13/09/2010: Have you considered the many benefits of winter tyres?

If the very words winter tyres send a shiver down your spine it’s hardly surprising. Especially since your blogger is writing this in August! However it’s a simple fact that the tyre industry has to plan ahead and this time of the year is when they are all presenting their winter tyres portfolio before the coming season. For the average motorist too, it’s a good time to be considering winter tyres, especially when you think about the mayhem caused during our last, truly dreadful winter.

You have to admit that very severe winters have not been the norm over the last couple of decades or so and the idea of winter tyres might seem a bit alien to the average UK motorist. In continental Europe however winter tyres are the preferred seasonal choice and large numbers of motorists keep two sets of wheels available; one fitted with summer tyres and one fitted with winter tyres. Of course the UK has an oceanic climate rather than a continental climate and with the generally milder winters, many motorists not unreasonably opt for all-season tyres.

However, if you have sufficient funds available and enough storage space, it really is worth considering having your own set of winter tyres and summer tyres fitted onto two sets of wheels. It’s then only a fairly simple matter to swap these over each spring and autumn. Winter tyres are specifically designed to give superior safety and performance in all winter conditions including ice, snow and wet weather. On top of that winter tyres give better grip and braking and so reduce the risk – and potential costs – of accidents. And it’s worth remembering that icy weather is the favourite time of year for the car body repair industry!

So why not have a look at your winter tyres options and see if it might be for you. There is plenty of information available both from online and high street retailers so you won’t have any problems in finding a set of winter tyres to suit your needs and your budget. You will need to budget for an extra set of new or second-hand wheels for your winter tyres of course. It’s worth taking a look at the many published tyre tests too because most leading manufacturers offer a wide range.