SEAT winter tyres

A Kendal SEAT dealership has joined the dynamic Spanish car maker in backing a national campaign to highlight the major safety benefits of winter tyres.

October is Tyre Safety Month and a campaign by the not-for-profit organisation TyreSafe is aiming to make motorists aware of the many advantages of having specialist winter tyres fitted to their vehicles as the cold weather approaches.

Kendal SEAT is supporting the important initiative at its Kendal Motor Village showroom by screening a powerful demonstration video which dramatically illustrates the potentially lifesaving performance of winter tyres. And its state-of-the-art workshop has also been geared up to help customers make the switch as easily as possible, with a range of competitively-priced winter tyres to fit their vehicles now in stock.

Kendal SEAT Aftersales Manager, Steve Campbell, said: ‘The value of winter tyres really cannot be overestimated and so we are delighted to be able to support the TyreSafe campaign.

‘We all know that the roads can become quite treacherous in wintry conditions and so making the switch from summer tyres to specialist winter tyres is highly recommended.

‘Research from one tyre manufacturer suggests drivers may be as much as six times more likely to have an accident in the winter than the summer, so waiting for the first snowfall before making the switch could be a major false economy.

‘The time to act is now, and we are fully prepared to help owners choose not only exactly the right winter tyre for their vehicle but also to handle the fitting process and even suggest transport options for their summer tyres.’

Winter tyres really come into their own when the air temperature drops below seven degrees Celsius – not just when there’s ice and snow lying on the road surface. Below that temperature standard tyres begin to harden and lose grip, but winter tyres are made with a higher natural rubber content that keeps them softer and more flexible in cold weather conditions. Different tread patterns and a squarer profile also help winter tyres maintain highly effective contact with the road for greater traction and grip.

The video being screened at Kendal SEAT throughout the winter months, underlines the benefits of winter tyres and features two near-identical SEAT Ibizas – one equipped with summer tyres and the other sporting winter rubbers – being driven on an ice rink. When carrying out an emergency stop at just 15 mph the car with summer tyres took four metres longer to stop – almost a full vehicle length.