Slush Planing And Role Of Winter Tyres In Cold Months

Tyres come in different categories according to the driving goals and condition of the place. Some common types of car tyres are seasonal tyres, cost-based tyres. Run flat tyres, terrain tyres and more. If we consider seasonal tyres, mainly three types of seasonal tyres are available: winter tyres, summer tyres and all-season tyres.

Winter tyres are suitable for cold roads and snowy surfaces. Winter Car Tyres Stockport are effective when you have to drive your vehicle on a thick layer of snow and slush.

Tyres generally struggle on these surfaces due to slippery surfaces;

Your tyres may slip on snowy roads because of slush planing. This is a common phenomenon that takes place in the winter months.

In this blog, we will talk about slush planing, driving tips to avoid slush planing and winter tyres.

Have a look!

What is slush planing?

Slipping of a car tyre on slush is slush planing. This phenomenon is similar to hydroplaning which occurs in wet road conditions. In slush planing, a layer of slush is created between the tyre and the road surface. As a result, tyres become unable to maintain proper grip and traction. Traction is an essential factor for the movement of car tyres on roads. The absence of friction in the case of slush planing causes slipping of the car tyres because they cannot provide better traction due to the layer of slush.

Aquaplaning or hydroplaning takes place at the speed of 70-80km/h but the event of slush planing may take place at the speed of 50-60km/h. As you see; slush planing is a more dangerous phenomenon.

This event takes place when the temperature is neat zero and when the snow or ice melts to create a layer of slush. The layer of slush does not need to be very deep. Slush planing can occur at a depth of just 1 or 2 centimeters.

Factors That Affect Slush Planing

The intensity of slush planing depends on the following factors:

Speed of the vehicle:

As mentioned above, slush planing may occur at low speeds as well. Therefore, you have to drive your car on slush carefully.

Tread Pattern And Depth:

If your tyres can displace slush well on snowy roads, you are safe because of the efficiency of your tyres. Tread depth is also an important factor in this case. Only tyres with optimum tread depth will deal with the event of slush planning successfully.

Depth of slush:

Even a thin layer of slush can cause slush planing. Therefore, do not drive your car carelessly if you do not observe mounds of slush.

Air pressure:

The inflation level in your tyres is also a common factor. Low or high air pressure increases the chances of slush planing.

As you see, different factors are responsible for slush planing. If you consider these factors, you can make a better preventive plan for this dangerous event.

Preventive Tips For Slush Planing

Inspect Your Tyres Before Driving:

Optimum tread depth is a common requirement if you are going to drive your car on a snowy surface. Moreover, you must check the air pressure in tyres as well. Worn and improperly inflated tyres are not effective in cold conditions.

Drive your car slowly:

Decrease the speed of your vehicle in snowy conditions. These conditions are not ideal for speedy driving. The slow speed of your tyres will increase their efficiency to displace snow and slush.

Change Lanes Cautiously:

Try to change your lanes rarely because of the presence of slush at the side of roads. If you must change the lane, you can choose a place with the least height of the slush mound.

Ensure Proper Visibility:

Clean your windscreen and switch on headlights to improve the level of visibility. It is possible other drivers do not notice your vehicle because of foggy weather. Therefore, improving visibility is also a crucial factor to avoid slush planing.

Role of winter tyres

Slush planing is a dangerous phenomenon that may cause serious road accidents. Therefore, you need a solid plan to deal with the issue. Your safety must include buying winter tyres in the next winter months.

As the name suggests, winter tyres are suitable for cold roads and layers of snow on the roads.

Winter Tyres: Features And Performance

Winter tyres come with a special rubber material that maintains their elasticity when the temperature is near zero. Generally, car tyres become very hard in these conditions.

Moreover, the tread pattern of winter tyres is also specialized for winter conditions. The deeper tread of winter tyres has sipes that displace extra snow and slush very effectively. Moreover, winter tyres maintain proper grip and traction on both dry and snowy roads with the same tread design.

Winter tyres: benefits

As you see, winter tyres come with features that are suitable for winter conditions. If you install winter tyres in your vehicle, you will get the following benefits:

Winter tyres maintain proper grip and traction on cold roads because they come with a softer rubber material. Moreover, deeper tread construction also plays a great role in enhancing the gripping power of winter tyres.

Braking distance is a crucial factor in winter conditions. Winter tyres stop your vehicle at the correct distance because of their gripping power on snowy and slush.

Winter tyres are effective on wet roads as well. Therefore, you can use them in the rainy season as well. However, you have to consider the range of temperature. Winter tyres are not effective in warmer weather.

Summary

Your tyres work in an open environment. Therefore, they are prone to face issues caused by bad weather. You can decrease the bad effects of bad weather by improving your driving style and following traffic rules. Moreover, you must change your Tyres Poynton to improve conditions. Winter tyres can be your best companions during cold weather. So, you can have a set of winter tyres during next winter season without any doubt.