Tires slipping due to moisture and ice? Flat tires in cold weather? Equip your vehicle with winter tires. Special materials such as softer rubber give them a perfect grip during the winter season. Here's an overview of the best winter tires for this year.
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Our selection
"Designed to handle extreme cold, this Continental Winter Contact tire is your best ally in dealing with heavy snow. It grips well to the ground…"
"With decent performance, this Hankook Winter I-cept tire allows you to cover miles of snow without losing performance. It's both inexpensive and of excellent quality."
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"Still in the Winter Contact range, this TS 800 is a good alternative to climb all roads in winter. It offers easy and stable driving…"
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Designed to handle extreme cold, this Continental Winter Contact tire is your best ally in dealing with heavy snow. It grips well to the ground and offers a perfect handling to the vehicle.
55,60 £ on AllopneusThis Winter Contact tire by Continental reacts well to cold weather, especially in the most impassable snow. Suitable for all types of cars, it is significantly more efficient than other tires in the same range. It offers a more precise braking distance and is 4% shorter on ice, providing optimal stability. With a rolling noise of 72 dB, it is one of the quietest snow tires of the moment.
Not only does this Winter Contact TS 860 have good aquaplaning resistance, but the wet grip is also exceptional. The design with a high silica content gives it perfect handling, even in the most difficult conditions. This German technology winter tire is a good compromise for driving along all roads during winter.
With decent performance, this Hankook Winter I-cept tire allows you to cover miles of snow without losing performance. It's both inexpensive and of excellent quality.
39,68 £ on AllopneusWith perfect grip on wet or snowy ground, this Hankook Winter I-cept RS tire is the ideal option for those who want to save money during the winter season. It offers good traction on snow thanks to its narrow sipes. It is also a very versatile tire due to its compatibility with all cars. But it is especially efficient when mounted on a city car.
Due to its block design and its well thought out 4 straight channel groove, it quickly evacuates moisture and has a good road holding. As a result, it is perfectly resistant to aquaplaning. In addition, the rolling noise is relatively low. It is composed of silica rubber to reduce the braking distance.
Still in the Winter Contact range, this TS 800 is a good alternative to climb all roads in winter. It offers easy and stable driving and allows to have full control of the vehicle on wet ground.
42 £ on AllopneusDesigned for city cars and compact cars, the Winter Contact TS 800 from Continental performs well on wet surfaces. Designed with a rubber compound, it guarantees good handling and a perfectly controlled ride on all roads, especially on snow. Its design with large transverse cuts reinforces the grip.
The M+S and 3PMSF type snow tire is very robust and adapts to all weather conditions. It is insensitive to aquaplaning and is very stable, even on icy roads. Its honeycomb tread has been designed to make the entire structure rigid, thus optimizing its efficiency and reducing braking distance.
Any specific needs?
The best entry-level winter tire
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | NOT EXPENSIVE | UPPER RANGE | EXCELLENT | Very good | Best value for money | ||
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Continental Winter Contact TS 860 winter tire
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Hankook Winter I-cept RS W442 winter tire
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Bridgestone Blizzak LM-005 Driveguard XL pneu hiver
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Continental Winter Contact TS 800 winter tire
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Michelin Alpin 6 pneu hiver
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Hankook I-Cept RS2 W452 pneu hiver
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Goodyear Ultragrip 9 pneu hiver
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Designed to handle extreme cold, this Continental Winter Contact tire is your best ally in dealing with heavy snow. It grips well to the ground and offers a perfect handling to the vehicle.
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With decent performance, this Hankook Winter I-cept tire allows you to cover miles of snow without losing performance. It's both inexpensive and of excellent quality.
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Still in the Winter Contact range, this TS 800 is a good alternative to climb all roads in winter. It offers easy and stable driving and allows to have full control of the vehicle on wet ground.
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Performance load index
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91
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80
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77
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Speed index
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H
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T
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T
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Fuel economy index
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C
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E
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E
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Wet grip
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B
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C
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C
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Noise level
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72 dB
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71 dB
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71 dB
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Since you have to drive slower in winter, the speed rating must be adapted accordingly. It is advisable to choose tires with a speed rating twice as low as that of normal tires. If you have no experience, the best thing to do is to consult a speed rating table before buying your winter tire. This speed rating ensures the stability of the vehicle. Once the tires are purchased, indicate this new index with a special sticker.
This is also a very important criterion since the quality of the tire depends on the label to which it belongs. There are three things to consider: wet grip, noise capacity and the fuel economy provided by the winter tire. By comparing, you will see that one tire is more efficient than another and allows you to drive comfortably in winter.
The tire's marking plays a determining role in the resistance to cold and to have a good road handling. Generally, this type of tire has the "M+S" or Mud and Snow or 3PMSF which stands for 3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake. The former certifies that a winter tire is well suited to snow or mud during the winter, while the latter guarantees better performance on difficult journeys, especially on icy ground.
It is strongly recommended to use winter tires as soon as the temperature drops below 7°C. Don't wait until the snow falls or the first layers of ice form to change your tires. This will save you 20% in braking distance compared to conventional tires.
To
each vehicle its own type of winter tire. If you live in areas with tolerable weather conditions, general-purpose winter tires will fit your car perfectly. On the other hand, if you have to face a harsh winter, choose Nordic or studded winter tires that are very effective for driving in extreme conditions.
