Winter tyres explained: Should I buy them for my car?

Road conditions can be a nightmare when the temperatures drop. Snow, black ice, rain, an increase in the hours of darkness, and even wet leaves can all make driving in the winter that bit more difficult. So, will fitting your car with a set of winter tyres mitigate some of the extra hazards? Let's discuss...

Winter tyres are specifically designed to perform better in poor weather conditions, helping you to drive more safely by increasing cornering traction and shortening braking distances.
Winter tyres are made using a greater proportion of natural rubber than standard tyres, which helps them remain soft, flexible and more grippy in very low temperatures. They also have different tread patterns, with more small cuts in the rubber (called sipes) that generate more grip on wet or snow-covered roads and help prevent aquaplaning. As with "normal" tyres, there's a wide range of prices and options for different types of cars. You can spot a winter tyre because it’ll have a snowflake symbol on the side of it. The differences in performance could be lifesaving. According to tyre manufacturer Michelin, the stopping distance from 31mph on snow is 63 metres in a car fitted with summer tyres, and 32 metres in an identical car fitted with winter tyres. That could make a lot of difference in an emergency. The downside is that this softer compound wears down more quickly than a harder summer tyre, meaning you get fewer miles overall from a winter tyre. Don’t confuse winter or cold-weather tyres with studded tyres, which can be found in countries that have harsher climates than ours. These have metal or plastic studs built into the rubber, and while they’re essential in the Arctic Circle, they’re not legal on the road in the UK. Learn how to keep yourself safe on the roads this winter with Autotrader’s guide to winter driving.

All-season tyres, also known as all-rounder or mud and snow tyres, have been specially developed for European regions with temperate climates such as the UK.
Combining the rigidity of a summer tyre with the flexibility of a winter tyre, all-season tyres are designed to adapt to all weather types whether it’s rainy, snowy or completely dry, so there’s no need to change them twice a year. Their tread pattern mixes the fine sipes found on winter tyres with the large blocks of a summer tyre, aiding grip on roads all year round. However, when it comes to performance, there’s always a trade-off when comparing all-season tyres to winter and summer tyres in regard to tyre handling, braking and traction in differing conditions. This means that all-rounder won’t perform as well as the best specialist tyre in their respective season, but will work better on wintry roads than a summer tyre, and better on a summer road than a winter tyre. The main benefit of using all-season tyres is that you’ll skip the hassle and cost of swapping tyres twice a year, but be aware that all-season tyres wear out faster than a summer or winter tyre, so you’ll need to replace them more often if you choose not to switch throughout the year.

The first thing to bear in mind is that you don’t need to wait for snow and ice. Temperature is the critical factor in deciding when to change your regular tyres and buy winter tyres, because they work when it’s below 7°C. That’s the crossover point, when summer or all-season tyres, which are fitted to most British cars as standard, become less effective.
Some people choose to have a separate set of wheels for their summer and winter tyres. This might seem a bit excessive - and it is more expensive initially to buy a new set of wheels for your car - but it can make the whole process easier. If you're able to store a set of wheels with winter tyres on them, changing them over yourself is a very quick and easy job. And it saves you the cost, time and hassle of having someone else do it for you.

If you’re taking your car into Europe over the winter, make sure you check the regulations in areas where you’ll be driving. European regulations on winter tyres state that “tyres must be marked M+S (Mud and Snow) if they are snow tyres”, and the rules surrounding the usage of certified winter tyres differ from country to country.
Several countries legally require cars to have winter tyres during the coldest months, particularly mountainous areas like Germany and Austria, and northern countries like Finland and Sweden. Other countries, like France and Italy, strongly recommend fitting winter tyres when necessary, although it’s not a legal requirement.

The good news is winter tyres do what they say on the tin.
A few years ago, we fitted winter tyres to a Volkswagen Golf and our Senior Road Tester was very impressed: “Since fitting the tyres, my confidence in the car has increased. Its grip and stopping power are now so good in the wet and cold, I can be reassured that, if the worst should happen, I could brake or swerve, while still in complete control of the car.” So, if you’re one of the many Brits that have a tough time driving in wintery conditions, winter tyres might just save the day.

The obvious problem is that winter tyres don’t come cheap but bear in mind that all the time you have them on, you’re saving the wear on your other set, so they’ll last longer.
Perhaps more of a problem is what to do with the tyres you take off. You must change all four at once and you need to keep the summer set somewhere safe for when the weather improves – but four tyres sure do take up a lot of space. In some cases, your retailer may keep one set in a ‘tyre hotel’, but you’ll most likely have to pay for the privilege. You may also have heard that winter tyres give a less comfortable ride than the summer equivalent, although that hasn’t been the case in our experience – in fact, our tester said his Golf was more comfortable on winter tyres.

We wouldn’t recommend it. The softer compound is designed to work best when it’s cold, so it’ll work less well when it’s warmer, losing grip on the road surface. They’ll also wear down more quickly than harder summer tyres, so you’ll need to get new ones more often.

Ultimately, the simple question is whether or not you need to fit winter tyres in the first place. There’s no doubt they would improve the way your car behaves in winter weather, but they are not without their inconveniences, so it probably depends on how much you’ll have to drive in the winter.
If you need to drive in parts of the country where the weather is wintry and cold for long periods, winter tyres probably are worth the hassle and expense; but, if you live somewhere where the temperature rarely drops below 7°C or you simply cut down on driving in the winter, it might make more sense to stick with summer tyres all year round. Our final word of advice is, if you do want a set for winter, it’s best to get them sooner rather than later. Stocks are limited, and they’ll soon run out once the forecasters start warning that poor weather is on the way. We’d recommend planning to run them between October and March.

Each insurer and each policy can vary on how they treat winter tyres, but it’s certainly worth checking with them beforehand, and making sure you inform them that you've changed from standard specification.

Snow socks are fabric covers that go over the tyres on your car and help add grip on snow and ice. They’re not as effective as winter tyres but are a cheaper alternative and they can help if you’re caught out by a sudden downfall of snow. They can be kept in the car and installed fairly easily when needed, much like a pair of socks (hence the name), and you can buy them online or in most car accessory shops.
Be aware though, snow socks are only for use on snow and ice. Use them on the road, and they’ll be torn to shreds very quickly. These are a short-term solution, and if you’re going to be driving for long periods in such conditions, then winter tyres are a much better option.

Although it’s mandatory to use snow chains in some parts of northern Europe where it usually gets covered in snow and ice, there’s not actually much point in using them in the UK unless you live somewhere that is blanketed in snow for long periods.
Snow chains are generally more hassle than they’re worth in the UK as you need to remove them at the first sign of exposed tarmac peeping through the snow.

No. Snow studs are illegal for use in the UK due to the damage they can cause to tarmac roads, so you should probably avoid them as a general rule of thumb.

Winter tyres can be bought at most tyre stockists across the UK and online. Some will even come out to fit them for you so keep an eye out for the best deals that suit your needs.