GET A GRIP – TYRES FOR ALL SEASONS
They’re round and black and no one likes buying them, but they are essential to our safety behind the wheel.
New tyre labelling that indicates a tyre’s grip level, drive by noise generation and fuel efficiency has helped motorists in the last few years make a more informed choice when buying tyres. But reputable tyre makers use around 20 different criteria when assessing a new tyre.
When it gets cold you often hear talk of ‘Winter’ tyres and as the name suggests they perform at their best in cold weather. Not to be confused with studded tyres used in ice racing and severe conditions, winter tyres are chunkier than standard (aka ‘summer’) tyres.
Winter tyres are made with a special rubber compound that is chemically formulated to stay pliable at temperatures below 7 degrees centigrade, a temperature where the rubber in our standard tyres starts stiffening up.
Winter tyres need to be replaced when they reach 4mm
Winter tyres when new have a tread depth that is deeper than a standard tyre by a few millimetres. Winter tyres also need to be replaced when they reach 4mm as they lose their extra ability - although legally they still fall in to the 1.6mm minimum limit. The tread pattern used features large channels to displace water and this reduces the chance of aquaplaning.
Winter tyres perform better in wet conditions
On a winter tyre’s surface there are tiny cuts called sips that spread like an animal’s paw to grip the surface. Winter certified tyres from the main manufacturers grip better than normal tyres in cold weather full stop but be wary of names you don’t know.
Winter tyres perform much better in wet weather compared to standard tyres. The extra grip comes at a price as winter tyres use a little more fuel, they are noisier and of course when the weather is mild they wear quicker than a summer tyre.
Ireland has a mild climate so unlike many countries in europe & Scandinavia we don’t have and are unlikely ever to have laws requiring use of winter tyres for the cold three months of the year. Some car makers who make predominantly rear-wheel drive cars offer a winter tyre package for a premium, where annually you can swap your summer tyres for winter and back again. If this sounds like a hassle and you still want the assurance of a winter certified tyre you can now get All-weather tyres. They do as the name suggest - offer both worlds in one tyre that can be used year round and they even have winter certification.