A softer compound
The tread of a winter tyre contains more natural rubber and silica, so it stays flexible in the cold instead of going hard. A flexible tread keeps better contact with a frosty road.
Winter tyres, fitted at the car
Winter tyres fitted where you park
Softer rubber and a siped tread for grip below 7°C, sourced to your size and fitted at home, work or a safe spot away from traffic. The full price is agreed on the call before any work.
5.0 on Google·One base at Brent Cross: your arrival time depends on the distance and is given on the call
Winter tyres
Winter tyres, sourced and fitted where your car is.
Winter tyres use a softer tread compound and a tread cut with many fine slits, called sipes, so they keep their grip on cold, wet and icy roads when an ordinary tyre starts to harden. Rescue Tyres sources winter tyres to your car's size and fits them at your home, your work or a safe spot away from traffic, working from one base at Brent Cross, NW2.
They suit drivers who cannot simply leave the car at home when the weather turns: early starts, rural lanes, hilly roads, school runs, carers and anyone who drives at night between October and March. If your winter driving is mostly mild town miles, an all-season tyre may make more sense, and we will say so.
- We come to you: home, work or a safe spot away from traffic, no garage trip
- The right tyre for your car: budget, mid-range and premium winter tyres sourced to your size, load and speed rating
- Price confirmed on the call: agreed before any work starts
- Out of hours too: evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job
The 7°C guidance
What makes a winter tyre different?
TyreSafe, the UK tyre safety charity, explains that when the temperature drops below 7°C the tread compound in normal tyres begins to harden and gives less grip. Winter tyres are built for exactly those conditions.
Sipes and deeper grooves
Winter tyres have deeper grooves and many narrow cuts across the tread blocks. The grooves help clear water and slush, and the edges of the sipes bite into snow.
Made for October to March
TyreSafe describes winter tyres as the safest option from October through to March, when temperatures rarely rise above 7°C. They are often called snow tyres, but most of their benefit on UK roads comes on cold, wet tarmac.
Honest trade-offs
What are the downsides?
- They are not for summer. Continental says the softer tread wears a lot quicker in warm conditions, stopping distances on dry roads are longer than on summer tyres and the handling is less responsive. Winter tyres should come off once temperatures consistently stay above 7°C.
- Two changes a year. Dedicated winter tyres mean a change in autumn and another in spring, and somewhere cool, dry and dark to keep the set that is not on the car.
- Fit four, not two. Michelin advises always fitting four winter tyres. Winter tyres on one axle and summer tyres on the other leave the car with more grip at one end than the other, which makes it less stable, whichever wheels drive the car.
- Not a legal requirement. There is no law in the UK that says you must fit winter tyres. It is a safety choice, not a compliance one.
If you are still weighing it up, our guides on whether winter tyres are worth it in the UK and summer vs winter tyres go into the decision in more depth.
Sidewall markings
3PMSF or M+S: which marking matters?
Two symbols appear on the sidewall of tyres sold for cold weather, and they do not mean the same thing.
3PMSF: three peak mountain snowflake
A mountain outline with three peaks and a snowflake inside it. The symbol means the tyre has passed a standardised snow traction test against a reference tyre. Michelin describes it as a regulated test that guarantees a certain level of performance in wintry conditions. This is the marking to look for on a true winter tyre, and some all-season tyres carry it too.
M+S: mud and snow
The letters describe the tread pattern and structure. Continental notes that the performance of M+S marked tyres is neither defined nor measured, and Michelin describes the marking as the manufacturer's own claim with no performance test behind it. On its own it tells you little about cold-weather grip.
When you send us your size, say if you want a 3PMSF marked tyre and we will only quote tyres that carry it. Our guide to the three peak snowflake symbol shows what it looks like on the sidewall.
Timing
When should winter tyres go on and come off?
Winter tyres usually go on in October or November, as daily temperatures start to sit below 7°C, and come off in March or April once temperatures stay above it. Treat that as a guide rather than a date. It is worth arranging the fitting before the first hard frost rather than on the morning of it. Our guide to preparing your tyres for winter has a checklist for the changeover.
While you are thinking about tyres, check the tread and the pressures. The legal minimum tread depth for a car is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference, and TyreSafe advises keeping well above that in winter. Pressures are worth checking more often once the weather turns cold; our guide to tyre pressure in cold weather explains why. When your summer tyres come off, our seasonal tyre storage guide covers keeping them in good condition until spring.
The alternative
Would all-season tyres suit you better?
All-season tyres, also sold as all-weather tyres, are the alternative for many UK drivers. The RAC describes them as a compromise between winter and summer performance. You fit one set and leave it on all year, so there is no seasonal change, and some carry the 3PMSF marking. The trade-off is that they are not as sharp as a summer tyre on a hot day, nor as capable as a dedicated winter tyre in heavy snow. If you rarely see snow and most of your driving is in towns, have a look at our all-season tyres page. If your winters mean cold rural roads, hills or regular trips in snow, dedicated winter tyres remain the stronger choice.
