Whenever a modest amount of snow falls in the UK and our motorways grind to a halt, it is never the weather that is to blame, but our lack of preparation.
In this comprehensive guide to preparing yourself and your car for the winter months, we’ll look closely at winter tyres and discuss whether or not they are worth the outlay, before considering every other aspect of driving during the cold season.
Winter tyres
Even as winter tyres become increasingly popular here in the UK, many drivers still misunderstand exactly what they are for and why they should be fitted in a country that rarely sees snow. The truth is, winter tyres are not only designed for snow and ice. They are also grippier and therefore safer than summer tyres in all weather conditions - even in the dry - so long as the ambient temperature is lower than 7deg Celsius.
What are winter tyres?
The most important thing to understand about winter tyres is that they are not ice tyres, or even snow tyres. They do not have metal studs of any sort poking out of the tread. Instead, winter tyres are simply designed to be used when temperatures are low and the roads are slippery. Of course, they are far more effective than summer tyres on snow and ice, but they will provide more grip and traction even on a bone dry surface just so long as the ambient temperature is less than 7deg Celsius. They are better at clearing standing water, too, so winter tyres are also safer than summer tyres when it’s raining.
Between the end of November and the start of March, then, winter tyres are almost certainly going to generate more grip than summer tyres.
How do winter tyres work?
Winter tyres are different from summer tyres in three specific ways. The first is that the tread pattern has many more grooves, or sipes, cut into it, which displace water and help the tyre to bite into snow and ice.
Secondly, winter tyres are made from a compound that has more silica in it, which means they stay soft and supple even in freezing temperatures. In very cold conditions, the rubber of a summer tyre becomes extremely rigid, meaning it slips across the surface of the road rather than clinging onto it.
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Unfortunately the idea that the "vibrating tread block" shake of the snow to improve grip is misleading.
According to Uniroyal:
Winter tyres, such as Uniroyal MS 77 Plus or Snow Max 2, have deeper tread depths which are designed to allow dry snow to pack into their treads. This packed snow actually helps improve traction and snow-on-snow friction in deep snow.
It all comes down to the fact that the freezing points and melting points of ice are related to both temperature and pressure. If you think of it like a snowball, you can put pressure on the snow and it creates an ice-bond. When a tyre holds a lot of snow, the same thing happens, making it good for traction when a tyre holds a lot of snow in its tread.
This is something I read elsewhere in the past
Biggest issue I notice over the years is that some drivers drive too close , not leaving enough braking room and especially in adverse Weather conditions, the saying used to be, only a fool ignores the two second rule, when it come to Wintertime driving you need to think more twenty seconds and don't just stamp on the brake, break gently, apply a little more if necessary, it's a judgment thing I know, but so few do it, once you've stamped on the brake your a passenger, no real control,you sit there seeing your accident coming towards you.
What dosen't get a mention is the move to wider tyres over tha last 30 yeras. By spreading the weight these are less able to cut through snow and standing water making a stronger case for specific tyres in Winter. I remember the winter of 1987 when I drove hire cars for delivery and a Sierra on 195/60 tyres was much looser than one on 165/70 tyres but as the roads were largely deserted for a week either was perfectly driveable - it was only when other drivers got into the space needed to corner or slow down that the grip beacme a real issue.