When the temperature drops below 7 °C, it is recommended that you change to winter tyres. As a rule, the switch to winter tyres is done during the autumn school holidays.
In this post, you will find answers to your questions about winter tyres. You will also find information on offers for tyre and wheel changes, so you can get safely through the winter at the right price.
What is the difference between winter tyres and summer tyres – and why switch to winter tyres?
Summer tyres are tough and as winter approaches and temperatures drop, colder temperatures make the rubber on your summer tyres even harder. This extends your car’s braking distance because summer tyres are not sufficiently slip-proof when used in winter conditions.
Winter tyres are made of a softer rubber compound with a higher content of natural rubber. This makes them more flexible and gives them much better grip at low temperatures when compared to summer tyres.
The small grooves in winter tyres also provide better grip in snow and wet conditions. It reduces the likelihood of slipping and the extra deep tread reduces the risk of aquaplaning. This means that winter tyres offer much greater safety on the roads in winter conditions, which is why it is recommended to switch to winter tyres when the temperature drops below 7 °C.
Be sure to check the depth of the tyre tread
The tread depth of winter tyres must be at least 4 mm. Therefore, be sure to regularly check whether the tyre tread is still deep enough.
You can easily check the tread depth by monitoring the indicators that are located all around the main tread grooves of the tyre. If the indicators line up with the top of the pattern, it is time to change the tyre.
If you need a tyre change during the winter season, you save up to 40%* by clicking here.
Why not drive with winter tyres in summer?
When temperatures start to warm up again, the soft rubber of winter tyres is no longer an advantage. They wear out much faster than harder summer tyres, meaning you’ll need to replace them more often.
Winter tyres also brake worse in summer and are more unstable, especially in critical situations. Therefore, be sure to switch to summer tyres when the temperature again exceeds 7 °C. In general, car owners switch to summer tyres around Easter.