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Preparing for winter and choosing the right tyre for your vehicle
Donnellans the Tyremen are your leading experts when it comes to winter and snow tyres this coming season. With some great skiing only hours from Melbourne, it’s the best time to prepare your cars tyres for driving in the harsh alpine regions of Victoria and NSW.
We have a great range of winter tyres to suit most makes and models from leading brands like Pirelli and Continental but what’s the difference?
Driving into winter on summer tyres can be somewhat demanding on your car and tyres. Your tyres require maximum tread depth for control, braking and most importantly, safety.
There are many key features to look for with the most important being your tyres compound or rubber. With most vehicles rolling of the production line fitted with an all-round, all-season tyre.
As the temperature drops your tyres stiffen and have less contact with the surface of the road. Winter tyres are much softer and are most effective in temperatures below 7 degrees C but will not last long in hot summer conditions from being too soft.
Know your driving conditions!
By now you should have your climate and driving conditions dialled in. Having this understanding means you’re ready for anything the season may throw in front of you on the road. Our Melbourne roads are usually cold and wet through winter however Brisbane experiences more mild conditions with dry driving.
The difference between southern and northern climates here in Australia mean you could run a summer tyre for most of the year up north, while an All-Terrain tyre will be perfect for driving in the southern states and alpine regions.
What’s the Difference?
The big difference is the tyre compound or rubber make up of each tyre. A winter tyre will not last in Summer and a Summer tyre will not perform and be quite dangerous in Winter.
Winter
- Winter tyres have a much more resilient tyre compound to stay soft even in the harshest winter conditions. Soft tyres are able to bond with more road surface and perform at their best below 7 degrees C.
- A typical winter tread pattern is made up of tiny little grooves called sipes. These tread sipes work to catch snow and disperse water. It's proven that nothing grips snow better than snow.
How do I know I have winter tyres?
Apart from the tyres distinguishing tread pattern, winter tyres or snow tyres have a relatable mark or symbol on the sidewall of the tyre. Look for the mountain/snow or M+S symbols when looking for suitable winter tyres.
So, how will my summer tyres hold up?
- Summer tyres generally have less sipes and larger central gutters to allow dispersion of water to prevent aquaplaning. This provides optimum grip in warm temps and ensures grip on both wet and dry roads.
- The harder compounds allow the summer tyre to operate in much warmer conditions while holding maximum wear life.
- Summer tyres also have less friction and therefore are much more fuel efficient.
- Summer tyres generally have better braking distances. This is because of the larger tread blocks that make up the large tyre footprint.
So, which tyre is best for me?
Knowing your climate and intended driving conditions is key in choosing the right tyre for your car. With hundreds to choose from, knowing this information will help aid in the decision making on your next purchase.
If you would like any more information on the above article please call one of our 5 stores located across Melbourne.
- Blackburn – (03) 9894 1223
- Collingwood – (03) 9417 5527
- Preston – (03) 9480 0044
- Prahran – (03) 9510 3199
- Balwyn – (03) 9816 9900
