Winter driving: tyre and journey checks
Winter driving: tyre and journey checks
Prepare the tyres and the journey before snow or ice: confirm the approved winter equipment, inspect condition, measure cold pressure and check the route. On slippery roads, reduce speed and increase following distance. A tyre category, one temperature or an unsourced stopping-distance table cannot establish how your vehicle will stop.
Tire choice
NHTSA distinguishes winter tyres for deep snow from warm-weather summer tyres. Choose the exact tyre and approved vehicle specification for expected conditions; do not treat a universal 7 °C crossover as a test result for every summer, winter and all-season model.
Source: NHTSA TireWise — Buying: What type of tire should I buy?
Cold pressure and condition
Check cold pressure against the vehicle label or handbook, including the appropriate load setting. Cooling can lower pressure, but a generic bar-per-degree adjustment is not a replacement for a gauge reading. Inspect tread, sidewalls and the spare; have damage examined.
Source: NHTSA TireWise — Maintenance: Tire Pressure; Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure
Before leaving
Check forecasts, closures and road conditions before departure. Slow down and leave more stopping space on slippery surfaces. Read the vehicle instructions for ABS and driver-assistance systems; familiarise yourself with compatible winter equipment before needing it.
Source: NHTSA — Driving in Winter Weather; Tires; Safety Technologies
What a comparison needs
We removed the former ADAC/TCS distance ranges because no identifiable test supported them. A useful comparison needs named tyre models, size, vehicle, test speed, surface, temperature and an accessible result. This page reports preparation guidance, not a TireFitLab braking test.
Sources checked for the cited claims: 2026-09-04
Seasonal check
Winter tire rules coming up?
Check tread depth, markings and local winter requirements before the first cold spell instead of waiting for the appointment rush.