Government issues incorrect winter tyre advice

Sunday, 12 December 2010 04:56 |

Written by Russell Brown

Independent not-for-profit organisation TyreSafe has condemned Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond following a statement in the House of Commons.

Despite many independent tests proving that winter tyres are the safest option for drivers across the entire winter period, Hammond incorrectly claimed they were not appropriate for use in the UK.

“Mr Hammond’s comments show a complete lack of understanding about modern winter tyres which are the ideal solution to the type of weather we are currently experiencing,” explains TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson. “Studless winter tyres are designed to provide much better grip over the entire winter period, not just for when people are driving for long periods on compacted snow as he implied. They do not damage road surfaces in any way and are wholly appropriate for the UK.”

When temperatures fall below 7°C ‘standard’ tyres begin to harden and lose their ability to grip the road surface properly. Winter tyres, however, contain more natural rubber and advanced silica compounds to reduce the hardening process and improve grip. Tests conducted by the British Tyre Manufacturers Association found that a car braking at 60mph on a wet road at 5°C stopped five metres shorter, when fitted with winter tyres.

On ice- and snow-covered roads the difference was even more noticeable. The car equipped with winter tyres stopped 11 metres sooner on ice and eight metres shorter on snow, from just 20mph.

VansA2Z can vouch for the validity of these results having had the opportunity to test winter tyres fitted to a Mercedes Vito on snow-covered roads in Germany. The amount of grip they provide without the help of studs is quite remarkable.

Reportedly, some insurance companies have used the fitting of winter tyres as an excuse to raise premiums. How they can justify this is incomprehensible; winter tyres are safer than normal tyres in low temperature conditions so premiums should be lowered, not raised. Don’t fall for this scam.

For more detailed information on winter tyres visit the TyreSafe web site.