For us, tyres are crucial parts of our vehicles. We need them to give maximum safety, but also ensure the most comfortable driving experience possible. It’s often said that if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to do more, ride with others. It is especially true when it comes to safety on ice and snow – having winter tyres is critical!
But how do they work?
And what makes a good winter tyre?
Studless winter tyres provide the best grip in the summer, similar to Summer Tyres Fareham. Despite being usable all year round. Studded/studded tyres have less grip than non-studded tyres during warm seasons. However, they have better braking performance on frozen roads due to the grip provided by the studs.
Sipes – An Important Element of a Great Winter Tyre
During summer, sipes provide grip and adhesion to the road surface. In winter, they help break up ice for exceptional performance on snow-covered roads. The asphalt surfaces are wet from thawing snow or rain. The number of sipes required depends on temperature conditions and makes a huge impact on the price. Many different types of sipe patterns exist depending on what type of winter tyre is and its target market/country. Most patterns are never available in North America or Japan. It’s because those countries generally do not have extreme enough weather conditions to necessitate specialised ‘winter’ tyres.
Winter Tyres with Sipes – A Must-have!
A tread pattern is also a very important element of a winter Summer Tyres Fareham. The wider the spread of the thread, the better the grip in icy conditions. Also, contact patches are made larger by increasing this tread width. It allows for better braking and acceleration control on packed snow or ice-covered roads without necessarily requiring studs.
The V-shaped grooves cut into the tread blocks. They provide efficient removal of water film that builds up when driving at high speed during heavy snowfall or when it’s raining. It ensures good road adherence even when the road surface is still cold. This characteristic is especially useful in spring and autumn. It’s where sudden temperature changes can significantly change road temperatures and surface conditions in short periods.
“Blocks with grooves are also more effective at self-cleaning. It enhances the safety of the tyre by ensuring that no snow or ice remains stuck to it.”
Aerodynamic Properties of Tyres
The tread design is important during summer as well, particularly for fuel-efficiency.
Reason? Well, think about how much drag a flat surface has – the same happens when there’s air between the tyre and ground. Reducing this effect can significantly improve fuel efficiency because less energy is being used for overcoming air resistance. As you may have read in my previous article, I don’t believe ‘flat’ tyres are any worse than ’round’ tyres so long as all other factors remain equal (tread depth, inflation pressure, load). In this regard, the tread blocks of summer tyres create turbulence and drag instead of reducing them. This is why perfectly round tyres are often said to be worse than flat ones during the summer driving season.
Tread Designs on Winter:
Tyres Fareham however does not significantly affect power loss or fuel efficiency because they simply don’t have enough time to make a significant difference between ’round’ and ‘flat’. The only effect of a less-than-ideal tread design would be a greater tendency towards hydroplaning in heavy rain if water accumulates within the voids created by the tread pattern. This again highlights just how important good winter tyres are – especially when you consider that some tyre manufacturers suggest changing from summer to winter tyres before the autumn ends, as well as when the spring begins.
During winter, however, several tyre manufacturers apply an asymmetrical tread design to cut through snow and ice with ease during the first few centimetres/inches of driving; this is especially true for tyres where traction needs to be maximized because there’s a limited surface area equipped with these small studs.
If you like this article and would like to read more on how tyres can contribute to better fuel economy or even save your life, click here. If we get enough support we’ll continue researching and writing about it!
Add Comment