Our guide to winter tyres

There are many common misconceptions surrounding winter tyres, but the reality is they're not only usable in plenty of everyday situations; they also have the potential to save lives when conditions take a turn for the worse.

Many people think a winter tyre is just for snow. Although they perform very well on the white stuff, they are also perfectly fine to use during normal driving and work best when the temperature drops below 7 degree centigrade.

Why do I need winter tyres?

In many countries in the EU nowadays it's illegal to drive without snow tyres in the winter. For instance, German legislation states that a car must be able to make ‘normal progress' in extreme conditions but if it cannot then the driver is liable to get an on-the-spot fine.

If the driver obstructs other road users it's possible that the fine could even be doubled. For this reason, don't be surprised to visit Germany in winter and see everyone driving on steel wheels. This isn't a style thing; Germans often have a spare set of wheels fitted with winter tyres.

However, in the UK last winter it became obvious that many people were ill prepared for cold and snowy conditions. Roads quickly clogged once the snow started falling and some people spent over 12 hours stranded in their cars. Would the situation have been different if drivers had properly prepared for winter driving?

How do winter tyres work?

Regular tyres simply stop working effectively when it snows. If you've ever been caught out in the winter without them you'll almost certainly have found yourself stuck and your wheels spinning.

So, why are winter tyres so effective?

The performance of a tyre relies on heat. A winter tyre generally has higher silica content in the rubber, meaning it can operate at lower temperatures. For this reason, it's wise to fit winter tyres as soon as the temperature outside gets into single digits.

They also have more ‘sipes' - or tiny grooves in the tread of the tyre - which mean the tread can move around and generate more heat which then improves grip.

Larger gaps in the tread are there to pick up snow. This may seem odd, but snow grips onto snow a lot better than rubber does. For this reason the tyre uses the snow to its advantage, and when back on the tarmac again the heat generated by the grooves on the tarmac will soon get rid of any un-wanted snow left on the tyre.

Are there any drawbacks?

Yes; typically, winter tyres do not work at high speeds. This is because of the heat they are designed to generate at lower speeds.

What are the alternatives?

Snow chains are chain-link devices that fit over your existing tyres. They dig into the snow and act as extra tread. Although in theory they are very simple to fit, it's definitely sensible to practice at least once before the weather turns nasty. Drawbacks include a very noisy and bumpy ride - especially if you hit tarmac again - and quicker tyre degradation.

A Snow sock is a fabric device that you stretch over your wheel. It's a 'get you home' solution, but works very well as a temporary method of navigating over snow. The main drawback is that it shouldn't be used on tarmac, so once you find a decent gritted road you'll have to stop and take your socks off.

All-weather tyres are generally what is found on cars in the UK. They're a compromise between summer and winter tyres, and as a result they don't grip as well in the dry or handle slippery conditions quite as well.

Parker's top tip 

If you're worried about buying a set of winter tyres when your summer tyres are still in perfect condition, don't fret. Many tyre-fitting companies will put your summer ones in a 'tyre hotel' for a small cost (Kwik Fit charge £40) through the winter and then re-fit them in the spring when the weather improves again.