When should you swap from summer to winter tyres?

When should you swap from summer to winter tyres?

Having the right tyres on your car for the weather conditions is important for your safety on the roads, but when should you swap to winter tyres? Read our handy guide to find out

Tyres are of course one of the most important parts on your car, being the point of contact between the vehicle and the road playing a key part in both performance, economy and safety. 

When it comes to tyres you need the right tools for the right job, for example you wouldn't wear flip flops in the snow so why should your car have summer tyres on in the winter? It's a recipe for poor performance and handling alongside a potential safety hazard. 

Read below to learn about when to swap your tyres alongside other tyre FAQ's: 

When should I swap to and from winter tyres?

The general rule of thumb for winter tyres is that once temperatures drop below 7 degrees C you should swap from summer to winter tyres. 

This is typically between November and April but there is no specific or hard date for when temperatures go below and above this threshold.

Can I use my winter tyres all year round?

Unless your tyres are specifically marked and sold as all season tyres you'll need to swap them out when the temperature changes as described above.

This is because seasonal tyres have specific tread patterns and types for their intended season and even their material composition is designed specifically for winter or summer. Meaning that when these tyres are used in the wrong season they may actually perform worse and potentially wear prematurely.

 

What do I need to check around winter tyres?

When the temperature plunges you need to check a handful of things surrounding your tyres:

  • Check your tyres are actually rated for winter use, this will be either an M+S marking or the three-peak snowflake (3PMSF) symbol on the sidewall.
  • Ensure you've got winter tyres on each corner, mixing tyres for example only putting winter tyres on the drive axle is unsafe. Just putting two winter tyres will compromise your handling and make winter conditions more difficult to navigate.
  • Regularly check tyre pressures, every month check your tyre pressures against manufacturers recommended PSI. This should be the same all year round regardless of winter or summer tyres.

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Published: 13 September 2024