Most Drivers know that snow and ice can dramatically affect their safety on the road. 

Steering, acceleration and braking are more difficult as normal tyres have less grip in these conditions. 

However, it is not just these extreme wintry conditions which can reduce your safety on the road. Even cold, damp roads can dramatically affect the performance of tyres, leading to an increased accident risk. 

Tyre manufacturers have now developed a range of winter tyres which are specifically designed to operate in these conditions. 

While snow and ice present the most hazardous conditions, most drivers adapt their style of driving to suit these conditions. 

However, cold, damp roads are visually no different to wet conditions in the warmer months, and drivers tend not to adjust their driving style. A tyres performance, is dramatically reduced by this combination of conditions, making cold damp roads one of the highest safety risks to drivers. 

All drivers, irrespective of whether they fit winter tyres or not, should carry out regular checks throughout the winter to ensure their tyres are in the best possible condition for maximum safety. 

 

Tread depths should be checked to ensure they are above the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the entire tread. 

The 20p test is a quick and easy way to test your tyres tread depth.