Do you know if you're currently using summer or winter tyres?
If so, do you know the exact time when you should change them over?
And even if you know the answer to those questions, you probably don't know the exact difference between summer and winter tyres and the science behind it (except for the fact that one's for summer, the other's for winter . . .).
And did you also know that there is a middle of the road type of tyre which can be used in all seasons, acting as a compromise between winter and summer tyres? (Though we'll go into why it's probably not such a good alternative).
In this guide, we good folks at LeaseLoco are here to keep you right and advise you on what's best. But in the end, it's you're call and it's you who's in the driving seat!
Which Tyre Should I Use and When?
The laws around summer and winter tyres are fairly lax and you're actually not legally required to have winter tyres fitted in wintry conditions (though some countries like Germany do make it a legal requirement), but it's still the best course of action to fit right ones.
There is sometimes a misperception that winter tyres are only really intended for inhospitable, deep snow conditions straight out of some disaster film. In actual fact, their use is far more general.
7 is the magic number here.
- Winter tyres should be used in temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius (so from roughly November to March)
- Summer tyres should be used in temperatures above 7 degrees Celsius (so from roughly March to November)
We're not expecting you to go outside checking with a thermometer, but if you stick roughly to those months and ranges, you can't go far wrong!
If you're lucky (or unlucky!) enough to live in a country where it's either really hot or really cold all year round, then you don't have to worry about switching your tyre type and can just keep on using the same one. But chances are you're one of the countless souls to whom that doesn't apply.
The Science Behind It
Feel free to skip over this if it bores you!
Summer tyres perform well on dry and wet roads due to the soft rubber which allows for performance handling and great grip, traction and acceleration. The tread is designed to provide the least amount of rolling resistance, helping the vehicle to accelerate and helping with noise and performance.
Unlike summer tyres, winter tyres tend to be on the chunky side. Winter tyres perform well in freezing temperatures and snowy and icy conditions due to the rubber compound which ensures that the tread stays soft. In similar conditions, a summer tyre would tend to harden, which isn't good! Also, the deep tread pattern and the small sipes means that a winter tyre has great grip and traction in snow, with the power to flush out excess slush on those days when the ice thaws. All of this means that the tyre maintains contact with the road surface to be able to offer optimum levels of grip and braking.
Can You Still Use Winter Tyres in Summer?
There's no law to say that you can't. However, we wouldn't advise it. You're basically asking for trouble.
To put it simply, winter tyres are designed specifically for . . . winter, so using them in scorching sunshine at the height of summer probably isn't the best idea you could ever have. Your tyres will wear and soften much quicker and you'll severely hamper your vehicle's performance. Not only that, but you'll also end up paying more for fuel, which can never be a good thing!
Can You Still Use Summer Tyres in Winter?
Same as before, it's not illegal to do so and you'd be well within your rights, but we'd strongly advise against it. Even more so seeing as winter tends to throw up a lot more dangerous and unpleasant weather than summer (think thunderstorms, torrential rain and flying cows). In short, using winter tyres in summer is a lot less risky than using summer tyres in winter.
Due to their harder compound, summer tyres are liable to cracking and seizing up when used in wintery conditions. That's bad because cracked tyres can cause your car to fail its MOT! You also risk skidding when using summer tyres during the winter (particularly in snowy and/or icy conditions) because they lack the same traction as winter tyres.
Play It Safe
Unlike with the above, you can never go wrong with fitting the right type of tyres for the appropriate season and conditions.
Not only are you playing it safe, you're also giving yourself the best possible chance of a better driving experience out on the roads by optimising your tyres and your vehicle for maximum performance. That's going to benefit you in terms of fuel consumption and in terms of avoiding unnecessary mechanical and repair issues.
What about All-season Tyres?
As the name suggests, all-season tyres aim to strike a balance between winter and summer tyres, acting like something of a jack of all trades and meaning that you won't have to change tyres throughout the year.
But as we all know, a jack of all trades is also a master of none . . .
All-season tyres might sound like the be-all and end-all solution, and they can be ideal if you just don't want the hassle of having to change your tyres every now and again. However, if you want to get the best possible driving experience for each season, you're still better off using the tyres designed specifically for that season.
Bottom line is: all-season tyres will give you a half-decent all-round performance throughout the year (particularly in fairly balanced, moderate climates like the UK), but they're just not well-suited to those times when extreme weather conditions (either good or bad) hit the fan.
In wintery conditions and cold temperatures, the stopping and cornering is never going to be as good as with winter tyres; and in summery conditions, the handling and grip are never going to be as good as with summer tyres.
Ultimately, it all boils down to the question of whether you're willing to spend time, money and effort on tyre changes and storage. Do you go for an average-performance all year round and be at greater risk of a crash, or do you go for a very good performance all year round and play it safe?
At the end of the day, it's up to you, but we know what we'd rather do!
Leasing With LeaseLoco
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- Plus, all of our available deals include . . .
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If you’ve read the benefits of car leasing here in this guide and think that leasing a car is the best option for you then check out the hottest lease deals available to find one that suits you best.