Brrr! It’s so chilly today isn’t it! I was out on the nursery run at 7:10am this morning, with my hat, scarf, gloves and my heated seat on and I was still cold! This got me thinking about car safety at this time of year. I have always been good at maintaining my car, but now I’ve got my two little ones I feel like it’s even more important – I have been checking my car over to ensure it’s as safe as possible as the weather is only going to get colder! One of the most important things to check in the run up to winter are the tyres, when there is ice and snow on the road it can be treacherous, so here are the ways I’m planning to keep safe….
Check your tyre pressure
It’s SO important to check your tyre pressures regularly. It’s recommended you check them Checking tyre on a weekly basis. Not only is this the safest option, especially in the cold icy conditions but it’s also to save money. Having correct tyre pressures means that the tyre will roll more efficiently on the roads, saving money on expensive fuel and will make your tyres last longer too.
Check your tyre condition
In the winter conditions can be treacherous. Having good tyre control when driving in slippery or rainy conditions is essential for your safety. The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm across the centre two thirds of a tyre and if tyres are below this limit, you could face both a fine and points on your licence. To check this, there are tread wear indicators on most tyres which look like raised bumps in the groves – when these bumps are at the same height as the tread your tyre is on the limit. Another handy way to good check is with a 20p coin. The outer band of a 20p is just less than 3mm thick so insert the 20p into the tyre tread and if the outer band is obscured by the tread the tyre is fine. Any less and it’s time to consider getting new tyres! Getting new tyres don’t have to be costly either, there are plenty of places to find cheap tyres to fit every make and model of car, so do have a look around.
Chose Winter Tyres
I didn’t know until recently, but you can actually get winter tyres. These are tyres which have a deeper tread than your regular tyre, perfect for cold, icy and snowy conditions. The rubber used to make winter tyres contains a larger percentage of natural rubber and silica in the compound, which means they don’t harden as much as synthetic rubber in cold weather, improving the tyre’s grip. The tyres are fitted with a special tread pattern, which displaces water more effectively and improves traction on snow and ice. We will certainly be fitting our winter tyres in the next couple of weeks so we are ready! A good place to look for winter tyres is DAT TYRES, if you are looking to do the same.
How are you preparing your car for the winter?
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