{"id":759,"date":"2018-01-18T15:39:15","date_gmt":"2018-01-18T15:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/?p=759"},"modified":"2019-12-16T16:37:44","modified_gmt":"2019-12-16T15:37:44","slug":"winter-tyres-stopping-distances-cold-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/winter-tyres-stopping-distances-cold-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"How to reduce your stopping distances in the wet, cold, icy conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When it comes to driving, British motorists just don\u2019t do winter tyres. They\u2019re not ingrained in our culture. On the whole, we don\u2019t know what they are, let alone why they\u2019re a good idea. It\u2019s not surprising really, since most motorists believe \u2013 incorrectly \u2013 that winter tyres are for driving in snowy<\/em> conditions, and we simply don\u2019t get enough of that in the UK, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wrong. In fact winter tyres<\/a><\/strong> are primarily for driving in cold weather<\/em> \u2013 not snow \u2013 and we can all agree that we\u2019ve had plenty of chilly conditions lately in the UK, right? Of course when it does snow, winter tyres are much better suited to the conditions, but to reiterate, this is a secondary reason to switch from summer to winter tyres, compared to the main one \u2013 cold weather<\/em> conditions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exactly how cold? At what point do winter tyres provide drivers with significantly reduced stopping distances, compared to standard summer tyres? The answer is 7\u00b0C or below. To put this into context, the average temperature in London during December 2017 was around 4\u00b0C, and so far in January 2018 has been between 5-6\u00b0C. This low temperature can be reasonably expected to continue into February too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With this in mind, especially given the very cold weather (and subsequent snow) we all experienced across the UK in December \u2013 and the travel chaos that ensued \u2013 it\u2019s clear that UK drivers need to consider winter tyres, and in particular the benefits that greatly reduced stopping distances deliver in cold, wet, icy conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Winter tyres are for cold weather driving, not just for when it occasionally snows.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Stopping distance\u2019 sounds familiar \u2013 what is it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Unless you\u2019ve only recently taken your driving test, the chances are it\u2019s been a long time since you were introduced to the definition of \u2018stopping distance\u2019. If this sounds like you, here\u2019s a quick refresher:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stopping distance<\/em> equals \u201cthinking distance\u201d<\/em> (your reaction time) plus \u201cbraking distance\u201d<\/em> (how far the car travels after the brakes have been applied, until it stops<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Makes sense, right? It\u2019s why paying complete attention while driving is so important, and why there are numerous incidents involving collisions between vehicles and, tragically, people when not enough attention has been paid. It\u2019s problamatic enough in warm weather conditions, but when it gets cold, wet and icy, the problem doubles \u2013 literally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why? Because stopping distances<\/a><\/strong> are significantly increased due to the road being much harder to grip when it\u2019s cold, especially when they\u2019re covered in water or ice. Standard summer tyres struggle to perform at this temperature, compared to when used in the warm weather conditions they\u2019re designed for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So what makes winter tyres so much better at reducing stopping distances?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are various differences between summer and winter tyres<\/a><\/strong>, including that winter tyre treads are cut in a different pattern that offers more interlocking grip, but the important one is that winter tyres are made of a completely different rubber compound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And this is where the cold weather<\/em> 7\u00b0C or below<\/em> point is fundemental. At this temperature, the softer compounds found in winter tyres mean the tyre can better grip cold roads, allowing drivers to stop quickly and safely in cold, wet, icy weather conditions. It\u2019s that simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unconvinced? Watch this short video \u2013 made in partnership between Continental and Mercedes-Benz \u2013 and see the difference for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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