5 Tips for Winter Tyre Maintenance

Winter driving conditions can be extremely dangerous, so it’s important to make sure your car is prepared. This blog from Acorn Tyres outlines five tips for winter tyre maintenance, so you can stay safe all year round.



Choose the correct tyres

Tyres are vital for basic car functions like braking, turning, and accelerating. In spite of this, most motorists don’t have the most suitable ones. The type of tyre you have is one of the most important factors of all.

The three main tyre types are designed to perform well in different conditions:

●     Summer tyres, which most UK drivers use year round. They perform well in wet and dry weather, but not cold weather.

●     Winter tyres, which are an extreme weather tyre designed for icy and snowy conditions. They’re not suitable for summer driving.

●     All-season tyres, which perform well in both summer and winter conditions. These are recommended for UK drivers, as our winters are usually too mild for winter tyres.

Change all tyres at once

Car maintenance can get pricey, so the temptation to avoid forking out for all four at once is understandable. That being said, if you own a four-wheel drive vehicle, you should change them all at once, as only changing two can create issues with the drive system and cause excessive wear.

For front-wheel or rear-wheel drive vehicles, tyres can be changed in axle pairs. However, it’s recommended that you change all four tyres at once for best tyre performance and similar rates of abrasion.

Check tyre pressure regularly

Cold temperatures really impact tyre pressure - your tyres could deflate significantly over the course of the winter. Tyres with low pressure are more likely to suddenly deflate, so keep an eye on your tyre pressure with monthly checks.

Cars made after 2014 will notify you when the tyre pressure is too low. However, it’s best to still manually check your tyres if you want to avoid an inconvenient deflation situation.

Wash your tyres

We know this seems like a futile endeavour, especially in winter, but cleaning your tyres is important - and not just for aesthetic reasons. It’s a crucial part of car maintenance, as it gets rid of dirt, salts, and other things that can cause damage to your car. Lots of dirt can also mask bigger issues, which will only be more inconvenient in the long run and may even put your safety at risk.

Check tyre tread depth

Your tyres need to have strong grip all year round, but especially when it’s cold, wet, and icy outside. Legally, your tread depth must be at least 1.6mm. In winter, we recommend changing your tyres before they reach this point - you’ll be glad of the extra grip, should snowy or icy weather strike.

Keep an eye on your tread with routine inspections. We also recommend examining your tyres for damage such as splits, punctures, or bulges as part of your tread depth checks.

With the wintry weather starting to set in, now’s the time to take action and prepare your car for winter.

Acorn Tyres offers professional tyre replacement and car servicing in Aylesbury and beyond - we’re here to make your journeys as smooth and as safe as possible. For more information about winter car and tyre maintenance, or to find out how we can help you, contact us today.