July 02, 2024

Driving Winter Tyres in Summer: Can You, and Should you?

Winter Tyres are an incredibly versatile piece of equipment to have. Whether you keep them on hand for the winter season or have only used them when travelling abroad, maybe you’ve even used our winter car hire. However, the question does remain – why shouldn’t you be driving winter tyres in the summer?

First of all, we need to determine what makes winter tyres different. Typically, most cars are fitted with all-season tyres. These are of course most suitable for areas with mild summers and mild winters – no particular extreme weather. Naturally, these tyres are designed with durability in mind and made using aspects of winter and summer tyres. Even the compound from which the tread is made from is designed to harden in colder conditions, giving a better grip.

Different types of tyres

Summer tyres are more specialised for hotter weather and dryer roads, in which softer tyres will lose their traction faster. With the thinner treads and slicker design, the vehicle requires less force to keep it moving on the road. A sturdier material means less friction – greater fuel efficiency. This sturdiness can start to break down in temperatures below 7°C.

Winter tyres are otherwise the opposite of summer tyres; being of a softer material and deeper tread. The deeper tread works to increase the traction in snow and gain a thicker grip on ice. Although the softer material can stick to ice and snow better, this also means much more resistance in movement and overall worse fuel efficiency than summer tyres.

Driving winter tyres in summer and the risks

Maybe it’s more convenient for you to use only winter tyres all year round, perhaps the summers aren’t extreme but when it snows it gets particularly icy. In this case, you may consider winter tyres as your year-round tyres. Whilst legally, there are no restrictions on not allowing winter tyres, it is highly recommended you only use them when other conventional tyres are obsolete. The same is true for summer tyres (albeit there are sometimes in which winter tyres are required).

Although you may think you’re saving money by using winter tyres year-round instead of changing between multiple sets; winter tyres are simply weaker. What with the softer rubber, even in temperatures over 7°C is when they will start to wear down. Year-round usage of these tyres will result in expensive replacements. Summer tyres are similar, being that usage outside of their designed environment will wear them down quicker.

What tyres to use and when

Depending on your location, the seasons, and the laws; all rules are different. Many European countries have mandatory winter tyre requirements lasting upwards of 3 months. In those countries without exceedingly warm summers, more often than not it’s all-seasonal tyres that are used the majority of the time. That isn’t to say summer tyres are obsolete; far from it. Florida in the United is one place in which summer tyres excel, being the hot and wet conditions that make summer tyres most appropriate for use.

Car hires in Canada are a great example of where winter tyres are most useful. Despite not being mandatory in all Canadian provinces, the use in having winter tyres is widely known, with around 70% of drivers using winter tyres. More information regarding winter driving in Canada

Where can you get winter tyres?

If you’re looking to fit a pair of winter tyres, a majority of local mechanics will have a pair for installation; winter tyres can also be found online. Alternatively, if you’re travelling abroad and are in need of a rental vehicle, you may think it would be a hassle. With our winter car hire service, any legal requirement for winter tyres and snow chains will be fully included, even if they aren’t a requirement; if you feel you’ll need them they are available.

If you are curious about winter driving elsewhere, we also have a number of other blogs:

• Tips for Driving in Austria Winter
• Tips for Driving in Andorra in Winter
• Tips for Driving in Iceland in Winter
• Top Winter Destinations For Hiring a Car
• The Ultimate Winter Car Hire Guide: Tips & Recommendations

Even if you are looking for other alternative rental services, we can help accommodate you as we have with other satisfied customers:

• Debit Card Car Hire
• Low Deposit Car Hire
• Young Driver Car Hire
• Senior Driver Car Hire

Of course, though there may be some questions and concerns regarding what is possible and when. Feel free to contact us or send us an email at [email protected] and call us at +44 (0)113 880 0748.