Do you reside in an area where snowfall and ice are frequent? Preventing your car from slipping and maintaining grip is critical to surviving the cold season. Even though your condition matches this, finding the ideal pair of snow tyres is far from an easy task without proper knowledge. Here are a few things you should know before you set out to purchase your set of Budget Tyres Birmingham.
Why you should consider snow tyres
Snow and winter tyres are essential for travelling safely in areas with snowfall, ice, hail, etc… You must consider the usual weather of the area in which you live throughout winter. In case you stay in a typically hot area and rarely see snowfall, you need not run out and purchase industrial-grade snow tyres. In such situations, you should go with season-round tyres with an M+S grade (Mud plus Snow). You can drive the best all-season tyres suited for ice and snow all year. These can survive modest snowfalls and temperature conditions.
The Goodyear Eagle RS-A series is an excellent choice for a season-round tyre that could withstand light snow. These offer a one-of-a-kind asymmetric tread design that provides exceptional grip in rainy, dry as well as icy conditions.
It’s advisable to buy winter tyres if you live in an area that receives ice, snow, sleet, or hail with an average temperature of 40 degrees or lower. Suppose your tyre is a bar of chocolate. If you put it in the refrigerator, it hardens and gets brittle. The same happens with tyres that aren’t built for cold weather. Traction and grip reduce as a consequence. Manufacturers design snow tyres with distinctive components. These components allow them to remain elastic and grip the terrain. They also help stay in control during the frigid season.
Do all four tyres have to be snow tyres?
It is important to address this popular misunderstanding. Even if you do not own a 4-wheel drive automobile, by installing snow tyres on each corner of your automobile, you could enhance grip and stability. Simply installing winter tyres on the back will result in unequal traction. This can cause your acceleration and braking to behave erratically and potentially cause an accident. It might also result in more fishtailing.
Studded vs non-studded winter tyres
Base your decision on how you drive, the driving style and the road conditions you travel on during the cold. Studded tyres have metallic studs placed in the tread. These studs are also sometimes plastic. These tend to poke into ice and deep snow for extra grip. The key benefit of studded tyres is that they provide short stopping lengths and regulated pick-up on steep terrain. If you live in a hilly region with a lot of snowfall and icy terrain, studded winter tyres are an excellent option. Remember that studded tyres are quite loud and might end up causing pavement damage. As a result, several states have made these illegal.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 series offers a variety of studded snow drive alternatives with wide treads for added grip. It includes sipes for grasping edges along with malleable tread rubber. This will remain supple even in extreme temperatures. Among the most significant advantages of this tyre is its innovative structure. Their structure can reduce sound and asphalt damage due to their design.
Non-studded tyres perform effectively in compressed snow or ice over flat ground. These have intense and broad grooves. Such tyres feature sharp edges that help with gripping in icy conditions. For added grip, these tyres depend on advancements in rubber compounding, new tread shapes, and a host of current technology rather than metallic studs. Several people believe that enhancements in non-studded snow tyres have largely eradicated the necessity for studded tyres.
Cooper’s Evolution Winter range includes some of the finest winter tyres available. Snow Groove technology designed to hold snow provides a snow-on-snow grip. The “Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake” emblem appears on these tyres. This emblem indicates and certifies that the tyres serve efficiently even in heavy snowfall. You could add studs if necessary.
Things to consider before making your winter tyre purchase:
- Typically, winter tyres will last for four seasons.
- You must remove these for the duration of the summer (consider the expense of replacing your tyres twice annually).
- Buying snow tyres with rims could be cheaper than making the tyre dealer change them in the winter.
Chains vs Winter Tyres
In peculiar cases, installing chains on your tyres may be a requirement. Heavy winter conditions in mountain regions are examples of this. Chains, on the other hand, are not considered a feasible substitute for Car Tyres Birmingham. Do not utilize these at high speeds or on naked asphalt. It can inflict extensive damage to both the ground as well as your gear. Check whether your region needs snow tyres throughout the winter to ensure you are complying with all regulations.