Car Insurance News from Be Wiser

Motorists advised to think before buying tyres

Drivers have been urged to consider a tyre's quality rather than price after tests showed cheaper products do not perform as well in wet weather. Autocar's senior tester Jamie Corstorphine said the magazine was "in no doubt that quality pays dividends" after pitching the five leading budget brands against a higher-priced premium tyre. In a trial involving wet braking at speeds of 50 mph, a VW Golf fitted with Continental tyres stopped at the shortest distance, followed by cars equipped with cheaper products from Nankang, GT Radial, Wanli, Triangle and Linglong. Mr Corstorphine commented: "We expected the bargain tyres in this test to fall short of the Continental, but we were not prepared for just how poorly some performed." Autocar emphasised the importance of good wet weather handling in the UK, which experiences an average of 200 days of rain per year. Accidents which occur during bad weather could affect car insurance premiums. Tyres should also be checked for pressure and tread depth when driving on icy or snowy roads, TyreSafe has advised those planning to drive to skiing destinations.

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