Winter Tyre Checks for Manchester Drivers

Manchester winters are more about rain, standing water and cold mornings than deep snow, but that combination is hard on tyres. Cold air drops tyre pressures, wet roads expose worn tread, and potholes appear overnight. Ten minutes on your drive now can save a roadside call out later.

1. Check the tread depth

The legal minimum for cars and light vans is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tread, all the way around. Many in the tyre industry recommend replacing at 3mm in winter, because braking distances in the wet increase noticeably as tread wears below that. A tread depth gauge costs a few pounds, or look for the tread wear indicators, the small raised bars in the main grooves. When the tread is level with them, the tyre is at the legal limit.

2. Check the pressures when the tyres are cold

Tyre pressure falls as the temperature falls, so a tyre set correctly in September may be low by December. Check first thing in the morning before driving, using the figures in your handbook or on the sticker in the door frame. Use the higher "full load" figure if you are carrying passengers and luggage.

3. Look for damage

Run a hand around the sidewall and look for cuts, bulges, cracking or anything stuck in the tread. A bulge means the internal structure is damaged and the tyre needs replacing. A nail or screw in the tread can often be repaired if it is caught early. See our puncture repair page for what can and cannot be repaired.

4. Check the spare, or your repair kit

Many newer cars have no spare at all, just a can of sealant and a compressor. Check the sealant is in date. If you do have a spare, check its pressure too, as a flat spare is no help on a dark evening.

5. Think about winter or all season tyres

Winter tyres use a softer compound and deeper sipes that grip better below about 7°C. In the North West most drivers manage with good summer tyres, but if you drive over the Pennines, up to Saddleworth or into the hills of Lancashire and Cheshire, all season or winter tyres are worth considering. Look for the three peak mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall.

We come to you

If your checks turn up a problem, you do not need to drive on a worn or damaged tyre to get it sorted. Our mobile tyre fitting vans come to your home, workplace or the roadside across Manchester and the North West. Get a quote online or call 07912 478216.