Winter is finally here, which means it isn’t long until the majority of places in the UK will be covered in snow and deep freeze till the time the Easter bunny is back.
However, now that the outside temperature has started to drop, what every car owner needs to bear in mind is that those summer tires and all-season rubber compounds would begin to stiffen up to such an extent that their grip on the road slowly becomes a little tenuous – well, it’s certainly more when compared to Jack Sparrow’s grasp on his glass once all the rum is gone.
Now we know why most customers prefer calling seasonal wheels “winter tires” and not “snow tires” – after all, it’s the rubbery grip that helps them when the roads are free from all that white stuff!
Speaking of winter tires, they’re usually designed to withstand colder temperatures; put simply, they spend most of the time being directly in contact with the pavement which gives them better control and more adhesion.
But, you cannot simply pick up any kind of winter tire for your car. The way you consider various aspects when opting for vehicle wrapping to enhance the look of your car, similarly, there are a few points that you must consider before purchasing these tires.
Verify if the tire has an Alpine pictograph
When purchasing a winter tire, the first and foremost thing that you need to see is whether or not it has an Alpine pictograph, which is a symbol consisting of a snowflake in a 3 peak mountain.
Tires with this logo present on them are an indication that they’ve intended to match or rather surpass the extreme snow adhesion performance requirements established by the industry. In simple words, these winter tires are designed in such a way that they work on ice and snow.
Pay keen attention to its design and tread compound
Almost every other winter tire comes with an exclusive tread compound and the latest tread design helping it to provide your vehicle with high-quality adhesion and control.
When compared to all-season tires, the winter ones bring along with them an enhanced brake performance, which goes up to 20%. Also, when tested in snow, it was revealed that cars that have winter tires are capable of stopping 28 feet before the ones that come with all-season tires.
It’s always better to purchase tires with tread compound, as they’re able to maintain flexibility throughout your ride, allowing having an improved grasp on ice and snow.
See if they can withstand every type of road condition
Alongside harsh winter breeze, if you happen to encounter sharp corners or hills while on the go, you’d surely want your tires to have better control and winter-ready adhesion.
In addition to that, ice, slush, or snow that is unplowed could be a threat when you’re driving. So, always get it checked whether the winter tire you’re about to purchase would be able to face such road conditions.
Take the weather condition into account
Most of you might be thinking about how ruthless the weather has to be for you to purchase winter tires. Well, the normal accord is that if you’ve been living in an area where the temperature drops to 7.2C/45F, or if you’ve got to drive in a harsh winter breeze, it’s best to get winter tires fixed.
Even though those all-season tires can offer you some adhesion in snowy and wet conditions, one can certainly not deny the comfortable and safer driving experience that winter-tires improved adhesion and grasp have to provide.
Check its performance and durability
When looking for tires, always remembers that your car’s starting, turning, and stopping ability eventually boils down to the amount of adhesion the tire can provide in ice and snow.
Apart from the performance, you also need to check up on the tire’s durability. Normally, winter tires of good quality give you better control and adhesion for approximately 3 seasons, which on average is 10,000 KM per season; however, that might vary from brand to brand.
All of this could seem to be a little too much and you might be watching your money, but let us tell you, with winter tires, you can surely reduce your insurance rate.
At the end of it all, let’s be practical – what could cost you more, a new pair of tires or a life-threatening event? So, purchase these tires after considering the above points, be well-prepared for snowfall, and drive safely!
