Staying Mobile in Winter is Vital Says Delticom Survey

A survey carried out by mytyres.co.uk, part of Europe’s leading online tyre retailer, Delticom, has found that for an overwhelming majority of motorists (82%), staying mobile is important in winter, despite the fact that most people have never bought winter tyres for their vehicles. Almost two thirds of respondents rated staying mobile as ‘very important’ or ‘critically important’. Yet in spite of this in another independent survey from vehicle auction company Manheim only 5% of motorists are planning to purchase winter tyres this year.

Rainer Binder CEO of Delticom, said: “The UK has experienced several extremely harsh winters in recent years and, as a result of the adverse weather, many people have found themselves stranded or unable to leave the house in their cars. Following the chaos of previous winters, it is understandable that staying mobile is very important to people.

“Winter tyres provide the best safety and mobility in icy conditions or when the temperature drops below 7°C”, continued Rainer Binder. It is well known that winter tyres provide a well-balanced feel with greater steering precision. It is also important to remember that the area of the tyre that is in contact with the road at any given time is no bigger than the palm of your hand. As a consequence tyres are probably the most crucial safety component on a vehicle.

As an indication of the effectiveness of winter tyres, the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association found that a car braking at 60mph on a wet road at a temperature of 5°C stopped five metres shorter, equivalent to more than one car length, when fitted with winter tyres.