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Government Shows Worrying Lack Of Understanding About Winter Tyres
Mon, 06 Dec 2010

Road safety organisation TyreSafe has expressed its disbelief and concern over the Government’s lack of understanding about the added safety benefits of winter weather tyres .

Last week, Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond claimed that winter tyres were not appropriate for UK situations.

He told the House of Commons: "Winter tyres wear out very quickly on normal road surfaces and cause significant damage to those surfaces, so they would not be appropriate in the UK."

TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson said Mr Hammond’s comments showed "a complete lack of understanding about modern winter tyres, which are the ideal solution to the type of weather we are experiencing".

He added: "Studless winter tyres are designed to provide much better grip over the entire winter period, not just for when people are driving for long periods on compacted snow as he implied. They do not damage road surfaces in any way and are wholly appropriate for the UK situation."

According to TyreSafe, winter tyres can be used all year round but that their performance is notably better when temperatures fall below seven degrees Celsius.

In these conditions standard tyres begin to harden and lose their ability to grip properly, whereas winter tyres contain more natural rubber and advanced silica compounds to reduce the hardening process and improve grip.

Adrian Walsh, director of RoadSafe, called on the Government to follow the example set by other European nations, including Germany and Austria, and make winter tyres a legal requirement.

He said: "Road safety and motor groups in Britain, including RoadSafe, TyreSafe and SMMT recommend UK drivers follow the continent's example, and fit them in autumn and winter."
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