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Skoda Advises Drivers to Check Tires Before Winter Comes

With this winter expected to be just as long and treacherous as the last one, Skoda is advising car owners to check their tires now in order to ensure they can cope with the winter weather conditions.

According to Skoda, tire treads are essential in order to maintain grip and keep the vehicle safe. Tire treads should be checked at least once a month for depth, cracks, bulges or uneven wear. “At this time of year and as we move into winter, the weather can cause roads to become wet, icy and snowy and these conditions mean that your stopping distances will be increased. Having more tread on your tires reduces this stopping distance dramatically so we urge everyone to carry out regular checks as the bad weather continues,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, in Skoda's press release.

Legally, a tire should have a tread depth of 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the entire circumference in the UK, but most industry experts agree that you need at least 3 mm. If found driving with tires that are in breach of these regulations, UK motorists can expect a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each substandard tire.

“As part of the ongoing maintenance of a car, drivers should keep a close eye on their tire tread depth.  A simple way to establish if your tire is safe or not is to place a twenty pence piece inside the tread. If the tread is deeper than the rim of the coin in various positions around the tire then it is safe. If however, the tire is worn more than this, or if it worn more on one side than the other, then go to your retailer or tire dealership and get them checked and/or changed,” John Bower, Head of Aftersales at Skoda, elaborates about how drivers can check their tire tread depth.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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