Continental Winter World

In some parts of the world, winter means piles of snow, sparkling frost and clinking icicles. Elsewhere, it’s rain, fog and sleet, with only the occasional sprinkling of snowflakes. No matter which climate you'll be dealing with during the colder months of the year, winter is whatever you make of it. Enjoying the great outdoors and getting out into the fresh air has never been more important, but winter roads are challenging, so you need the best equipment possible. Whether you’re looking forward to going skiing in the mountains, building a snowman with the kids, or even just long walks in the woods, here’s how to make sure your car will get you there safely:

• Get the right winter or all-season tyres for the conditions.
• Check your tyre pressure and tread.
• Go through our checklist and put together a winter kit with essentials.
• Learn the most important safe driving tips.

Enjoy winter outdoors, regardless of the weather – and the driving conditions.

Dive in to find out more…

We want you to enjoy winter, regardless of the weather – and we want you to arrive safely at your destination, regardless of the driving conditions. Here’s why it’s so important to have the right tyres for winter weather:

• Rubber becomes less flexible in the cold. That is why lower temperatures require compounds with a higher natural rubber content.
• A softer rubber compound offers better grip and braking performance in the cold.
• Specially designed tread patterns are specifically shaped to deal with wet roads, ice or snow.
• So-called sipes, small channels cut into the tread blocks, clear water, slush and thin snow.
• Nothing grips snow like snow. So, in the case of compact snow, deep tread grooves interlock with snow, providing additional grip.

Depending on where you live and where you will be driving this winter, your tyres may need some or all of these features. Find out whether winter or all-season tyres are the right choice for you. If you are faced with conditions that require winter tyres even occasionally, we highly recommend the switch, even if it isn’t required by law. It’s a matter of safety.

Once you’ve established that you need winter tyres (by law or by choice), you need to find the best time to make the seasonal tyre switch. Changing to winter tyres too early in the season increases tread wear, as the softer compound isn’t as robust in warmer temperatures. However, making the change too late can cause tyre damage and lead to serious safety risks, such as a loss of grip and reduced braking performance on wet. In some countries or regions, where winter tyres are mandatory, you may even be fined for driving with summer tyres in winter. You may be familiar with the rule of thumb to use winter tyres from October until Easter, but more specifically, you need them once seasonal temperatures drop.