British summers tend to consist of any and all weather conditions. From a week-long heatwave to a week of downpour the next, these extreme weather conditions can have a huge impact on your tyres.
Whether you have summer tyres, winter tyres or all season tyres, the weather will affect your driving experience. Below are some examples of how extreme weather can affect you, along with some tips for keeping your tyres in top condition.
Hot weather
During the warmer months, the heat and road temperatures can cause your tyres to overheat and inflate, resulting in higher tyre pressure – even if your vehicle hasn’t been driven. A general rule of thumb is that for every 10 degrees Celsius change in temperature, your tyre pressure increases by around 0.1 bar. This might not sound like a lot, but even the smallest increase in pressure can make a world of difference on your tyres and how they perform.
Although rubber on tyres is designed to have a high resistance to heat build-up, heated air within the tyre can result in the rubber expanding, eventually leading to cracking, tearing and even a blowout.
Tyres are usually kept at an average of 32 PSI, the equivalent of approximately 2.2 bar. Combining the air temperature and road temperature with the additional pressure is definitely cause for concern and can have disastrous consequences, if not regularly checked.
At Asda Tyres, we recommend checking your tyre pressure weekly during a heatwave. If you are heading on a long journey, it’s advisable to check your tyres before you leave and stop regularly in extreme temperatures to check for any tears and cracks in the rubber.
Cold weather
Ice, frost or snow can be extremely dangerous conditions to drive in. Much like your tyres expand in the heat, they are prone to stiffening in the cold weather, reducing their performance on the road. This can result in losing control of your steering and an increased stopping distance, which is a real problem if you need to brake urgently.
With little to no surface for the tyres to grip onto in these conditions, your tyres have to work a lot harder, meaning they can wear down a lot quicker. Continued use of your tyres in these conditions will affect your car’s handling and ability to brake due to the lack of grip on the road surface.
One of the best ways to reduce these risks and improve your car’s safety is to swap out your summer tyres for winter ones. Winter tyres usually contain silica, a material that helps the tyre remain more flexible, even at low temperatures, improving their responsiveness on the road. Their tread pattern also includes more sipes than a standard tyre, helping to funnel snow or ice out of the way and improve their grip on the road surface.
Wet weather
Driving in wet weather can be extremely dangerous after prolonged periods of rainfall. It can cause the water to pool in large, flat areas and if your tyres aren’t in good condition, you may end up losing control of your steering – also known as aquaplaning.
It’s important to remember that when you are driving in extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall, that you will need to maintain a much larger gap between yourself and the car in front to allow for a longer period of stopping distance. Braking in wet weather conditions can be over double what it would normally be on a dry road, as your tyres will have less grip on the road. Checking your tyre pressure and tyre tread before your journey will help keep you safe in harsh weather conditions.
How to keep your tyres in good condition
Regularly checking the overall health of your tyres throughout the year is always the safest option, as well as using the appropriate tyres for the time of year. It can be tempting to rely on your car’s sensors to pick up any issues with your tyres, however taking the time to regularly check their condition yourself means you might spot something that your car hasn’t.
When to check your tyre pressure
Manufacturers always recommend checking your tyres when they are cold. This should be either first thing in the morning, before your journey to work, or the night before – making sure the car hasn’t been driven for more than a few miles in the last few hours.
Once a tyre has been driven on for more than a couple of miles, it will have warmed up and read as increased tyre pressure. As a result, by decreasing the pressure when it’s warm, once cool it could drop below the minimum, making it more likely to puncture or cause an accident.
How to check your tyre pressure
If you are unsure where to start, checking your vehicle’s handbook is a good starting place. This will usually include a guide of what tyre pressure is needed for a standard load and increased load. Depending on what you are using the car for, you’ll be able to determine from these guidelines the amount you’ll need.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a handbook, you’ll usually find a sticker somewhere in your vehicle with the same information. This can be found either inside the rim of your vehicle door, in the glove compartment, or inside the fuel cap cover. If you are still unsure, always seek help from a professional to avoid over or under inflating your tyres.
Tips for maintaining your tyres in bad weather
If you have the space, keeping your car inside a garage, or similar, will ensure your tyres aren’t as heavily impacted by any extreme changes in temperature or prolonged exposure to sun and ice. Although you should avoid driving in extreme weather, if you have to travel make sure you plan frequent stops along the way so that your tyres can adjust to the conditions.
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