Winter is when tyre weaknesses turn into incidents. Cold, wet, dark roads stretch braking distances and expose worn or under-inflated tyres. A few checks before the cold sets in keep you safe and avoid a roadside emergency. Here's the checklist.
1. Check your tread, generously
The legal limit is 1.6mm, but for winter you want more, grip and water clearance fall as tread wears. If you're near 3mm, replace before winter rather than during it.
2. Set your cold pressures
Pressure drops in the cold, so check and set them to the recommended figure on a cold morning, and recheck through the season.
3. Inspect for damage and age
Look for cracks, bulges and embedded objects, and check the DOT date, cold weather is hard on perished rubber.
4. Decide: winter, all-season or stay put
If you face real cold and snow, consider winter tyres. For milder areas, all-season tyres are a fuss-free compromise.
5. Pack a winter kit
- A working tyre spare or repair kit and a torch.
- A phone charger and our number saved for callouts.
- Warm layers in case you have to wait.
Get winter-ready at your door
We'll check your tyres and fit winter or all-season sets at your home or work across London and Birmingham. Book a winter check.
