Goodyear Dunlop saw demand for its winter tyres from Police forces across the UK increase by nearly 30% from 2012 to 2013.
The increase indicates a rising appetite for more reliable and predictable performance during winter months according to Kiran Panchal, Goodyear Dunlop fleet key account manager.
“The common misperception about winter tyres is that they only really deliver in the snow – but in fact winter tyres can improve performance in more common cold weather conditions, such as in the wet and icy temperatures.
“It’s also easy to forget that during 2013 the UK experienced 124 days of ground frost* – there may have been little or no snow, but braking and cornering are heavily impacted when the ground temperature is near or below 0 degrees Celsius.”
Winter tyres are manufactured using a softer compound and feature a different tread pattern to provide extra grip in cold and icy conditions.
As temperatures drop a summer tyre compound will begin to harden, making it less grippy than a winter tyre in cold and icy temperatures.
Panchal continues: “Clearly those fleets with vehicles required to be on the road all year round don’t want to see any change in performance between the summer and winter months. We know that the most effective way to ensure more predictable and safer performance during cold weather conditions is to fit winter tyres.”
dieseltaylor - 19/06/2014 10:14
I fully endorse the increase in winter tyre use. From my personal knowledge if coroners reports changed the stock question: "Where the tyres legal?" to "Where the tyres legal AND were they appropriate for the road conditions?" there would be more light shed on accidents in the colder months. The concept of summer tyres being the most appropriate tyre for our climate is moot and I suggest all-season tyres would be a more logical base tyre. Summer tyres are the cheapest tyre to make which may explain why they are fitted at sale,