Snow tyres and snow chains for the colder months

All-year-round driving has its risks and care should always be taken when on the roads, but during the winter months extra precautions must be observed to ensure safety. Pay how you drive car insurance holders, like all other insurance holders who don't want to lose their no-claims bonus, should think about getting winter tyres for their car.

Even lower mileage car insurance holders should not be risking even the shortest journey without correct tyres for the season, as during short distances an accident could still occur.

What's so great about winter tyres?
Winter tyres are made specifically for winter – unsurprisingly – which means that road users can drive easier with them in the conditions which usually present themselves around those months, such as snow or ice.

They have been made specifically for cold weather conditions.

Firstly, they are made from a softer rubber which stops the tyres from getting brittle in low temperatures like normal tyres tend to.

In addition, the tread-pattern is designed especially so that they cut into snow and ice giving the vehicle a better grip.

Grip is vital in snow and ice. Not only might it stop the motorist from having an accident by slipping on the road, but it could help them get out of a pile of snow or soft ice in which the driver might otherwise have become stuck.

There are three different types of snow tyre to be aware of.

• Performance tyres – allow the car to perform better in normal weather conditions than other snow tyres, but this also means that it will not perform as well in snow and ice. These tyres are best in areas where snow does not fall heavily.
• Studless tyres – have good grip in snow and ice, but are not great at high speeds, so the driver should be very careful on motorways, for example.
• Studded tyres – are the same as studless tyres, but with the addition of little metal studs on the treads, to get an even better grip in icy conditions. These are prohibited in some areas as they can damage the road.

Snow Chains
Cautious drivers, or motorists in the countryside, may want to invest in some snow chains as well as winter tyres.

In much heavier snowfall, or thicker ice, which is often not moved or does not melt as quickly in rural areas, having chains on the vehicle's wheels may be of great help on difficult roads, and allow the motorist to drive more safely than they could otherwise.

There are three different types of snow chain available.

• Standard snow chains – are made of heavy steel links but make the most road noise
• Diamond snow chains – make less noise on the road and are more stable, so are often used on larger vehicles.
• Cable snow chains – are made of carbon steel spring rollers and allow for a smoother ride than other snow chains

Things to remember
Drivers may not be aware that in cold weather, there is sometimes a decrease in tyre pressure so it is important to check pressure more frequently than usual.

People sometimes forget that in the winter months, it gets darker much quicker in the evenings. They should not forget to switch their headlights on and be more vigilant of other traffic and pedestrians who may be wearing dark clothing.

Finally, when making a long journey, the motorist should always be prepared for the event of a breakdown, or heavy traffic jams. Being in a cold car for hours can be dangerous as well as uncomfortable. There should be food, drink and warm clothes in the car, as well as a warning triangle and a torch.

Being prepared for as many eventualities as possible can prevent anything from great discomfort while waiting for a traffic jam to clear, to personal injury from having to wait in the cold for the AA.

Pay how you drive car insurance
For those drivers who are careful during the winter months, as well as in the months which do not tend to bring as many adverse weather conditions, having pay as you go insurance could be extremely beneficial.

Just as having snow tyres or snow chains keeps you covered in case you run into roads which are difficult to drive through safely in the winter time, pay how you drive car insurance will keep you covered in the event of an accident.

If you are interested in having pay how you drive car insurance, then simply click on our get a quote button, or you can give us a ring on 0333 123 1308.