With the UK firmly in the grip of winter with some of the heaviest snowfall we have seen in almost a decade accompanied by freezing temperatures in some parts of the country, motoring organisations are urging motorist to be adequately prepared if they venture out in their vehicles.
Keeping safe on the roads is of paramount importance and so I spoke with Davanti Tyres who have put together their top tips we should all take note of when driving in these wintery conditions.
Firstly, make sure you carry a survival pack in your car that includes food, water, a blanket and warm clothing. You should also keep a shovel in your boot, just in case you get stuck in the snow.
It’s also important to ensure that you keep your mobile phone fully charged and carry an in-car charger with you.
When it comes to your car, make sure you check your battery is fully charged as the cold weather puts extra pressure on it and if its near the end of its life, it may well fail you.
You should also check that you have sufficient coolant in your radiator as antifreeze protects your engine against low temperatures and will help avoid any expensive engine repairs.
Dirty roads mean that you will need to clean your windscreen more frequently and so it’s important to check that your washer fluid is topped up.
Something else you should consider is adjusting your driving style to the conditions and reducing your speed. On snow and ice use higher gears, be gentle with the clutch and accelerator and break and steer carefully so as to avoid skidding because as soon as you’re skidding you’ve lost control.
However, if the conditions are too bad you should consider whether your journey is really necessary and if in doubt don’t travel.
If you do have to venture out though, perhaps the most important thing to check are your tyres. If you have winter tyres, get them fitted, otherwise have your summer tyres checked to be sure you have adequate tread depth to deal with wet or icy roads.
Another option, especially if you spend a lot of time on the road, is to fit your vehicle with all-season tyres which are built for year-round performance, avoiding the need to change tyres between seasons.
For example, Davanti Tyres offer their all-season passenger car tyre, the Alltoura 4-Seasons, which performs extremely well in temperate climates such as here in the UK, giving superior control in dry braking, wet handling and aquaplaning.
On the other hand, if you’re likely to be driving in temperatures below 7°C or driving on particularly wet, icy or snowy roads or heading over to Europe, perhaps to the Alps for skiing, then a specific winter tyre may be a better option. Davanti Tyres’ Wintoura range has been developed in the UK but tested deep within the Arctic Circle, built for harsh winter conditions and will give you much greater control on snow and ice.
To find out more about Davanti Tyres and its range of all-season and winter tyres, please visit: www.davanti-tyres.com.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based motoring and travel journalist and editor, a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and former saloon car racing driver.
Photograph courtesy of Davanti Tyres
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