We have always heard about winter and summer clothes, footwear, plants and even fruits, but has another ever heard of winter and summer tyres? Yes, tyres. With the fact that summer/winter tyres exist, we encounter questions like- are they even different? And do they even make a difference? The answer to both the above questions stands ‘yes’. They are different and make a huge difference. Let’s see how.
Starting off, here are the different categories of tyres
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Summer
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Winter
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All-season
Summer tyres have a specific rubber component that gives excellent handling and grip on dry and wet roads in warm conditions. Winter tyres are used mainly in cold conditions on wet roads, and especially on snow and ice. They provide a very good grip on such surfaces ensuring the vehicle doesn’t skid. All-season tyres are a hybrid of both summer and winter tyres, hence provide the benefits of both.
Winter Tyres
Winter tyres are used when the temperature drops below 7-degrees C because the tread in winter tyres have more natural rubber and so it doesn’t harden in weather conditions below 7-degrees C. Rather, it stays flexible to help reduce the stopping distance while braking. The tread also has deeper blocks that dig in the snow/ice, hence providing more grip. They also have multiple sipes. These help in clearing water and slush from the path.
Winter tyres are not a requirement for people living in mild winter climatic locations where the temperature drops this low very rarely. For such places, all-season tyres work well since they are hybrid.
Just the way summer tyres cannot be used in winters because of their simple tread design and materials used, winter tyres also cannot be used in summers because they can wear out very quickly due to their design. Seasonally changing tyres take not only money but a lot of time and effort as well, so unless it isn’t a necessity, users should prefer the all-season in cheap tyres Manchester category. But it will always be better to consult a local dealer for the best advice and more importantly for your own safety.
Myths about winter tyres
Full knowledge is better than half-knowledge, and half-knowledge is worse than no knowledge. In the case of tyres, and winter tyres in this case, half-knowledge could be life-threatening. There are a couple of myths on winter tyres:
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Mixing of tyres – Many people consider that by fitting only 2 winter tyres on the axle provides power to the road, can save money. But NO. Mixing of tyre tyres is absolutely wrong. It causes loss of grip on one axle and also in case of an accident, the case wouldn’t ever be in your favour.
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Using summer tyres – It is very dangerous to use summer tyres in winter weather conditions by reducing the air pressure in them. Letting out the air pressure doesn’t increase the grip, but in fact reduces it, making the vehicle unstable and even damages the tread. Tyres should be used according to their design and at the correct air pressure only.
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Weather – Winter tyres are not only for snow or ice but also for cold weather where the temperature drops below a certain limit or even on wet roads in the cold.
No matter how severe your region’s climatic conditions are, the tyre of your vehicle doesn’t give a warning before wearing out or getting cracked. You may use a reliable Tyre Repair Manchester service from a garage for the smooth running of your vehicle. You will also get a 24/7 repair facility for both mobile repairs and garage repairs. Their experts are always present in your service to ensure that you never have to drive in an unsafe vehicle.
Obviously, since there are so many types of tyre and each with its own functionalities and features, their cost range also varies. The customer also gets the option for fitting the tyre in their vehicle. In any case of doubt regarding the type of tyre you require, expert assistance is all you require to make the best choice.
