Why you should be switching out your winter tyres this spring
21st March 2023
Almost nine out of ten British drivers don’t change their winter tyres over to summer tyres when the warmer weather starts. This is, however, drastically different to the rest of Europe, where often it is mandatory for drivers to make the switch due to winter tyre legislation.
The main reason why so many UK drivers don’t change their tyres is because unlike the rest of Europe, there are no laws mandating it. Due to this, there is a lack of awareness of the differences between summer and winter tyres and how their specially designed features make them perform optimally during their respective seasons.
For this reason, we have outlined below the key reasons why making the switch from winter tyres this spring is important.
The differences between winter and summer tyres
The most notable difference is the compound of the tyres.
Our winter tyres have a soft silica compound designed to provide grip in icy and snowy conditions.
The summer tyre range, on the other hand, has a firmer compound providing responsive handling and increased control in both wet and dry conditions.
Why is it important to change your winter tyres to summer tyres when the seasons change?
The winter tyre compound wears down more rapidly in higher temperatures due to the increase in braking distances, significantly reducing their longevity and making them more susceptible to damage.
During the summer months, stopping distances on winter tyres can be as much as 16m longer than summer tyres. This can cause an impairment of judgement when braking, potentially leading to accidents.
Another reason to change your winter tyres when the warmer weather comes is to increase fuel efficiency. Warmer roads increase the rolling resistance of winter tyres which results in faster fuel consumption. Therefore, by switching out your winter tyres for summer ones, you’ll not only be increasing their longevity, but you’ll also be saving money on fuel.
Is there an alternative to switching tyres?
Our all-season tyres incorporate a hybrid of summer and winter technical features into one tyre, allowing them to be used all year round.
The newest additions to our range, Alltoura 4-Seasons and Alltoura H/T 4-Seasons, are ideal for moderate, changeable climates like in the UK. Their handling capabilities give drivers confidence that they can adapt to the changing weather conditions.
The Vantoura 4-seasons has a uniquely designed tread pattern featuring prominent sawtooth sipes, ensuring responsive handling on surfaces which offer low traction. The specially formulated tread compound also stabilises grip when temperatures rise or fall, making it an ideal choice for fleets and commercial vehicle drivers that don’t wish to change their tyres seasonally.
To find out more about our summer tyre range, visit our product page and for more information on our all-season tyres, click here.
