The distinction between winter and summer tyres is an age-old conundrum and query. We asked our tyre manufacturing partners, and they provided the best justification. The differences between summer and winter tyres are seen in their structure and tread pattern.

Tread pattern

For winter and summer driving conditions, the tread pattern is very different. The tread blocks of winter tyres have several grooves in them. These grooves help reduce so-called aquaplaning by directing water away from the tyre surface. In addition to draining water, their job is to break up ice, snow, and slush, which makes driving more secure.

Summer Cheap Tyres Kidderminster feature fewer grooves than winter tyres, but they also include tread bars that are expressly made to reduce the risk of aquaplaning. Winter tyres have a deep pattern on their surface as well. Contrary to popular belief, it serves to gather snow as nothing adheres to snow as well as snow itself. On snow- and ice-covered roadways, this compacted snow improves traction, increases grip, and propels the car forward.

Tyre Construction

One aspect that sets summer tyres apart from winter tyres is unquestionably the structure of the rubber. Winter tyres are more flexible and softer because they include more natural rubber than other types of tyres. The stronger the tyres' adherence to the road surface is in the winter, the safer they are to drive on. Summer tyres get tougher in colder weather because less natural rubber is included in their makeup. Up to +7 °C and below are the optimal operating conditions for winter tyres. At high temperatures, summer tyres have superior traction. Their rather tough compound softens at high temperatures.

It is crucial to understand that although it is technically legal to drive with winter tyres on throughout the summer, doing so is not advised at all. You shouldn't use winter tyres when driving in the summer for safety reasons. These tyres become substantially softer and lack sufficient traction on the road. You will need to change them more regularly because their consumption is also significantly faster. Experts definitely advise using seasonal tyres and replacing them before each season, or using so-called "All Season" tyres designed for all four seasons.

The Importance of Winter Tyres

There are many drivers who wonder why their car's perfectly fine pair of tyres, with 6 or 7mm of tread depth, won't perform well in winter conditions. The "normal" tyres installed by the automobile manufacturer are built with a hard composition that softens and provides a lot of traction in the summer heat. With rare exceptions, summer in the UK occurs when the temperature is over 7C; below this point, they become too hard and are insufficient for traction.

Winter tyres, on the other hand, are created using a silica-rich rubber type and a unique tread pattern, both of which help the tyre perform better in temperatures below 7C. This guarantees greater braking and handling performance in cold weather on wet roads, ice, and snow.

Is it worthwhile to get a pair of tyres that will last without

Therefore, given how seldom these circumstances occur, is it worthwhile to spend money on a pair of tyres that will undoubtedly provide exceptional traction when snow or ice is present on our roads? It is important to keep in mind that the best winter tyres, or cold weather tyres as they are more correctly known, perform well in temperatures below 7C, which are typical on most days in the UK during the winter. When the temperature drops to 0, even on dry roads, they will provide better braking than their "summer" counterparts.

What Alternatives Are There?

After an unexpected snowstorm, snow socks will either assist you get home or will get you out of your driveway and going until you reach a grated surface or a larger, cleared route. These function by increasing the friction between the road and the tyre by drawing snow and ice to the textile surface of the socks. They should be removed, though, once a road has been cleaned since otherwise, they would swiftly shred.

The all-weather or all-season tyre is another option; it has characteristics that are quite similar to those of the winter tyre, providing slightly better traction in dry and wet conditions but somewhat less traction in snow. In terms of tyre handling, braking, and traction in dry, wet, and snowy situations, these tyres are a compromise, and there is always a trade-off in performance between winter tyres and summer Continental Tyres Kidderminster in the different seasons. Accordingly, all-weather tyres should be anticipated to perform better on icy roads than summer tyre and better on summer roads than winter tyre. However, all-weather tyres are unlikely to be as excellent as the best speciality tyre in the respective seasons. The biggest advantage is avoiding the inconvenience and expense of changing your tyres twice a year.