[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/are-winter-tyres-pointless\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/are-winter-tyres-pointless\/","headline":"Are Winter Tyres Pointless?","name":"Are Winter Tyres Pointless?","description":"How much are they? What do they do? And are they worth it? It\u2019s certainly no secret that Britain gets a great variety of weather. In the short-lived summer, it can be scorching hot with highs of over 33\u2103 and in the winter, which seems to account for half of the year, can see constant rain, a bit of snow and ice and temperatures below freezing. With the UK often being a very wet and somewhat cold place to be, […]","datePublished":"2020-10-16","dateModified":"2020-10-23","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Are-Winter-Tyres-Pointless-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Are-Winter-Tyres-Pointless-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/are-winter-tyres-pointless\/","about":["BLOG","Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":697,"keywords":["Tyres","winter driving","winter tyres"],"articleBody":"How much are they? What do they do? And are they worth it?It\u2019s certainly no secret that Britain gets a great variety of weather. In the short-lived summer, it can be scorching hot with highs of over 33\u2103 and in the winter, which seems to account for half of the year, can see constant rain, a bit of snow and ice and temperatures below freezing.With the UK often being a very wet and somewhat cold place to be, it\u2019s no wonder that winter tyres are quite popular among motorists, but while they\u2019re certainly not as useless as summer tyres (for our 10 days of summer weather per year) the question remains, are winter tyres really worth it?Winter tyres differ from all-season tyres thanks to their compound and tread. Where non-winter tyres may stiffen up as temperatures drop, making them less flexible and grippy, the rubber in winter tyres contains more silica meaning they do not harden as much. Also, the special tread pattern allows for superior grip in wet, icy and snowy road conditions.That being said, the reverse of these benefits also apply, making winter tyres inferior in dry and warm conditions. They won\u2019t grip well resulting in longer stopping distances and may wear faster as well.The UK doesn\u2019t get snow oftenOne could easily argue that snow is a rarity in the UK. If you\u2019re anywhere near the coast or in the south then snow probably comes one in every four winters. If you live up north, however, snow can be a more commonplace but still nowhere near as frequent as other European countries.Although winter tyres are usually closely associated with snow and ice, their uses extend beyond that. These special tyres excel in temperatures under 7\u2103 and whether it\u2019s dry, wet or icy, winter tyres will likely outperform all-season tyres when it comes to stopping distance, making driving that little bit safer.Damage your alloy every year with putting them onIf you\u2019ve got a nice set of alloys on your car that aren\u2019t kerbed and rather pristine, you may not want to be swapping tyres every year. The process of swapping tyres on a wheel is not a gentle one and can often leave marks on the rims of your wheels, especially noticeable if they\u2019re black wheels.Unless you have a very considerate and professional tyre fitter or your alloys are already a bit scuffed, we can\u2019t say it\u2019s a great idea to be swapping tyres about willy nilly. If you do, expect some little marks on your wheelsThey\u2019re expensiveOwning a car certainly isn\u2019t cheap so why would you want to have another expense to pay for on top of the servicing, insurance, fuel and repair\/maintenance costs? Ranging anywhere between \u00a360 and \u00a3170 per tyre, depending on your wheel size, the costs can quickly rack up.Add the cost to fit them on top and let\u2019s not forget you\u2019ll need to pay again when you take them off and also you have to worry about where to store them!Just drive slowerUnless you live in Scotland or any other part of the country that gets particularly harsh winters, perhaps you could skip the winter tyres and instead, just drive more cautiously.It\u2019s too often that we all see people driving far to fast in heavy rain or even in snow or icy conditions. If we all just slowed down and drove with greater concentration during the winter, the risk of an accident would fall. That being said, there are certainAll in all, it would seem that winter tyres aren\u2019t really worth it for most people. If you often find yourself skidding in the winter or live in an area that is colder than the rest, it may be a good idea to invest in a set of winter tyres but just be prepared deal with the hassle of it!Let us know if you think winter tyres are worth it, in the comments!If you enjoyed this, you may also like: 10 of The Most Economical Cars of The Last 5 Years"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Are Winter Tyres Pointless?","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/are-winter-tyres-pointless\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]