Even though winter tyres are growing more popular in the UK, several drivers don’t know what they’re for or why they’re put in a country where snow is unusual. The fact is that winter tyres aren’t just for ice and snow. They’re also grippier as well as safer than the summer tyres under all-weather circumstances, even the dry ones, provided the temperature is below 7 degrees Celsius.
Europeans who live in colder climates switch from summer to Dunlop Tyres Harrogate. Because UK drivers have mild winters, they may be sceptical of the benefits, but studies indicate that you don’t have to live partially up a snowy Peak to enjoy safe driving on a set of winter tyres.
So, have you considered investing in a set of winter tyres for your vehicle? Despite the extra cost and difficulty of swapping and storing two sets of summer and winter tyres, experts highly advise doing so if your budget allows.
During harsh winter weather, a tyre’s tread design aids a vehicle’s grip and control on icy roads. It’s divided into four sections:
- Tread blocks are aloft rubber segments that come into close touch with the road and wear down over time.
- The tread block has tiny slots called sipes. In wet, slippery, and snowy weather, they increase traction.
- Grooves are ruts that run around the circle of a tyre and effectively conduct water away. Deeper grooves in winter tyres help to reduce aquaplaning and provide improved overall grip.
- Ribs are aloft rubber parts that run around the perimeter of the tyre and aid in driving in wet, slippery, or snowy conditions.
While these all contribute to the pattern structure of a tyre, there is another component, the tyre compound, that makes all the difference for winter tyres. In comparison to summer tyres, winter and all-season tyres are of a special natural rubber combination that is softer and more flexible.
In cold temperatures, this means they’ll have a lot more traction and grip. This tread pattern is very effective on slippery or muddy roads.
Basic Characteristics Of Winter Tyres
The temperature is dropping, and the likelihood of ice and snow is increasing. Individuals who drive on summer tyres face a hefty charge as well as jeopardising overall road safety. Because summer tyres have reached their limits, winter tyres are the ideal option. It’s not only in the winter, and they’re also handy in wet weather and on dry but chilly roads.
Winter tyres increase tracking stability and handling precision due to their great power transmission. Aquaplaning technology can also help drivers in locations where there is minimal snow but a lot of rain.
Increased Tread Depth Results in More Traction
You can distinguish Winter tyres from other tyres by their deep tread thickness and composition. These tyres have deep, wide tread grooves that help them handle snow better than summer tyres. On icy roads, snow driven into the deep tyre grooves improves grip and performance. Nothing sticks to snow better than snow itself.
These lamellae, or winter tyre edges, assist the deeper tread depth in doing its function. They enable more effective acceleration and improve surface contact by trapping snow and ice. Lamellae, by the way, readily transport water and prevent aquaplaning.
Treads Run in Only One Direction
The ideal winter Tyres Harrogate would have treads that keep you in control when the weather changes. According to experts, unidirectional treads are the best option for winter tyres.
This is the case because unidirectional tread patterns effectively drain water, mud, ice, and snow while keeping you in continual contact with the ground. One can identify unidirectional treads with their V-shaped patterns and deep grooves running through the tread blocks.
The Difference Is in the Mix
Winter tyres must provide one thing above all else: exceptional grip in all weather conditions, including snow, rain, and cold. As a result, the rubber used in all models is the same, and one can distinguish it by a considerable proportion of natural rubber. As a result, the tyre softens and provides excellent grip even in cold weather.
The interaction of summer tyres changes considerably as the temperature increases, becoming stiffer and delivering less grip. In winter, summer tyres are significantly less flexible, resulting in poor traction and braking performance.
On the other hand, winter tyres are ideal for providing appropriate traction in the winter. Furthermore, because the softer the tyres are, the more energy and gasoline they consume, your operating costs may increase.
Plasticisers like oils and resins and fillers like silica play an important role in addition to natural rubber, and they account for around 40% of the rubber’s composition. The interplay of various components determines the durability of a tyre and, as a result, whether it is a winter or summer tyre.
