Tread carefully as winter looms – says Toyo Tyres

As the temperature drops, many motorists will be wondering once again whether it’s worth getting a set of winter tyres. Winter 2014 was relatively mild, with an average of 3.9°C and a couple of snowfalls during the second half of January.

But the forecast for this year doesn’t look quite so clement. Now we are approaching the end of November and with the three main winter months just around the corner, the winter projection is becoming more certain. Colder and wetter weather is on the cards.

Japanese tyre manufacturer Toyo Tires is one of the most experienced winter tyre distributors and is reminding British drivers to stay safe this winter by equipping their vehicles with the appropriate ‘footwear’ to allow them to cope with those slippery conditions.

Motorists will benefit from using winter tyres whenever the temperature dips below 7°C, which will undoubtedly be the case this year. Below this 7°c mark, braking distances from 62mph (100km/h) can increase by up to 5m, from 65m to 70m, when using all-weather or summer tyres. And it’s only a matter of time until winter tyres become a legal requirement in the UK, as it already is the case in many European countries.

Toyo’s comprehensive range of winter tyres, available in all sizes, can be purchased from its extensive UK dealer network, either being fitted to the owner car’s existing rims, or mounted up to an additional set of wheels.

Made from a different silica and polymer compound which doesn’t harden when it’s cold, Toyo tyres offer improved handling, reduced stopping distances and greater safety overall. On ice, frost or wet roads, winter tyres offer traction that no summer tyre can match.+

From small cars to big SUVs, Toyo’s extensive range offers the perfect solution for all vehicles. The Snowprox range, comprising of the S943, S953 and S942, will cover the vast majority of passenger cars while the Open Country W/T will be ideal for SUVs. Not forgetting Toyo’s winter van tyres, keeping tradesmen going during the colder months with the Toyo H09, covering most commercial wheel sizes from 14” to 17”.

Alan Meaker, Toyo UK’s Technical and Motorsport Director commented, “It’s still a common misconception that cold-weather tyres are only for when the snow falls. The extra margin of safety and control they bring as soon as temperatures fall mean that they are a very wise investment throughout the Winter period. A set of cold-weather tyres really will pay huge dividends and dramatically increase driver confidence as we enter this forthcoming cold spell.”