Winter Tyres FAQ

What are Winter Tyres?

Winter tyres differ from standard tyres in two key ways. Firstly they use a different rubber compound which contains more natural rubber, this means that they stay softer in colder temperatures which gives them a better grip on the road. Secondly they have different tread grooves which can gather loose snow and pack it into the treads on your tyres. The treads on winter tyres also contain a lot of 'sipes', little shallow slits in the surface, of the grip which provide improved traction in wet, muddy, or snowy conditions.

How do Winter Tyres work?

It's a combination of the two changes, the rubber compound and the tread grooves. The higher natural rubber content creates a softer rubber compound that stays soft and flexible in temperatures where summer tyres would stiffen and begin to lose grip on the surface of the road. The deeper tread grooves and sipes allow snow to be collected and compacted in the grooves. While it may sound counter-intuitive, this greatly improves the grip the tyres have when driving in snow. A good way to visualise it is to imagine how well a snowball can stay together once pressed, similarly the compressed snow in the tyres grips onto the snow as you drive, meaning that you’re much less likely to slip or slide on the road.

Are Winter Tyres only effective on snow and ice?

The simple answer is no. While the sipes and deep tread grooves greatly improve the performance of the tyres in snow and ice, or even just wet conditions, the softer rubber compound means an increased performance in all cold temperature conditions. Tests have shown that winter tyres can improve stopping distance by up to 20% when temperatures are below 7°ree;C, and this is in addition to the reduced risk of aquaplaning. So, don't wait for the frost, snow & ice before putting winters tyres on your car, you should do so as soon as the colder weather sets in.

Is fitting Winter Tyres a legal requirement in the UK?

No. There is no legislation concerning winter tyres in the United Kingdom, or the Republic of Ireland for anyone living in Northern Ireland that has to cross the border.

Travelling abroad with Winter Tyres?

When travelling abroad during winter months, it’s important to check legislation from those particular countries or regions. Many European countries, such as Austria and Germany, have mandated the use of winter tyres in wintry conditions. Others, such as Italy and Spain, have regional variations. You can see the full list on our main winter tyres information page, but remember to consult with the relevant government institutions where you’ll be driving. The European Commission also provide a comprehensive list of driving law variations between member states plus Norway and Switzerland.

Do winter tyres affect my car insurance?

In the past the media have often speculated about possible increases to your car insurance by having winter tyres fitted, as it was thought this may count as a modification to your vehicle. This situation was clarified in 2010 when the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) announced that fitting winter tyres is not a modification. So provided you have your winter tyres fitted in a proper manner, your insurance should not be affected. We do still urge you to confirm this with your insurance provider before fitting winter tyres.

Does it cost more money to use Winter Tyres?

No. Winter tyres cost roughly the same amount of money as an equivalent summer or all-season tyre, and the reduced wear on your tyres means that you won’t lose out when it comes to the life of your tyres. The increased life of your summer tyres should go some way to paying for fitting and storage costs if you need to use these services.

Where can I buy Winter Tyres?

We sell winter tyres here at LK Performance. Simply go to our winter tyres page and input your tyre specifications to see all our winter tyres that match your vehicle.

When should I use my Winter Tyres?

Whenever temperatures are regularly below 7⁰C you should be using your winter tyres. Other countries where winter tyres are legally required often do this for November until April. According the Met Office, the average temperature in the UK can fall below 7⁰C for over 120 days a year, almost a third of the year. This varies by location with the Scottish Highlands and Northern England experiencing significantly longer cold periods and the South West having far shorter periods. A rough guide is to use your winter tyres from mid-November until mid-March, and then alter for local weather as appropriate.

Do I need Winter Tyres for all my wheels or just two?

We strongly recommend that a complete set of 4 winter tyres are fitted, rather than just on the ‘driven wheels.’ Leaving summer or all-season tyres on the rest of the wheels can lead to reductions in traction, stability, and braking. The increase in sophistication of tyre technology means that it is now more important to use matching tyres if you want to receive the benefits of using winter tyres.

What do I do with my Summer Tyres in winter?

Most drivers use a ‘hibernating’ pattern with their summer and winter tyres, where the removed summer tyres are stored and then re-fitted once temperatures rise above 7⁰C again. If you have the room in a garage or storage room then you can keep your summer tyres there when your winter tyres are fitted and vice versa. If not, then many garages offer storage facilities at reasonable rates.

Do I need to do anything else?

Even with winter tyres it’s important to alter your driving in keeping with the winter conditions. You can have a look at our guide to safe winter driving for more detail but a good maxim is to drive as you would with any other tyres and remain vigilant while on snow, ice, or in wet conditions. Winter tyres are ultimately a safety feature rather than an excuse to drop your guard or drive dangerously.

As excesses of salt and grit on the roads can also cause damage to wheels, you might also want to consider fitting some winter alloys which are designed to withstand the harsher road conditions without compromising anything on performance or aesthetics.

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