How to Prepare Your Tyres For Winter

Driving in the Autumn is always a pleasure. As the summer fades away and the leaves start falling, one creeping thought starts to crawl into your head - how will my car fair in winter if it snows? The UK has seen more than a few hellish snow days in recent years, and it seems to become more frequent as time goes on.

So how do you prepare your alloy wheels and tyres for winter? Driving in the same set all year round, instead of a hard-wearing set specifically designed for the cold months, is a risk when the weather is so temperamental. At LK Performance, we make preparing your tyres and wheels for the winter both simple and affordable. There are two steps you need to undertake before you can drive into winter at full speed.

Fit Your Car With Winter Tyres

Contrary to the summer tyres that most UK cars are fitted with as standard, winter tyres are designed to improve performance and safety during potentially snowy and icy weather. The rubber compound of winter tyres has a higher amount of natural rubber compared to standard tyres, creating a softer material that helps the wheel grip the road. Visually, you can recognise winter tyres for their deeper grooves and sipe patterns that help clear away loose snow and dig into the ground for better traction.

This difference could be the thing to save your life, as the braking distance from 30mph to rest on icy roads is reduced by 10 metres with winter tyres compared to standard summer tyres. Here in the UK, there are no regulations enforcing the use of winter tyres, but in most regions of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, they are a mandatory requirement as they are far more likely to save you from an accident in icy conditions.

Winter tyres are most commonly fitted in October, but some drivers prefer to opt for all-season tyres that are capable of both clear and turbulent road conditions. At LK Performance, we stock hundreds of types of quality winter tyres, and if you buy with us, you are entitled to a free winter tyre and rim fitting service, so you can save the hassle and leave it to us.

Check Your Tyre Condition

After fitting your car with winter tyres, it’s a good opportunity to give your wheels a “once-over” to help ensure they are in top condition and as safe to drive in winter as possible. There are three parameters by which to check your tyres which we recommend carrying out both when the tyres are fitted and throughout winter:

Tyre Tread

 One of the most vital aspects affecting the performance of your winter tyres is the tread depth. Tyre treads wear down over time, and can reduce their ability to maintain grip on frosted roads. To make sure that your winter tyres have sufficient tread depth, use a tread depth gauge across multiple sections of the tyre by inserting the probe into the groove and pushing it down to the surface of the tyre. New tyres have around 8-9mm of tread depth, but if you find your tyres have worn down to below 1.6mm, you will lack the necessary grip to drive safely and are illegal to drive with in the UK.

Tyre Pressure

Underinflated tyres can cause accidents by making the car underperform with sluggish handling. Not to mention that they use more fuel thanks to increased rolling resistance. Therefore, it is important to check tyre pressures regularly.

To check tyre pressure during the winter, check to see the manufacturer's recommended tyre pressure rate, which is measured in Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) or another metric known as BAR. This is the minimum amount of pressure required to support your car in cold weather, and can be found either in your car’s handbook, on a sticker in the driver’s door jam or on the inside of your petrol cap. Next, use a reliable and accurate tyre pressure gauge (which you can find at most petrol stations if you don’t have one at home), remove the end cap of the tyre’s air valve and press the gauge down quickly and firmly into the valve until the hissing sound of escaping air stops. Your pressure gauge will display a reading of your tyre’s PSI and BAR.

Then, adjust the tyre pressure accordingly. If the reading is above the recommended PSI, it’s as easy as letting air out by squeezing the air valve. However, if the reading is less than the recommended amount of pressure, use an air compressor (again, which you can find at most petrol stations) to fill the tyre with air until it has reached the correct level.

Tyre Damage

Lastly, it is crucial to be on the lookout for any unusual bulges, wear or other damage. If you do spot anything, contact a nearby mechanic, but if a professional is fitting your winter tyres for you, they’ll notice these things and recommend a repair or new tyres. With LK Performance’s free tyre fitting service with a purchase of new tyres, our expert mechanics will make sure all of these checks are thoroughly taken care of during fitting, so you can drive away safe in the knowledge that you’ll be ready for when winter comes around.