Even if you can't drive fast during the winter, it's still worth mentioning this criterion that is likely to influence your choice of winter tires. It can also be reflected in your daily driving. The first profile is urban driving. If you are used to driving in the city or on long urban highways, you will need a tire with optimal braking capacity. If you're more of a country boy and you're going on a long, rough, snow-covered trip, choose a tire with good traction that will get through the snow without any difficulty. Do you sometimes drive on both types of roads? In that case, you should choose a tire that offers excellent driving comfort and saves you fuel.
A winter tire is a category of tire, manufactured for winter driving. It has a specific M+S and/or 3PMSF mark engraved on the white sidewall of the wheel.
The winter tire is characterized by its sipes whose number of grooves is much higher than that of summer tires. They allow the wheel to hold well on wet roads.
The lower the temperature, the better the tire performs. Other variants even have self-locking 3D sipes that give them great rigidity and help improve driving on snowy roads. The winter tire is also recognizable by the depth of the treads, which give the tire more flexibility.
The materials used to manufacture the rubber also differentiate it from ordinary tires. They are composed in such a way that the rubber remains flexible at low temperatures, unlike regular tires whose rubber hardens when it comes into contact with cold.
It is not enough to buy a winter tire and install it to be able to drive quietly on wet or icy roads. There are several categories of winter tires.
It can also be called a multipurpose tire made to adapt to slippery roads with a thin layer of snow, ice or frost. It can be used at temperatures up to 7°C. The classic winter tire can be mounted on passenger cars, off-road vehicles, SUVs and commercial vehicles.
It can be recognized by its siped tread, which allows it to evacuate moisture more easily. The classic winter tire effectively grips slippery ground thanks to its soft rubber design.
If
you're into sporty driving or own a 4×4, high-performance tires are for you. Its grooves enhance braking ability and grip in winter. You'll also have excellent handling, even in the most dangerous corners.
High performance tires feature asymmetrical treads and heavy-duty shoulder blocks. If you love speed and want to test your vehicle's performance on snow or ice, high performance tires will meet your expectations.
This
last category of tire is intended for heavy use in areas heavily impacted by snow or ice. Studded tires have a tread filled with about 100 metal studs. It allows you to handle snow with peace of mind and grips well on snow, slush or ice covered ground.
The only concern is that because of these metal studs, the tire can be noisy on asphalt and makes the vehicle less comfortable. The braking distance is also longer and there are a few rules for use.
The winter tyre is designed to cope with the most difficult conditions. It can withstand temperatures of up to -20°C. It is a great ally for driving in wet and cold conditions. But when the temperature rises above 7°C, the rubber becomes soft and the car can become heavy.
The hybrid or 4-season tire, as its name indicates, can be used regardless of the temperature and climate. It adapts to heat as well as to freezing cold. Driving will always be comfortable at -10°C; likewise at 30°C. On the other hand, this type of tyre does not perform as well in winter and has flaws when the temperature drops below -10°C.
The conditions you drive in on a daily basis always determine the choice. If you are constantly driving on snowy roads with a good layer of ice, try winter tires. In case you live in a region where the temperature is variable and there is not much snow, hybrid tires are the most recommended.
Measuring the wear of your winter tyre
There is no need to call a professional to measure the wear of your tires. Simply perform the 25-cent test by inserting the coin between two sipes. If you see the tip of the caribou's snout once the coin is in place, your tire needs to be changed after 10,000 km.
Storing tires for the next winter
Of
course, you're not going to store your tires in a paid storage unit. One of the most effective tips is to store them in a place that is not damp and devoid of light, but well ventilated. But first, remember to clean them well and remove the stones that get stuck between the grooves. It is best to store them vertically and if they are still mounted on the rims, empty the air that is inside.
Adapting driving to the climatic conditions
If
you are driving during the winter, winter tires alone will not ensure your comfort and safety. You must adapt your driving style to the climate. To do this, remember to slow down from time to time. Also, avoid using the cruise control and especially brake gently to avoid skidding.
Always check tire pressure
Tire pressure contributes to the performance of your vehicle. It is not enough to have good winter tires, you must also check that they are properly inflated. This should be done at least once a month and more if you've just done a long drive. Give the tire a rest before measuring the pressure.
Save on fuel with a winter tire
You
can save fuel or energy if you choose your winter tires well. In fact, they are very beneficial if used in suitable winter conditions, since they are more resistant to rolling.
The best winter tyre depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best at the moment.
Unlike other European countries, there is no far-reaching requirement for car owners to use winter tyres. However, this reduces road accidents caused by unsuitable tyres or slippery terrain. Currently, more than 10% of English people use this type of tyre in winter.
It's just like using conventional tires. Changing your tires early helps the environment. If you see that your tires are starting to underperform or that you have passed the legal wear indicator, you should replace them quickly.
There is no set calculation for the ideal tire size for winter. The best advice is to go one inch smaller than the original rims. Then choose the right size for your rims. Generally, the compatible mounts for your car are listed in the technical data sheet.
Yes, because the design is not the same as for summer tires. In fact, even the moulds used for shaping are more sophisticated. The materials, such as soft rubber, are also more expensive. However, you can use winter tires with a slightly lower speed rating to reduce the cost.
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