Audi Cold Weather Tyres
Unlike mainland Europe, the UK does not have a long history of using cold weather tyres. However, our recent harsh winters have shown just how valuable cold weather tyres can be to the U.K motorist. The past few years have seen extreme weather conditions during the winter months. The plummeting temperatures, difficult driving conditions and images of stranded motorists are hard to forget and the forecast for this coming winter is more of the same!
Why fit cold weather tyres?
Cold weather tyres improve grip and braking distances in cold and wet conditions, not just to ice and snow, increasing personal safety for you and your family.
When braking on icy roads from 20 mpg to rest, the stopping distance is increased by 11 metres if you are using summer tyres!
As well as helping straight-line braking, cold weather tyres have significantly more grip due to their unique tread compound, which also improves steering and acceleration.
The extra grip is due to their tread pattern, which have more thread blocks than a standard summer tyre. The extra grip also helps return better fuel economy and leads to less tyre wear.
Summer tyre wear increases as temperatures decrease. In fact, at 10°C a summer tyre can have a 5% higher wear rate than a cold weather tyre. At colder temperatures, the wear rate can be up to 20% higher.
According to the Department of Transport 78% of road traffic accidents in the UK are caused by skidding. Of these, 67% happen in wet or wintery conditions.
Cold weather tyres could prevent you from becoming one of the
millions of motorists who have accidents because of bad driving
conditions. When you consider this along with the cost of an accident
from insurance excess to recovery costs, it is worth investing in a set
of cold weather tyres.
When to change to cold weather tyres
When temperatures drop below 7 degrees, winter tyres should be fitted. Summer tyre wear increases as temperatures decrease. This is because the lower temperatures make the compound of a summer tyre become brittle which increases the tyre wear. At colder temperatures, the wear rate can be up to 20% higher than their cold weather equivalent.
Summer tyres should then be refitted when the morning
temperatures start averaging over 7°C, (usually from March onwards). If
you continue to use your cold weather tyres, these will then have a
higher wear rate than your summer tyres would - At 20-25°C winter tyres
can have a 15% higher wear rate.
Purchasing cold weather tyres
The cost of your cold weather tyres include the steel wheel – these will be fitted to your vehicle free of charge.
You will also receive a free of charge winter check performed by Robinsons experienced technicians. This includes:
- Checks on your tyres, lights, brakes in our 34-point Express Visual Check.
- We’ll check your oil and washer fluid, topping these up for you.
- We’ll check the battery and alternator, giving you a print out to confirm your battery’s performance.
- …and when you need your summer tyres, we’ll refit them for you free of charge!