My friend loves to drive to the hilly and snowy areas, such roads give fascination to him. One winter morning, after he experienced a dangerous skid on a bend. He realized that his summer tyres were not good for snowy and icy roads. After this incident, he determined to find the solution and discovered the seasonal tyres. After thorough research, he discovered that summer tyres are made differently as they work perfectly on the dry and wet roads whereas winter tyres are designed differently and perform perfectly on the wet and icy roads. After comparing and contrasting the world of tyres, he switched to continental tyres and noticed the performance difference immediately. His driving experience becomes more smoother, safe and stress-free. In this blog, you will get information about the difference between summer and winter continental tyres and why drivers should choose these tyres.

6 Key Differences Between Summer and Winter Continental Tyres

Rubber Compound

There is a major difference in the rubber compound of Continental Tyres in Corby. Summer tyres are made up of hard rubber compounds that provide durability and better grip in warm temperatures on wet and dry roads. This compound ensures optimal performance that provides excellent traction and stability while cornering. But this compound doesn’t perform well in winter weather conditions because it hardens the rubber and loses flexibility whereas winter tyres are made up of softer rubber compounds that are specifically designed to keep that flexible in the freezing temperature. This flexibility allows the tyres to maintain better griping and reduce the chances of skidding to perform well in temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius.

Tread Compound

The tread compound of the tyres also makes a big impact on your driving experience. The tread compound of the summer continental tyres that are designed to give maximum contact on the road surface. These tyres have a less groves and a simple tread design which works in improving the handling and braking of your vehicle on dry roads. This pattern absorbs the water effectively and reduces the risk of aquaplanning during monsoons. On the other hand winter continental tyres have more deeper grooves and cuts in the tread to provide better traction on the icy and snowy roads. These patterns also enhance the grip and stability by eliminating the water away from the tyres which prevents the slips and skids.

Range of Temperature

The temperature range can also differ both the type of tyres. The summer continental tyres are designed the temperatures above 7 degrees Celsius. These tyres are made to perform well in warm and hot temperatures for better gripping and stability. The tyres might lose their elasticity and can become less effective in cold areas and could compromise the safety and performance of the car whereas winter continental tyres are specially made for temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius. These tyres maintain flexibility and performance in freezing weather conditions which ensures better handling and braking of the vehicle. If you use winter tyres in the scorching hot weather then it might lead to faster wear and can reduce the performance due to its softer compound. 

Performance on Snowy Roads

The summer and winter continental tyres perform differently in different weather conditions as summer tyres are not well for the snowy and icy roads and winter tyres are not well-designed for the dry and wet roads. The softer grip of the summer tyres can make driving unsafe in the winter climate. This makes them lose traction and increases the chances of accidents on snowy roads. Winter continental tyres work well for snowy and icy roads because of their specialized tread pattern and rubber composition. Its deep groves can improve the grip and control of the tyres making them a safer choice for winters. Winter tyres can effectively perform well on snow-covered and icy-patched roads. 

Braking Performance

The braking performance of summer and winter continental Car Tyres in Corby are different as summer tyres offer a shorter braking distance because of their high performance designed on dry and wet roads during summer. However, in cold and icy conditions, the braking efficiency significantly decreases and it might lose its control. Winter tyres are designed to provide shorter braking distances in the cold weather conditions. Their innovative design ensures that the tyres maintain better traction while braking the vehicle and reduces the risk of skidding. However, their braking distance decreases if used in dry and hot climatic changes. 

Fuel-Efficient

The winter and summer continental tyres perform differently in terms of fuel consumption. Summer continental tyres are more fuel-efficient in warm weather conditions because of their optimized rolling resistance. The hard rubber compound tread design reduces energy consumption and improves the mileage of the vehicle. Its innovative technology gives less burden to the vehicle which significantly decreases the fuel consumption as they lose the flexibility of the tyres. Winter continental tyres have high rolling resistance because of their soft rubber compound and deeper tread patterns. This reduces the fuel efficiency of the vehicle in the warm weather conditions. They provide better fuel economy by reducing the excessive braking needs and acceleration on slippery paths.