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Winter Tyres
Not all tyres are equal and as the seasons change, it’s important to make sure your vehicle’s tyres are in their best condition to get the ultimate performance. There are many hazards on the roads during winter moths such as rain, leaves, snow, wind and black ice, to name but a few. Failure to equip your tyres for winter can have disastrous consequences. At G&H Tyre Services, we have put together a handy guide for you to prepare your tyres for the chill.
Debris
The best cure for winter tyre complications is prevention. Before winter begins it is important to take the appropriate steps in tyre care. The first step you should take is to thoroughly examine your current tyres for any obvious signs of damage and wear.
This inspection should include your tyres for common items such as stones, gravel, sand and grit. These specs may seem small; however, they can create tears and punctures in the tyre material. To be certain, the best way to make sure your tyres are free of debris is to wash them with water and appropriate soap. If you use non-specific tyre wash, you could be promoting quicker than usual ageing.
Tyre Tread
Check your tyre treads for wear and reduction in depth. Tyre tread depth can dramatically reduce over time and it is important to regularly check the depth. To comply with UK law, a tyre tread must be at least 1.6mm. However, we recommend that the best tread depth is anywhere between 8mm-6mm to keep maximum road-gripping and breaking performance. Inadequate tread depth can cause breaking and turning to become considerably difficult in winter weather conditions.
Tyre Pressure
Check your tyre treads for wear and reduction in depth. Tyre tread depth can dramatically reduce over time and it is important to regularly check the depth. To comply with UK law, a tyre tread must be at least 1.6mm. However, we recommend that the best tread depth is anywhere between 8mm-6mm to keep maximum road-gripping and breaking performance. Inadequate tread depth can cause breaking and turning to become considerably difficult in winter weather conditions.
Should I buy specific winter tyres?
You may wonder if it might be a better choice to simply buy purpose-made winter tyres? There are some pros and cons to buying purpose-made winter tyres and you should take all factors into account before making your purchase. Winter tyres are designed to offer superior performance on winter roads in areas of grip and temperature resistance.
How To Spot Winter Tyres
Winter tyres have considerably deeper tread and softer compounds, which help disperse hazards such as snow and rain, as well as affecting the amount of contact between the tyres and road. Winter tyres are identifiable by a marking of a snowflake symbol on the side. There are tyres with the markings of ‘M+S’, which stand for mud and snow. However, they are not necessarily winter tyres.
What Costs Are Involved?
Buying extra tyres will always involve extra costs. However, winter tyres are more expensive than their summer counterparts. Although the added expense, winter tyres could be a very worthwhile purchase is they serve considerable advantage. Winter tyre costs can vary from different tyre brands and different vehicle manufacturers.
It’s also worth taking note of the extra costs involved to remove the summer tyres and replace them with the winter tyres and back again. If you don’t have the space to store tyres when not in use, you can find a local tyre storage facility. Again, this would incur a fee.
If you have any questions about winter tyres and the benefits, call us today. We here at G&H Tyre Services are proud to provide emergency 24-hour mobile tyre repair or replacement across Devizes, Westbury, Trowbridge, Bath, Salisbury, and surrounding areas. We are your local, reliable and trusted tyre replacement service, with friendly and qualified fitters.
To find out more about how G&H Tyre Services can help you and your individual commercial vehicle tyre requirements, call 07739 634 929 today. Alternatively, you can contact us online by selecting Contact at the top of the page. One of our expert and friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible.
