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Tyres for cold weather
January 12, 2010

Who would have thought that our tyres would become such an issue this winter.Little did we know or even think that we would need cold weather tyres in the UK. Well with the weather of the last few weeks it seems that we do. Not for just the snow but as Quentin Willson, T V presenter and Mirror columnist suggests, for all winter conditions. In many parts of Europe it has been accepted for decades and in Germany insurance policies are deemed invalid if winter tyres are not fitted from November to February. There has been a big demand for such tyres in the last few weeks here and stocks are low. Perhaps given our recent winters maybe we do not need to go that far but it does make sense if and when the snow arrives. What price safety and being able to get around.

Tyres and 20p could save your life
January 8, 2010

Winter is well and truly upon us and we are facing wet and icy roads and on occasions hazardous conditions and so it is important that, at this time of year, we check our tyres to ensure firstlythat they are safe and secondly, they are legal.  You may have seen a lengthy article on the BBC featuring Quentin Wilson of Top Gear fame who gave details of a recent survey.  Due to the recession it seems that motorists are reluctant to change their tyres and it is estimated there are over 3 million cars on the road with illegal and, by definition, dangerous tyres.  To quote Quentin, trials suggested that a tyre below the legal limit would take up to seventeen metres more to stop in wet conditions.  This is about three car lengths and he graphically described the consequences of being two car lengths behind a vehicle and having someone behind you with dodgy tyres.  To check your own tyres, he suggested that you insert a 20p piece into the tyre tread at various sections across the tyre and if you are able to read any of the writing around the edge of the coin, your tyres could be dangerous and therefore illegal.  Obviously we are all trying to economise at the moment but we all need to minimise the danger on the roads to ourselves, our families and other road users.  Get that 20p out now and contact etyres if you have any worries.