Availability

The UK currently has a very small cold weather tyre market (0.4% of the total market). By contrast, other European countries, where cold weather tyres are compulsory, have a much larger market. In Austria, for instance, cold weather tyres make up 67% of the total market. This means that supply to the UK “will be more limited”, according to Whittaker.

Fleet operators should give their leasing provider or tyre service provider plenty of warning if they want to fit cold weather tyres.

“Have a conversation with your tyre service provider as early as May 2012 to start planning for October 2012,” Whittaker says.

Companies could consider purchasing a spare tyre to mitigate supply issues in the event of damage or wear. Another option is multiple suppliers. Bridgestone is AAH’s main supplier but it also uses Michelin and Goodyear.

Cold weather tyres in action

Here is a video showing the benefits of cold weather tyres, courtesy of Tyre Safe

The curious world of ‘sipings’: how cold weather tyres work

Cold weather tyres can be identified by a mountain/snowflake symbol on their sidewall. It means that the tyre will brake at least 7% better on snow than a standard reference tyre.

An M+S-branded tyre is better on mud and snow than a standard tyre, but a specified winter performance is not defined and doesn’t guarantee good snow performance, according to Michelin.

Cold weather tyres have special ‘sipings’ – the tread patterns that help the tyre rid itself of a build-up of snow, ice or rain.

These grooves are wider than those on standard tyres and this greatly helps the vehicle to handle more accurately in bad weather.

Cold weather tyres also use more natural rubber and advanced silica compounds helping them to stay soft even when the temperature drops well below zero.

The rubber used on the tread of a standard tyre tends to become harder as the temperature falls below 7°C and this can reduce the ability to grip.

Source: GE Capital Fleet Services

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