It’s crucial to take good care of winter tyres, as they don’t come cheap and will keep you safe during the colder months. You will find that you spend more time in your car during the winter months, so your tyres and wheels have to work harder, especially on wet and potentially icy roads. Cold temperatures can also affect your tyre pressure, so our wheels need a little extra TLC in winter to make sure they’re roadworthy.
Regular check-ups
Inspect your tyres frequently as the colder weather will usually reduce air pressure. Driving with under-inflated tyres will not only impact your fuel economy but will also increase tread wear and will harm your handling. Your tyres should be monitored at least once a fortnight or more often when it’s really cold, making sure they are always set to the pressure quoted in the manual, or on a placard (commonly found on the car’s B Pillar, between the front and rear door).
Keep your tyres clean
It might feel like a losing battle during the wet winter months, and no one wants to be doing this, but keeping your tyres clean is quite important. Removing things like salt, mud and dirt can help to prevent corrosion and damage. Cleaning your tyres can also help you spot problems such as low tread depth, splits and bulges, it’s recommended to give them a clean every couple of weeks. Ensuring your tyres are clean can also maintain tyre traction, allowing your car to be able to hold onto road surfaces more efficiently.
Check the tread depth
This can be done after you’ve cleaned your tyres, checking your tread depth is an important thing to look at, especially in the colder months. You need plenty of grip on the slippery roads so worn tyres to need to be replaced, to keep yourself and others safe. You should opt for around 3mm tread depth rather than the recommended 1.6mm in winter to keep yourself prepared for the slippery road conditions.
Invest in winter tyres
If you’re someone who tends to drive a lot in the winter and you want to feel more confident and comfortable on the road, it could be worth investing in a set of winter tyres. Designed to give you a better grip on slippery and wet surfaces, winter tyres are perfect for maintaining maximum road holding. If you live in an area that’s prone to snow and ice, you should consider purchasing winter tyres. Made of specialist rubber that has a high silica content and tiny grooves in the tread, these tyres will help prevent skidding on poorly-maintained roads in your area.
Winter tyres are covered in small ‘sipes’ which are small slits that create hundreds of small edges to grip the road. When you’re driving in snowy conditions, the tread grooves themselves are designed to be ‘filled-in’ by snow, thus creating more grip on icy surfaces. They tend to come at a higher price tag than summer tyres, however, they will last twice as long, if not longer.
Here at ASDA Tyres, we sell a huge collection of winter tyres from leading brands such as Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear. Shop our entire range today and keep yourself confident on the roads during the winter months.