ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> <html> <head> <!--Title--> <title>Winter Tyres - FAQ about Winter Tyres</title> <!-- meta tags --> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <meta name="robots" content="all" /> <meta name="country" content="UK" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-gb" /> <meta name="language" content="English" /> <meta name="revisit-after" content="7 days"/> <!-- CSS --> <link href="_common/css/site.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" /> <script src="http://www.google.com/jsapi" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript">google.load("jquery", "1.2.6");</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="_common/js/scroll.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="index-wrapper"><a title="top" name="top"></a> <div id="navbox_general"> <div id="header"> <p><strong>Winter Tyres - Powered by Tyre Express</strong></p> </div> </div> <div id="menu_hi"> <ul> <li><a accesskey="0" href="/index.aspx" title="Homepage">Homepage</a></li> <li><a accesskey="1" href="/winter-driving-tips.html" title="Winter Driving Tips">Winter Driving Tips</a></li> <li><a accesskey="2" href="/winter-driving.html" title="Winter Driving">Winter Driving</a></li> <li><a accesskey="3" href="/europe-requirements.html" title="European Requirements">European Requirements</a></li> <li><a accesskey="4" href="/faq.html" title="Frequently Asked Questions">FAQs</a></li> <li><a accesskey="5" href="http://www.tyrexpress.com/contact.aspx" title="Contact Winter Tyres">Contact</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="maincontent"> <span id="tr"></span> <div id="leftcontent"> <h1>FAQs</h1> <h3>Do I really need snow tyres?</h3> <p>We all know that tyres are a compromise. One tyre can t be the fastest on the track, most controllable in the snow, and longest wearing. The Ultra High Performance tyre that grips the track at high tread temperatures is incompetent as its tread compound becomes like  hard plastic at below 7°. Today s tyre tread designs and compounds maximize long, even wear& not winter traction. And while many of today s Original Equipment tyres address some of these issues, they still emphasize longer wear, a quieter ride or greater performance& not winter traction. Only snow tyres are designed to excel in the colder temperatures, slush, snow and ice that alpine areas experience for three or more months a year.</p> <h3>What If My Car Has Traction Control?</h3> <p>While traction control will help keep you from overpowering your tyres, it doesn t actually improve your tyre s traction; it simply limits your car s acceleration to the traction level of your tyres. The only way to maximize your vehicle s winter performance is to provide your traction control with more grip to work with by using tyres specifically designed for your driving conditions.</p> <h3>What If My Car Has ABS Brakes?</h3> <p>While ABS brakes will help keep you from locking up your tyres, it doesn t actually improve your tyre s traction; it simply limits your cars braking to the traction level of your tyres. The only way to maximize your vehicle s winter performance is to provide your ABS brakes with more grip to work with by using tyres specifically designed for your driving conditions.</p> <h3>What If My Car Has All-Wheel Drive?</h3> <p>All-wheel drive is certainly an advantage& but its advantage can be multiplied by using winter tyres designed for the road conditions you ll encounter. While more tyres share the torque of your vehicle, think of the ice and snow performance that snow tyres provide. All of the reasons that encouraged you to select an all-wheel drive are the same reasons that dedicated snow tyres will make your winter driving more enjoyable and enhance your car s braking, handling and cornering traits.</p> <p>However, it is important to remember that while the all-wheel drive vehicle s ability to accelerate in slippery conditions provides a lot of confidence, it doesn t really offer any unique advantage when the vehicle has to stop or turn. This is because the other vehicles also use all four tyres to provide braking and cornering traction. Since all-wheel drive vehicles actually weigh more than their two-wheel drive counterparts, bringing them to a stop or turning a corner actually requires more traction.</p> <p>So, whether your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, traction control, a vehicle stability system or all-wheel drive, it is your tyres that provide the real traction.</p> <p>Obviously, the more tyre traction these systems have to work with the better. Since most all-wheel drive vehicles are originally equipped with all-season or ultra high performance tyres, optimising these systems capabilities on snow and ice requires installing snow tyres.</p> <h2>Snow tyres - questions and answers </h2> <h3>What are snow tyres?</h3> <p>Snow tyres are made with a softer rubber compound and deeper treads, specifically designed to maintain grip in cold weather (below 7C), ice and snow. Their deep square-patterned tread blocks can distinguish them from normal summer tyres.</p> <h3>Snow tyre tread blocks </h3> <p>Newer snow tyres are also marked with a  mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall (see image below).</p> <p><em>'Mountain snowflake' symbol </em></p> <h3>Are snow tyres dangerous?</h3> <p>When used for their intended purpose snow tyres provide much better grip than traditional summer tyres in cold weather, ice and snow. </p> <p>Snow tyres will provide less grip in non-winter conditions than summer tyres. If snow tyres and summer tyres are mixed on the same vehicle, the different degrees of grip can make the vehicle unbalanced and difficult to control in an emergency or during hard braking. </p> <p>The mixing of snow tyres and summer tyres on the same vehicle is not recommended under any circumstances.</p> <h3>What about  M+S tyres?</h3> <p>Specialised snow tyres should not be confused with the broader category of all-season  mud and snow tyres (often marked with the letters  M+S on the sidewall) which are designed to perform safely in a wide range of summer and winter conditions, and are commonly fitted to 4WD vehicles. While the  M+S category includes specialised snow tyres, many tyres marked  M+S are all season tyres, not specialised snow tyres. Their deep square-patterned tread blocks can distinguish Snow tyres, and newer snow tyres are also marked with the  mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall.</p> <h3>Do people need snow tyres in the UK?</h3> <p>Most UK motorists don t need specialised snow tyres on their vehicles. For a very small number of drivers  those regularly driving in ice, snow and cold temperatures  snow tyres may be appropriate. In these cases the snow tyres should be fitted in sets of four, and changed at the end of winter. </p> <h3>Is it advisable to mix snow or winter tyres?</h3> <p>While most tyre manufacturers and safety agencies around the world strongly recommend against the mixing of summer tyres and snow tyres on the same vehicle, we are not aware of any legislation or regulations in place to prevent this practice.</p> <h3>What is your advice to drivers about the use of snow tyres in UK?</h3> <p>Specialised snow tyres should only be used where and when they are needed  in alpine areas during winter. Few people in the UK will need specialist snow tyres. If you re not regularly driving in winter conditions (on snow and ice, in temperatures below 7C), you don t need snow tyres.</p> <p>Snow tyres should always be used in sets of four, and replaced before they get old and worn. Never mix snow tyres with summer tyres, even in matched pairs on each axle. If your spare is a snow tyre, only use it at low speeds, or replace it with a summer tyre. </p> <p>If you have any doubt about the safety or suitability of the tyres on your vehicle, visit your local tyre retailer and ask for advice  many offer free safety checks. </p> </div> <div id="rightcontent"> <div id="help"> <h2>I don't know my tyre size</h2> <p>Call our Team: <strong>0800 876 63 65</strong></p> <p>Request <strong>Call Back</strong></p> <p>Send us an <strong>Email</strong></p> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <div class = "footer_gen_links-left"> <a href="http://www.nwonline.co.uk" target="_blank">Site Design </a></div> <div class = "footer_gen_links-right"> Copyright &copy; 2009 - Winter Tyres - All Rights Reserved</div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>