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2 or 4 winter tyres: how many winter tyres do I need on my vehicle?

Tips & Advice for Car, SUV & Van tyres

Many drivers wonder how many winter tyres they need to buy. Is it better to have 2 or 4 winter tyres on your vehicle?
Contrary to popular opinion, your car must have the best grip at the rear for stability.
Therefore, it is recommended to always use 4 winter tyres on your car. Remember this simple rule: always put 4 winter tyres on your car!

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Winter Safety is the top priority!

If you’ve decided to put winter tyres on your car, remember that it is strongly recommended to use the same snow tyres on all 4 wheels no matter what kind of vehicle you have (front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or 4-wheel drive). Why? Because if you use different tyres on your front and back wheels, your vehicle will be off-balance and, as a result, less stable.

front only

Is it dangerous to put winter tyres only on the front 2 wheels of my car?

Are you trying to decide whether you want to put on 2 or 4 winter tyres? You should know that installing snow tyres only on the front 2 wheels of your car can be dangerous.
If you are driving on snow or ice, the back half of your vehicle is at risk of drifting. As you accelerate, the back wheels will exacerbate this drift. Drifting can be especially difficult to manage for drivers with limited experience in winter driving conditions.
For rear-wheel drive vehicles, putting 2 winter tyres only on the front of the car does not improve mobility.

Rear only

Is it dangerous to put winter tyres only on the back 2 wheels of my car?

Installing snow tyres only on the back 2 wheels of your car is also risky. Unlike in the previous case, the imbalanced grip here will come from the front of the vehicle. The imbalance between the front and back wheels can cause issues in handling and braking.

For rear-wheel drive vehicles, putting 2 winter tyres only on the back half does not improve mobility.

The most important things to know about how to drive in winter

  • Before driving in wintery conditions, check the weather and the driving conditions. This will help you make the right choice and keep you from ending up in dangerous situations.
  • At temperatures below 7°C, winter tyres offer improved grip and shorter braking distances.
  • Always install snow tyres in sets of 4, rather than 2, no matter what kind of vehicle you have.
braking on snow_ENG

(2) Average difference in the braking distance of a winter tyre compared to a summer tyre. Braking distance on a snowy surface from 31 to 0 mph. TÜV SÜD 2013 tests, using 205/55 R16, conducted between -4°C and -6°C.

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