BMW has launched a specialist winter tyre programme designed to help drivers get the best on-road performance from their car throughout the winter months.

Summer tyres fitted as standard equipment by all car manufacturers operate best at temperatures above 7°C. However, once the outside air temperature gets nearer to freezing the rubber in summer tyres hardens, which detracts from their performance. In true wintry conditions of snow and ice, as blighted all of the UK earlier this year, tyre performance is even worse.

The new winter wheel and tyre packages developed by BMW have been specially engineered to operate much better than summer tyres at temperatures below 7°C. The tyre is made from a different mix of rubber / silica compound which enables them to operate efficiently at much lower temperatures, generating heat and reaching their optimum operating temperature much more easily.

Winter tyres also feature bigger tread blocks with larger open channels which ensure they dissipate standing water more effectively, helping them to reduce the risk of skidding on wet surfaces. Braking distances improve by up to 20 per cent on icy roads and up to 10 per cent in the wet.

A number of different wheel styles and sizes, including alloy and steel rims are available.

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