We’ve had our first blast of winter snow and borne the travel disruption, school closures and slipping to the supermarket with steely determination and the forbearance of around the coal fire huddling ancestors.
Stay safe
Safety awareness is heightened in bad weather, we are careful of how fast and where we go. The risk of an accident from ice patches, black ice, fresh and slushy snow is undeniable. Snow is always beautiful on Christmas cards but in and around busy Berkshire, less so.
If recent journeys have been a little hair-raising, ask yourself whether your vehicle is optimally ready for whatever the winter skies cast down. If you’re using normal tyres have you considered a change to winter tyres?
A simple, effective tyre change
We believe that the small effort of paying a visit to our tyre fitting centre and the fee for winter tyres are well worth it, they’ll pay for themselves in peace of mind. It is not a legal requirement to fit winter tyres in the UK, but it is a sensible course of action.
Winter tyres for remote areas in which roads aren’t treated makes good old-fashioned sense and in urban areas your driving distances and frequencies, experience of driving in snow, stress levels in bad weather and the risk of snow, ice and tricky journeys across the winter months are deciding factors.
Winter tyres differ from standard tyres considerably and this benefits drivers, passengers, other road users and pedestrians. They have a deeper tread and feature slits called sipes which enhance the grip, handling and braking abilities. Pressure is correct for driving effectively, tyres are durable and competitively priced. The RAC states that at 20 miles per hour, winter tyres stop 11 metres before standard tyres on icy roads.
Take proven tyre specialist’s advice
Please source winter tyres from a trusted tyre fitting centre; tyres designed for use in snow and low temperatures have a greater rubber and silica content which means that they don’t become rigid or brittle. They will have a logo on them, either a snowflake or a snow topped mountain.
The AA advises that drivers should change all 4 tyres. If you’re tempted to change only 2 to cut costs this normally results in vehicle stability issues. All season tyres are perceived as a compromise because although they have been manufactured with a higher rubber content, the tread is not as safety enhancing as the winter tyres.
Please don’t try to add a new risk to your safety with half measures.
Have a chat with our tyre fitting centre experts
The team at Thatcham Tyres and Exhausts is friendly and we pride ourselves on our exceptional customer service and tyre knowledge. Please call in or contact us with any questions about winter tyres, all season tyres and how you can remain safe on the road, whatever the weather. We’ll answer with your best interests in mind, we want you to have a positive experience with us and as you negotiate the highways.
Mick Jones and the team look forward to helping you.