Get Your Car Winter Ready with Protyre Tyres and Safety Checks 

The heatwave is over and winter is heading in. The temperature is dropping, leaves are falling, and wiser drivers are considering what they need to do to make their vehicle as safe as possible ahead of the coming season. It is essential that your headlights and brakes work effectively, and you will probably want to check that your heater is working properly and top up your screen wash and antifreeze. 

But what about your tyres? If your vehicle is fitted with summer tyres, you should change them now. Summer tyres are only designed for use when temperatures are consistently 7°c and above. When used in temperatures below this point, performance can be affected as the soft rubber compound used in the manufacture of the tyre will harden in cold weather, negatively affecting handling, traction, braking and acceleration. 

You will need to decide whether to swap to winter tyres or all season tyres. It is important that you are not tempted to mix summer and winter tyres, so in making your decision, you should consider the type of driving that you are likely to do, the mileage that you will clock up over the winter, and whether you could use an alternative form of transport or stay home should inclement weather arrive. 

Winter tyres 

Winter tyres are ideally suited to those who live in remote areas that are likely to experience snowfall over winter. They are typically purchased by drivers who rely on their vehicles and require them to be safe and roadworthy in all weather conditions. Drivers who buy winter tyres swap between them and summer tyres as the seasons change to ensure that their vehicle is fitted with the most appropriate tyres for the weather conditions at all times of the year. 

Winter tyres offer optimal traction in cold conditions. This is because their soft compound is combined with deep tread grooves and narrow sipes, which disperse snow and water and improve road contact, even in the most challenging of weather conditions. 

Winter tyres feature an M+S symbol and a three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol on the sidewall to differentiate them from summer tyres. 

All season tyres 

An all season tyre is designed as a compromise between summer and winter tyres and can be fitted to a vehicle and used all year round, regardless of the weather conditions. They are manufactured with a moderate rubber content, which prevents the tyre from hardening in cold conditions without sacrificing tread wear over the warmer summer months. 

All season tyres are very popular with the majority of drivers, particularly those who have alternative forms of transport or who can avoid driving should snowfall or weather conditions be particularly inclement. They perform to a good level in all driving conditions and offer good grip and lateral stability in everyday driving situations. To improve traction in snow, they can be fitted with snow socks or chains from Protyre, which should be removed as soon as the snow clears. 

Most all season tyres will feature the Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake symbol to demonstrate that they are certified as being suitable for winter use. 

Choosing a Continental tyre for your car 

Continental is one of the world's leading tyre manufacturers, and their products are highly sought after. They offer a comprehensive range of summer, winter and all season tyres, all of which guarantee excellent levels of safety, quality and performance. 

Their tyres are suitable for all types of vehicle, from the average passenger car through to vans, 4x4s and performance vehicles. A performance tyre, however, should only be used in the summer, as it features the same soft rubber compound as is found on summer tyres, proving ineffective in cold, wet and snowy driving conditions. To maintain the highest levels of responsiveness, owners of performance vehicles may prefer the optimised handling offered by a winter tyre. 

You should choose tyres that are the same size as those which are already fitted to your vehicle in order to maximise its performance and handling. If you are unsure as to what size you need, you should check your owner's manual, the notes on the inside of the fuel cap, or by consulting Protyre's team of qualified fitters. 

In our experience, the majority of drivers will opt for an all season tyre as this is suitable for year round use and does not require that tyres are swapped on a regular basis. Swapping tyres not only costs money, but there is an ongoing need to store the other season tyres for months at a time in a way which will not damage or degrade them. 

What is certain, however, is that by choosing a Continental tyre, you will be in safe hands, whatever the weather throws at you. These tyres are built to the strictest quality standards and designed to perform in the most challenging conditions. 

Top tips for driving safely this winter 

It is essential that the tyres that are fitted to your vehicle are suitable for the season. You should swap summer tyres for winter or all season tyres once nighttime temperatures are consistently dropping to around 7°c. It is better to swap tyres too early rather than too late. 

You must ensure that your tyres have adequate tread depth and check your tyre pressure regularly. In cold weather, tyre pressure can decrease quickly, meaning that you may need to top up your tyre pressure more often. 

Under-inflated tyres wear more quickly, reduce your fuel economy and are more likely to experience a puncture, which could take your vehicle unnecessarily off the road whilst repairs are conducted or a replacement tyre fitted. 

Book a free tyre safety check 

If you are unsure whether your tyres are ready to face the challenges of the coming season, why not book a free tyre check at your local Protyre garage today? Our expert fitters will inspect your tyres, checking that they are within legal tread depth limits and, where necessary, adjust your air pressure. They will provide you with expert, impartial advice and advise you as to whether you should change out your existing tyres for a set better able to cope with the rigours of winter driving. 

Should you opt for tyre replacement, you will not be limited to choosing from Continental's impressive range, but from a number of other major manufacturers, including Sumitomo, Pirelli and Bridgestone, all of whom offer tyres to suit every vehicle and budget. Protyre stocks one of the largest selections of budget and performance tyres in the UK and will make a tailored recommendation based on your vehicle tyre, annual mileage, driving style and budgetary preferences.