Unique Original Articles » What makes a good winter tyre?

Over the past couple of years the winter weather has caught many motorists unprepared and left stranded in unusual weather. Now facing another potentially long and cold winter has left many motorists wondering whether or not to invest in a set of winter tyres and more importantly which ones to bet their money on?

Whether you’re looking for a set of budget or “economical” winter tyres or spending a little more money for the best winter tyres there are a few essential features that you should know to look for when buying winter tyres.

Handling Snow

The first thing most motorists will look for is a tyre that is capable of overcoming snow. Many people will now know that their ordinary tyres are simply incapable of finding grip on even the lightest dusting of the white stuff, not to mention snow on an slight gradient.

The number one feature to look for in a winter tyre is a large number of tread blocks. The more the better when it comes to snow. More blocks means more biting edges which allows the tyre to find more traction on snow.

Another feature to look for are biting edges in the direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the tyre. Or more simply side-to-side biting edges. These usually found on performance winter tyres are suited to creating traction in the lateral direction, meaning it is more likely to keep you on the road when tackling a bend.

Handling Ice and Compacted Snow

As you are probably aware by now that snow is only a temporary problem, after awhile the snow becomes compacted or melts and becomes a hard packed block of ice. Unfortunately tread blocks alone are not sufficient to overcome this problem.

The key feature to look for in this situation is a large number of sipes. ‘Sipes’ are seen as zig-zagonal cuts into the tread block. These slits increase the number of biting edges substantially and helps the tyre find more traction on slippery surfaces such as ice and compacted snow.

When thinking of a winter tyre or if you’ve ever owned on these would be the most identifiable feature of a winter tyre thanks to its essential grip finding properties.

Slush

Another problem experience in the winter season, particularly in milder winter climates is the problem of melting ice and snow. Unfortunately this forms a thick icy fluid that has become commonly known as slush.

Being more solid than water but less solid than snow, this substance is likely to cause the car to lose traction and contact with the road. This means a complete loss of control until the tyre can find traction again with the road.

When tackling this problem the ideal tyre feature to look for is a large number of grooves to evacuate slush and water. Ideally these grooves would run directly up and down the tyre as the fastest way for slush to be evacuated is by channelling the fluid forward or rearward.
This feature is likely to vary the most on winter tyres but most manufacturers will find a suitable solution to this very real problem.

Very Low Temperatures

The last notable feature to look for on a winter tyre is a suitable tyre compound that responds well to very low temperatures. Traditional tyres have a major problem as it tends to stiffen up at low temperatures and reduces it effectiveness of generating traction on dry but very cold roads. When under heavy braking the tyre is more likely to lose traction than a specifically design compound that remains flexible at low temperatures and can find more grip than their summer tyre counterparts.

Many tyre manufacturers will have their own versions of tyre compounds that will solve this problem. Other manufacturers will have also designed compounds that are more likely to last longer and reduce rolling resistance meaning for a more economical ride.

Final Thoughts

Although these features are among the most functional features to look out for in a winter tyre their combination often means a compromise in performance. For example, although higher tread blocks, high sipe density, and more flexible compounds are important for winter traction it unfortunately has an adverse affect on performance and wear resistance.

Manufacturers will have developed their own technologies to handle this problem but not tyre can do it all. The best advice is to consider what type of driving you are most likely to do and choose the most suitable tyre accordingly.

So whether you’re a motorway warrior or a protégé of the windy road, or simply a motorist trying to get to their destination without fuss then their will be a winter tyre out there designed specifically for your needs.

For more information regarding which are the best winter tyres visit www.bestwintertyres.com.
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