Why Should You Not Drive Winter Tyres In Summers?

Everyone knows you shouldn't use winter tyres in the warmer months. But why not? We explain...

Winter tyres are designed to be used during the cold, wet winter months of November through March. That's fine - it makes sense that manufacturers wouldn't want summer tyre technology associated with their product range if they're meant for different conditions.

But when summer comes around, so does the temptation to use your winter tyres when the weather finally turns warm. As you'd expect, lots of people are asking, "Can I use my Dunlop Tyres Longton

What's Different Between A Winter Tyre And A Summer Tyre?

The way tyres are tested and developed is the most significant difference between winter and summer tyres. The main point of contention with using your winter tyres in the summer relates to their compound - or how they're made. A summer tyre has an incredibly soft, sticky plastic on its surface called 'silica.' This helps provide outstanding grip when it's hot outside... but also makes for inferior grip in cold weather.

Winter tyres don't use silica because it degrades at low temperatures (this is why water freezes when it gets cold), reducing braking distances up to 40%. Winter tyre' treads are made from more complicated, more durable rubber that doesn't wear down as quickly in colder conditions, meaning they'll stick to the road longer when it's frosty outside.

But even if yourwinter tyres are still in good shape, there are other reasons you shouldn't use them in summer.



Winter Tyres Are For Winter Conditions

Winter tyres are all about safety. If you were driving at 50mph on a frozen lake during the dead of night, you wouldn't want your tyre treads wearing down after just 500 miles - because then they'd lose grip and risk sending you into an uncontrollable fishtail skid. That means that winter tyre technology is designed to run cooler than standard tyres - which means they're not built for hot summer days with their increased speed and heat. Speaking of speed...

A sweltering summer day typically brings scorching roads and blistering speeds - while winter is generally associated with cold, wet days near the freezing mark. But even though your summer tyre's compound will be soft on the road, it doesn't give you excellent grip when you're burning rubber around corners. It can make for a slightly unstable driving experience, leading to accidents if you don't adjust your driving style accordingly.

Winter Tyres Are For High Mileage.

Winter tyres are designed to handle great speed in colder weather without losing their tread or breaking apart wholly - which means they'll last longer than traditional tyres that aren't made for the extremes of winter. That said, manufacturers still suggest replacing them after two years, so they perform at their... which is another thing to consider.

Winter Tyres Are More Expensive.

Winter tyres will typically cost you between £20 and £30 extra per tyre on top of your standard tyre price. That's not a huge difference - but it is money that would be utterly wasted if you don't use them in the winter. And let's face it, nobody likes throwing away cash when there are so many other things to buy...

Your Winter Tyres Might Not Fit Your Summer Wheels.

Most manufacturers base their winter tyre sizes close to their standard equivalents so that they may fit most of your wheels without an issue. But some manufacturers offer wider or taller rubber than their competitors, which means they'll stick out of your arches when placed on smaller-wheeled cars. If you don't want to replace your wheels, you might have trouble using your winter tyres in the summer.

Your Winter Tyres Might Not Fit Your Summer Cars.

This one's a bit of a stretch - but it is something that has stopped owners from switching their rubber mid-season before. Numerous tales of owners thought they could just change their winter and standard tyre sets, only to find out that their car won't start because the engine can't cope with the different weight distribution brought on by new rubber. Winter tyres are cumbersome because of all the metal studs inside them for ice grip, so if you take them off, it could cause severe problems for your engine... even though this scenario is infrequent. So what should you do?

It's really up to you. If you only drive your car for a few months of the year and want maximum grip in winter, it might be worth your while shelling out the extra cash. But if you live somewhere where summer arrives early and lasts until late into October, using winter Cheap Tyres Longton in summer is just wasting money that could go towards something else - like actually enjoying yourself!