Standard summer tyres begin to lose grip measurably below 7°C — and Cardiff averages below 7°C for around four months of the year. This means if you are running standard summer tyres on your Cardiff vehicle, you are driving with reduced grip for a significant part of the year, even on clear dry roads. Winter tyres maintain their rubber compound flexibility in cold temperatures, improving braking distances and cornering grip on cold, wet Cardiff roads.
For most Cardiff city drivers who occasionally travel into the South Wales valleys, all-season tyres offer the most practical solution. Models such as the Michelin CrossClimate 2 and Continental AllSeasonContact 2 carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, meaning they legally qualify as winter tyres. They perform well across the full range of Cardiff's wet, cold and occasionally frosty winter conditions without the need to change tyres twice a year.
Dedicated winter tyres are the better choice for drivers who regularly travel into higher-altitude areas of South Wales — the Rhondda valleys, Brecon Beacons and Merthyr surroundings — where snow and ice are more frequent. If you fit dedicated winter tyres, they must be fitted on all four wheels simultaneously. Call Royal Mobile Tyres Cardiff on 029 22714889 to discuss the best option for your specific driving pattern and have them fitted at your Cardiff address.