Should I Invest In Winter Tyres?
Nobody likes to spend more money than necessary, so it’s natural if you’re not convinced that spending more on separate winter and summer tyres is worthwhile, but here is an outline of the pros and cons.
The truth is that determining whether or not to purchase winter tyres is influenced by a variety of factors, some of which are beyond your control. For instance, where are you driving? Which country or terrain are you in? Winter tyres are required in various European nations. They’re suggested in others. While in some nations, such as the United Kingdom, the majority of drivers use all-season or summer tyres all year.
Pros
- In freezing temperatures (below +7 degrees Celsius), winter tyres provide the best handling. They have the finest traction on snow and slush.
- On cold roads, their braking performance is superior to that of summer or all-season tyres. On snow, a car travelling at 31 mph will take 62 metres (203 feet) to stop with summer tyres, 42 metres (138 feet) with all-season tyres, and only 31 metres (102 feet) with winter tyres.
- They remain flexible in the cold due to their higher natural rubber composition, whereas summer tyres are designed for warmer weather.
- If you reside in a rural place where snow and ice are typical during the winter, they will keep you mobile.
- If you drive up and down hills, the extra traction that winter tyres provide on snow and ice will come in handy.
Cons
- Winter tyres cannot be used all year since they underperform in temperatures over +7 degrees Celsius and, due to a particular compound mix, wear rates may increase if used in higher conditions.
- It might be costly to invest in two sets of summer and winter tyres (with spares). Not only are two sets of tyres, including spares, expensive, but you may also want to have two separate sets of wheels to save time and make swapping easier. There’s also the cost of storage if you can’t store them yourself, as well as the garage fees of having them swapped every six months.
- Winter tyres are considered a modification by certain insurers, and as a result, they impose a premium. Before you replace your tyres, make sure to verify with your insurance company.
You obviously have no choice whether or not to get winter tyres if you’re driving somewhere where they’re required. If winter tyres are recommended, it’s also a good idea to weigh the expense with the benefits of greater grip and safer driving in the circumstances you’ll be driving in.
In nations where winter tyres are not required, the choice is often based on personal preferences and geographic location. In Scotland, for example, where conditions are frequently chilly and slippery, there has been a significant surge in the number of drivers purchasing winter tyres.
If you are considering winter tyres or want some more information, please get in contact with us here at Bangor Tyre Company and we would be more than happy to help.