cuts throughout the tread called sipes. These features work to disperse sleet, snow and water as well as to improve friction and to increase contact with the road surface. Winter tyres drastically improve braking, grip and traction in slippery conditions. They are also indefinitely safer than standard summer tyres in the darker months.
Do I Need Winter Tyres?
Winter tyres work best below 7 °C (Degrees Celsius) remaining flexible to once again optimise contact with the road. Therefore, if you live in an area of the world that suffers harsh winters you should seriously consider fitting winter tyres. Driving in more remote areas also calls for increased grip and safety precautions. There is currently no legislation surrounding the usage of winter tyres in the UK as it currently is across some countries in mainland Europe and Scandinavia. However, the more remote your surroundings and cold your climate, the more winter tyres would benefit you and the lifespan of your vehicle’s other components.
How Much do Winter Tyres cost?
The price of winter tyres varies according to your car model and wheel size but tend to sit at around £80. Nevertheless, the long-term cost of winter tyres is relatively low, and should not affect your car insurance rates. Winter tyres will always be more expensive than standard tyres as they serve a more specific function and are designed for harsher conditions. For optimum practicality, they should be fitted before the harshest adverse weather hits.
Locating a Trustworthy Garage for Winter Tyre Fitting
Find the best deal for winter tyre fitting by reviewing local garages in your area that offer the service with FixMyCar. Look at past reviews and price quotes to make your selection and get your car winter ready! Many of the garages across the FixMyCar network also offer wheel alignment services and summer tyre storage for customers requesting winter tyre fitting.