Preparing your tyres for winter

As the colder weather sets in it’s time to start preparing for winter- and that includes looking after your tyres! We’ve created a quick guide to ensuring your tyres are ready for even the chilliest season.

First and foremost it’s important to ensure that your tyres have the correct amount of tread. The AA recommends at least 3mm of tread and no less than 2mm when driving during wintery conditions. You can check the tread using a 20p coin, place it in the tread and if it reaches the queens face its ok!

There is a common myth that reducing the pressure in tyres will increase their grip, but this is not true! It’s very important to keep your tyres at optimum pressure regardless of the weather, but specifically in winter when grip can become compromised.

It’s also worth considering fitting winter tyres or all season tyres to your vehicle. These are specifically manufactured to provide more grip in temperatures less than 7 degrees. The higher silica content of the tyres prevents them from hardening at lower temperatures, therefore offering increased grip when compared to a summer tyre.

If you do choose to replace your tyres with winter ones, it’s advisable to do so before the weather gets any colder. We’d recommend switching your tyres towards the end of October and replacing them for summer ones in March.

Alternatively, you may want to consider investing in tyre socks. Sold as a pair, they are essentially fabric covers that go over your driving tyres in snowy or icy weather. However, bear in mind that these are only temporary measures designed to assist you if you’re struggling to gain traction in the snow and should be removed as soon as you reach tarmac.

Good driving techniques also go a long way to ensuring your tyres are suitable for winter.  Be more gentle on the steering as the tyres ability to offer lateral grip is greatly diminished.

If you do find yourself making long or frequent journeys during the winter months, it’s worth ensuring you take appropriate action to make sure your tyres are suitable for the conditions and will keep you as safe as possible.

Also, don’t forget to always carry an old blanket or rug (not just to keep you warm if you get stuck but also to use under tyres to aid grip), a fully charged mobile phone and a snow shovel!