Tyres are an essential part of your car to review when it comes to preparing for the snow, rain and sleet during the winter months. In this guide we look closely at how to prepare your tyres for winter so you can drive safely and avoid potential accidents.
1) Ensure your tyres are properly inflated
Having the correct tyre pressure directly correlates with how much traction you’ll have with the road surface. Having the correct amount of traction means you’re less likely to skid or slip and therefore get into an accident. The colder temperatures during winter cause your tyre pressure to drop, so it’s essential to check your tyre pressure as regularly as possible and top them up as needed. The correct tyre pressure level will be specified in your car’s manual.
2) Check the tread depth
Make sure you clean the tyres from any dirt or debris from in between the tyre treads before performing this check. Perform the check across multiple places of the tyre, as if your alignment is off your tyres could have worn unevenly. For winter tyres, you should have these replaced when the tread depth goes down to around 4 to 4.5mm and 2mm for standard tyres. The lowest legal limit your tread depth can be in the UK is 1.6mm.
2) Invest in winter tyres
Winter tyres have deeper tread depth compared to all season tyres or summer tyres. They are also constructed from a special rubber compound which doesn’t stiffen in lower temperatures, unlike traditional tyres, and can therefore grip the road better.
3) Consider fitting snow chains
Snow chains, sometimes referred to as tyre chains, can be used in snowy conditions as well as ice and mud. They attach to the outer edge of your tyre and act as an extra level of grip between the tyre and the road surface. Increasing this grip/traction between the car and the road makes driving in adverse wintery conditions much safer as it reduces the chance of your vehicle suddenly losing control and skidding on icy surfaces.
4) Have your wheels aligned
Going to a garage to check if your wheels are properly aligned is essential to maintain control and handling of the vehicle, especially in wintery conditions. This also ensures your tyres will make direct contact with the road as they will be set at the correct angle and they’ll last longer due to wearing more evenly.
It’s vital to keep these ideas in mind when driving in the winter months, but most significantly, examining the overall quality, wear, and tread of your tyres are the most important factors to increase safety in adverse weather.
When you buy a used car from us, you won’t have to worry about what to do if your tyres fail. As an AA approved dealer, you can claim 12 months free AA breakdown cover or upgrade when you buy any vehicle from us.
If you want to keep other parts of your vehicle running smoothly this winter, read our other blog post on the quick and easy 5 point check you can follow to prepare your car this winter.