Next month is tire safety month in the U.K., and this year TyreSafe plans to focus on winter safety.
This theme is being supported by a new online video released by the tire safety organization. The short film, titled "Stay Safe This Winter," was shot on an ice rink and highlights the enormous difference in performance between winter weather and standard summer tires. Through this film, TyreSafe is keen to stress that winter tires, as opposed to just being snow and ice tires, really come into their own when the air temperature drops below 7C – a temperature usually experienced throughout the U.K. between October and March.
In the film, two driving maneuvers are performed with a pair of almost identical cars, the only difference being the fitment of summer or winter tires. When carrying out an emergency stop at a speed of just 15 mph, the car with summer tires took four meters longer to stop – almost a full car length. Meanwhile, in a cornering test, the car with standard summer tires suffered massive under steer and ploughed through a set of cones, which simulated the edge of the road. However, the car equipped with winter weather tires stayed in complete control thanks to much higher levels of grip.
"Our film was shot on an ice rink to drive home the difference between summer and winter tires in extreme conditions, but in reality, any cold, damp road surface will make a real difference to how a tire performs. Whenever the temperature drops below 7C the tread compound in normal summer tires begins to harden, providing less grip and reducing safety," explained TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson.
TyreSafe expects winter tires to be extremely popular with safety conscious drivers this year following two successive years of extreme wintry conditions. "For any drivers concerned about their safety on the road during the winter, our advice is simple: winter weather tires are the safest option. Take a look at our demonstration movie and then you can make an informed choice about whether to fit them or not, but I’m sure many will agree that the results are scary and very convincing," Jackson concluded.
The film can be viewed on the tyresafe.org website along with additional information about winter tires. (Tyres & Accessories)
