Now is the time to get tyres sorted for winter

THE ALMOST unprecedented wintry conditions we have experienced for the past two winters have shown us how unprepared we are on this island for winter driving. Both times there were some chaotic scenes, as motorists tried and failed to cope with the treacherous ice and snow. This was partially due to poor supplies of salt and grit and a lack of awareness on the part of drivers about how to drive safely in these conditions. But another major factor was our choice of tyres.

In Germany, for example, where ice and snow are normal in winter, drivers habitually change from their standard “summer” tyres to winter tyres. It would be natural to assume that these tyres are only really of any use in ice and snow, but there is more to them than that. German tyre firm Continental asserts they should perhaps be called “cold weather tyres” because that would give a more accurate picture of how they work.

Often the most hazardous conditions on the road occur when the ambient temperature drops below seven degrees, which in Ireland is most likely between October and April. These temperatures are also likely during the morning and evening rush hours, when the roads are at their busiest. The crucial difference between summer tyres, which are the standard tyres that most of us have and that will come on your car when you buy it, and winter tyres, is that below seven degrees the rubber compound will start to harden and the grip levels become reduced. Winter tyres operate more efficiently at low temperatures and retain their flexibility. Motorists are encouraged to change these back to summer tyres once the air temperature returns to above seven degrees.

Research carried out by Continental Tyres illustrates how effective winter tyres can be. In one experiment, the car was found to stop 23 per cent quicker on snow (from 50km/h) and 19 per cent quicker on ice (from 30km/h). So what are the options for Irish motorists?

“We were all caught unawares by the weather conditions last year and we didn’t have availability of a lot of all-weather or winter tyres, but this year we have options for motorists,” says Colm Conyngham from Bridgestone tyres. “All-weather tyres are one option and these offer good performance in both summer and winter conditions. You will pay about a ten-to-15 per cent premium for these over standard summer tyres.

“However if you live in very high or hilly conditions, such as in Wicklow, then you should perhaps consider winter tyres, but these do need to be changed back when conditions improve.”

Popular winter tyre choices include the Bridgestone LM20 and LM25 and the Firestone Winterhawk. Continental also offer tyres such as the Continental WinterContact. Other top choices include the Michelin Alpin and Dunlop SP Winter Sport tyres. Prices and availability will vary depending on where you look.

Given the difficulty in storing vast quantities of tyres, many retailers and distributors don’t stockpile winter tyres and instead order them as needed. This means if you intend getting these tyres, now is the time to start shopping for them. Expect to pay from about €100-€130 per tyre for a premium winter tyre, and with larger wheels this will increase to around €200 per tyre. It is not recommended to only fit two winter tyres to the car’s driven wheels. According to Galway-based tyreaware.ie, “especially in emergency situations, you’ll find that your vehicle will probably understeer in one condition and oversteer in another. It is preferable to keep your vehicles handling as consistently as possible by ‘matching’ all four tyres”.

Meanwhile one company whose customers were particularly affected by the poor weather conditions was BMW. While their rear-drive layout makes their cars entertaining to drive, it can make driving in snow and ice particularly difficult because there is no weight over the driven wheels.

BMW is again rolling out its winter tyre programme for customers. The package, which starts from €945, also includes either steel or alloy winter wheels that are available in a number of styles and sizes. BMW will also store and insure your summer wheels for you, ready to be fitted back on to your car come spring time.