Travelling
Driving abroad this winter?
The rules change once you leave the UK. Several European countries require winter tyres or snow chains on certain dates or in certain conditions, and the rules on which markings count differ from country to country. Check the current rules for every country on your route before you set off. Tell us where you are going when you call and we will source tyres with the marking you have been told you need. For the drive itself, our guide to driving in snow and ice is worth a read.
Step by step
How buying tyres from us works
The fitter brings tyre fitting and wheel balancing equipment, so the whole job is done beside your car.
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Send your size
The size is on the tyre sidewall, for example 205/55 R16 91V. Send it with your registration and where the car will be, or send a clear photo of the sidewall on WhatsApp.
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Options and price
We come back with winter tyre options by tier, budget, mid-range and premium, and confirm the full price on the call before any work. The enquiry is free.
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Fitted at the car
The fitter comes to the car, fits and balances the new tyres. Summer tyres with life left in them are yours to keep for spring; ask on the call if you want worn-out tyres taken away.
Checked before we leave
The wheels go back on, the nuts are tightened and the pressures are set to the car maker's figure. New tyres carry the maker's warranty against manufacturing defects.
Before you call: check a size with our tyre size calculator, how old a tyre is with the tyre date code checker, and pressures with the PSI to bar converter. What goes into the price is explained in how we price a mobile tyre fitting.
More tyres
Other tyres we fit at the car
All tyres
Budget, mid-range and premium car tyres sourced to your size and fitted where you park.
View tyres →Tyre brands
How the main brands compare by tier, and what really differs between them.
View brands →All-season tyres
One set all year, with no seasonal change, for drivers in milder conditions.
View tyres →Budget tyres
New tyres at a lower price point, chosen with the EU tyre label in mind.
View tyres →4x4 and SUV tyres
Road, all-terrain and SUV tyres with the load rating heavier vehicles need.
View tyres →Van tyres
Load-rated van tyres fitted at your yard, site or home to keep the van working.
View tyres →Performance tyres
High speed rated and low profile tyres, fitted with care on larger alloys.
View tyres →EV tyres
Tyres for electric cars, matched to the load, speed rating and range you need.
View tyres →Run-flat tyres
The correct run-flat for your car, fitted where you stopped safely.
View tyres →Areas
Winter tyres fitted near you.
We work from one base at Brent Cross, NW2, and the further away the car is, the longer the drive. For towns as far out as the Midlands we tell you on the call whether we can take the job, and the arrival time is always given on the call.
Reviews
What drivers say.
Two of our Google reviews, word for word. Read the rest on our Google profile.
"Good communication, excellent work and takes the initiative. Happy to go the extra mile, highly recommended if you're in a tyre-related bit of bother!"
DFDavid FordhamGoogle review
"Faultless experience. Great communication, attitude and service."
BCBen CorrieGoogle review
FAQs
Winter tyres, answered.
Sources: the 7°C guidance and October to March advice come from TyreSafe; tread depth law from GOV.UK; marking definitions and four-tyre advice from Michelin and Continental; the insurance note from the RAC.
Are winter tyres a legal requirement in the UK?
No. There is no law in the UK that requires winter tyres in any season, so fitting them is a safety choice. The legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread still applies to every tyre, and TyreSafe advises keeping well above it in winter.
At what temperature do winter tyres make a difference?
TyreSafe explains that below 7°C the tread compound in normal tyres begins to harden and gives less grip. Winter tyres use a softer compound designed to stay flexible in those temperatures, which is why the benefit shows on cold, wet roads as well as in snow.
What is the difference between 3PMSF and M+S?
3PMSF, the three peak mountain snowflake symbol, means the tyre has passed a standardised snow traction test. M+S stands for mud and snow and describes the tread design; there is no performance test behind it. For proper winter grip, look for the 3PMSF symbol.
Do I need four winter tyres or just two?
Four. Michelin advises always fitting four winter tyres, because mixing winter and summer tyres front and rear leaves the car off balance and less stable. That applies to front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive cars alike.
Can I leave winter tyres on all year?
It is not advisable. Continental notes that the softer tread wears much quicker in warm conditions and stopping distances on dry roads are longer than on summer tyres. If you want one set of tyres all year round, all-season tyres are designed for that.
Do you store my summer tyres?
Ask on the call. Most drivers keep the off-season set at home or in a garage, and our seasonal tyre storage guide explains how to keep them in good condition until spring.
Will fitting winter tyres affect my car insurance?
The RAC says fitting winter tyres should not affect your car insurance, but it is worth checking with your insurer before you fit them.
How do I get winter tyres fitted at home?
Call or WhatsApp 07473 720871, or book online, with your tyre size from the sidewall, your registration and where the car will be. We confirm the options, the full price and the arrival time on the call, and the fitter comes to the car.
Ready for the cold?
Winter tyres fitted
Winter tyres fitted
at home or work.
Send us the size from your sidewall and where the car is parked. We confirm the options, the price and the arrival time on the call.