Winter tyres give much better traction, braking, and handling performance in snow, ice, and lower temperatures as compared to all-season or summer tyres. The rubber compound remains soft and flexible so that the tyres can deform and adhere to the road surface. Winter tyres also have stronger tread patterns with deeper grooves and sipes that grip into firm snow and throw water away. This leads to improved acceleration, steering response, and reduced car distance for a stop. The right time to change to winter tyres is when the temperature is begins to go below 7 degrees Celsius or 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Things to keep in mind about winter tyres:
1. Proper Set of Tyres
Always ensure that your winter tyres are of the same brand and model to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of your car. It is advisable to use four matched winter tyres because they help to keep your vehicle stable. Tyres must be of similar tread design, dimensions, and structure. Changing the regular tyres with different types of tyres could lead to poor stability and handling on the road.
Research has revealed that the level of safety provided by winter tyres can cut braking on snow and ice by approximately one-quarter. They also enhance maneuverability so that you can be able to swerve away from the obstacles or regain balance in the event of a skid. They give you more control in winter conditions, thus eliminating the possibilities of getting into an accident significantly. Winter tyres on just the drive wheels are still very beneficial for overall safety.
2. Search for the Snowflake Symbol
Every time you go shopping for your winter tyres, ensure that you look for the peaked mountain with a snowflake. This means the tyres have passed certain snow traction standards and are suitable for use in areas that experience severe snow. Tyres that do not have this marking may not deliver the required performance.
Winter, especially while driving in blizzards or driving on icy roads, is very tyresome and can cause a lot of strain. The good grip of the winter tyres on the road surface translates to improved control and reduces the chances of your attention being drawn to the improved traction and braking capability. It reduces stress and allows a person to respond to threats faster.
3. Timely Installation
Place winter tyres when the temperatures start getting low, which is during the late October to mid November for Southern Ontario. Wearing them before the cold sets in means you have the right type of tyres when winter arrives.
Winter tyres are more economical compared to summer or even all-season tyres since they prevent wear and tear on the latter when used in freezing conditions. Certain car insurance companies also provide a discount to those who have winter tyres fitted on their vehicle.
4. Drive Cautiously
While the
winter tyres Sutton
provide better grip, one has to be very cautious while driving in the snow and icy roads. There should be enough space in-between cars on the road, one has to look forward to spot a danger early, and should slow down. Winter tyres do not make you immune to all the dangers of the road during the frosty seasons.
5. Monitor Tread Depth
Tread depth affects the
tyres Sutton
capability of holding the ground; deeper tread is better. Change it before it falls to the standard legal age. If allowed to wear too thin, they are ill-suited for the winter weather and conditions outside.
6. Maintain Inflation
Cold weather causes reduction of tyre pressure, thus, one needs to check the inflation levels after every two weeks. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines indicated in your owner’s manual for the right pressure to set at. Optimal inflation is best for winter grip and responsiveness on the road.
How do winter tyres relate to ABS and EBD systems to help make your car rides safer?
ABS, or Anti-lock Braking System, is one of the safety features that helps in avoiding locking of wheels while halting, in cases where it might lead to skidding of the car. Whenever the ABS sensors notice that the wheel has locked up, it regulates the brake force by pressing it in a pulsating manner so as to afford the driver control of the steering wheel.
EBD refers to an Electronic Brake-force Distribution system that complements ABS in providing the right braking force to every wheel.
What are the interconnections of these systems?
While driving with winter tyres on icy or snowy roads, this increase in the traction of these tyres yields greater values of accelerating, steering and braking. In case of hard braking that may be required due to an event on the road, ABS system ensures that the wheels do not lock up, hence increasing the ability of the car to stop in a shorter distance while the steering is still active.
EBD works together with ABS to balance the brake forces evenly on all four wheels, improving the stability, especially in the event of sudden braking on icy road conditions.
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