Why are winter tyres recommended?

As summer ends, the weather changes and you need to think about how road conditions are going to change. Autumn always brings rain and a drop in temperatures, which will be much more pronounced in winter. Our cars usually come fitted with all-year tyres. But it is a good idea to consider replacing those all-season tyres with tyres specific to winter.

Winter tyres have a series of features that have increased their popularity in places where this season is more problematic, but also in cars that drive in other places where winter is not so harsh. Winter tyres allow you to drive with greater comfort, and not only in the season they were made for.

Features of winter tyres

Winter tyres are designed to clear water, snow and ice more efficiently than any other type of tyre. This matters, because rain and snow are common in this season, and with this type of tyre you can drive with greater safety. In some cases it even makes the use of snow chains unnecessary, so the safety advantages are undeniable.

Moreover, since they drain water more easily, these are tyres that also work very well in summer. Summer storms are also present and can pose a problem for the driver. Thanks to better grip, they work just as well in winter as in summer.

The higher summer temperatures have affected winter tyres, but manufacturers have worked to make the material they are made from more resistant so that it does not suffer at higher temperatures. That said, the ideal temperature for them to deliver their best performance is when the temperature drops below 7ºC. If you do not drive faster than 130 km/h, they can be perfectly valid in summer without losing their characteristics.

In short: using winter tyres can be a good idea to improve safety during the winter months, sparing you the hassle of fitting snow chains. In other times of the year, such as summer, they are also perfectly valid, although it is advisable to use the most suitable ones for each season.