Winter tyres have a different construction to summer tyres, boast a different style of tread pattern and tyre tread depth, and have added surface features that enable them to dispel water and ice and ensure excellent grip. Not only can winter tyres reduce the risk of aquaplaning - a feature also present with summer tyres - but they also help reduce braking distances on wet and icy roads, and can handle the pressure of low temperatures on the tyre structure.
Winter tyres are not a legal necessity in the UK, but they do support safe driving in cold weather. They are recommended for fitment when the temperature drops below 7°c, and should be stored somewhere safe and dry where they are free from damage during the warm summer months.
The very best winter tyres are manufactured by premium brands, that balance the need for safety in challenging conditions with high-performance design, added comfort for the driver and passengers, and durable features to maximise the longevity of the tyres.
Top brands like Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Continental are all renowned for their seasonal and all-season tyres – with popular models including the Bridgestone Blizzak tyres, Kumho WinterCraft tyres, Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ winter tyres, and Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 tyres.
With the thicker tyre tread and deeper grooves, it’s easy to get winter tyres mixed up with off-road tyres – especially given the ‘M+S’ marking which indicates suitability on both mud and snow terrain.
However, the rubber compound of winter tyres is what differentiates them from off-road tyres. If you’re looking for something suitable for off-road driving as well as winter conditions, you need to look for winter all-terrain tyres like the Falken WildPeak AT4W tyres or BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 tyres.
There is no legal reason why winter tyres cannot be used all year-round in the UK – however, this is not recommended. When driven above temperatures of 7°c, winter tyres can become worn more quickly and at an uneven rate, due to the softer rubber compound and thicker tyre tread on their outer surface.
What’s more, winter tyres support driving performance and comfort in cold conditions – but do not perform as well when the temperature increases.
Again, there are no legal specifications regarding the use of winter tyres with summer tyres or all-season tyres – but mixing tyre types can have an impact on the safety and performance of the vehicle. Summer, winter, and all-season tyres are all built differently, with different tread patterns, tread depths, and rubber compounds which respond to different road conditions in variable ways.
Switching tyres between the seasons, or relying on all-season tyres for year-round driving, ensures optimum performance and safety on the roads.
This depends on where you are driving and what time of year it is. While in the UK, winter tyres are not a legal requirement - even with the drop in temperature that accompanies the colder climate - there are countries where winter tyres (or tyres with chains) are a legal necessity for safety.
Drivers should check before travelling overseas in their car, to ensure their tyres are legal in the country they are visiting.
The main markings you will find on winter tyres include a snowflake icon, and an ‘M+S’ marking which indicates that a tyre is suitable for mud and snow terrain. These markings are typically found printed on the sidewall alongside the tyre size, load rating, speed rating, and other specifications.
3PMSF is the name of another marking you might see - a mountain icon with a snowflake in the middle. This is known as the ‘three-peak mountain snowflake’ marking - indicating the right tyres for challenging terrain and winter driving.
At first glance, both summer tyres and winter tyres tend to be a little cheaper than all-season tyres. However, it’s important to note that if you opt for these seasonal tyres, you will likely need to invest in two sets of tyres – while the more expensive all-season tyres are suitable for year-round use.
This means that though you can buy winter tyres at a cheaper rate, the fact you need summer tyres as well makes this a more expensive option - as you transition from summer to winter driving.
The combination of the sophisticated tyre tread pattern, deep tread grooves, added sipes, and the pliable rubber with increased levels of silica, means that winter tyres boast high precision traction and grip on slippery, icy, and snowy surfaces. This is because while the pliable rubber expands the surface contact between the road and the tyre, the grooves ensure a good biting grip with the ground surface.
Browse the various winter and snow tyres available from multiple premium and more affordable tyre brands or head to our Knowledge Hub for more on new tyre maintenance, tyre pressure, local tyre fitting, and more.
