Take the worry out of driving this winter with Cold Weather tyres
26th October 2011
A series of tests from the tyre manufacturer Continental have demonstrated that Cold Weather tyres provide significantly better grip for accelerating, cornering and braking than normal radials when the temperature falls below 7°C.
Specifically, the study found that:
- When travelling at just 20 mph in
icy conditions, the stopping distance can be reduced by as much as 12 yards compared to standard tyres – that’s about three car lengths! - When travelling at 50 mph in snowy conditions, the stopping distance can be reduced by 50%.
- When travelling in cold, wet winter conditions, Cold Weather tyres can reduce the stopping distance by 10%.
Also known as Winter Tyres, Cold Weather Tyres are designed for cold and wet conditions when temperatures drop below 7°C – not just for periods of snow and ice. They are produced with higher levels of natural rubber and remain supple at low temperatures, which allows the tread to form an effective contact with the road surface in cold conditions.
Plus, according to Continental, the wear rate can be up to 20% better in winter conditions than summer tyres. However when temperatures start averaging over 7°C in the morning, usually from March on, normal radials should be used because at 20-25°C, Cold Weather tyres can have a 15% higher wear rate.
There is also hardly any difference (just two decibels) in the noise levels generated by the two different tyres, thanks to the thin tread locks that modern Cold Weather tyres use to achieve the necessary grip.
According to the Federation of Small Businesses, each day of snow interruption is said to cost the British economy somewhere between £600 million and £1 billion. What would be the cost to your business if your van or van fleet was off the road for a day or two due to the weather?
Prices for a complete set of Mercedes-Benz Cold Weather tyres and steel wheels for a Vito 113 CDi start at just £700 plus fitting. Fitting a full set of four is strongly recommended, because if your vehicle has front wheel drive and the Cold Weather tyres are mounted on the front wheels only, you run the risk of spinning due to the difference in grip. Similarly if your have rear wheel drive and the tyres are only mounted on the back wheels you are in danger of sliding off the road while turning
It is also recommended to buy complete wheels instead of simply swapping the tyres, because the tyres are not designed to be fitted, removed and fitted again. Doing this repeatedly increases the risk of damaging the tyre. But with pre-assembled rim and tyre combinations, changing between the summer and winter tyre sets is simple and fast. It is also less expensive to fit complete wheels than just the tyres.