Grit-free roads mean cold weather tyres needed more than ever

With recent media reports that councils across England are slashing their spending on winter road services like gritting, there has never been a better time for motorists to fit cold weather tyres to help keep mobile throughout the winter.
 
Reports state that many councils are cutting their budgets for services such as salting, gritting and snowploughing, with some reducing their spending by as much as 30 per cent compared to last year.
 
In light of this, and the overall safety benefits of fitting cold weather tyres, Michelin is urging drivers to seriously consider whether they can afford to be stranded in their cars due to bad road conditions at any time during the winter months.
 
Apart from the obvious benefits of being able to get to your destination, cold weather tyres offer performance advantages over their summer counterparts when the weather turns bad and the temperature gauge drops below seven degrees centigrade. The special rubber compounds used in these tyres mean that the tread stays soft and flexible when summer tyres’ rubber starts to harden and reduce grip. As a result they help to reduce braking distances, and improve handling and traction on dry, wet, snowy and icy roads.
 
Commenting on the news, Jianni Geras, Michelin’s head of car marketing said: ‘Bearing in mind how many cars are on the roads, especially over the Christmas holiday period, we hope drivers get the message about the improvements in safety that are available by fitting cold weather tyres.
 
‘With people visiting relatives and heading off on winter breaks and ski holidays it makes sense to do everything in your power to ensure you get to your destination safely and not to take any chances with missing flights or ferries.’
 
Michelin’s range of Alpin cold weather tyres, including the German ADAC 2011 test-winning Alpin A4, is available to suit the majority of vehicles on the road including cars, vans and 4x4s.