# Winter World

Continental Winter World

Winter is here - get out and enjoy the season!  

In some parts of the world, winter means piles of snow, sparkling frost and clinking icicles. Elsewhere, it’s rain, fog and sleet, with only the occasional sprinkling of snowflakes. No matter which climate you'll be dealing with during the colder months of the year, winter is whatever you make of it. Enjoying the great outdoors and getting out into the fresh air has never been more important, but winter roads are challenging, so you need the best equipment possible. Whether you’re looking forward to going skiing in the mountains, building a snowman with the kids, or even just long walks in the woods, here’s how to make sure your car will get you there safely:

  • Get the right winter or all-season tyres for the conditions.
  • Check your tyre pressure and tread.
  • Go through our checklist and put together a winter kit with essentials.
  • Learn the most important safe driving tips.

Enjoy winter outdoors, regardless of the weather – and the driving conditions.

Dive in to find out more…

 

Father and son packing a sled for sledding in the car trunk, dressed in warm clothes.

Why winter tyres matter

We want you to enjoy winter, regardless of the weather – and we want you to arrive safely at your destination, regardless of the driving conditions. Here’s why it’s so important to have the right tyres for winter weather:

  • Rubber becomes less flexible in the cold. That is why lower temperatures require compounds with a higher natural rubber content.
  • A softer rubber compound offers better grip and braking performance in the cold.
  • Specially designed tread patterns are specifically shaped to deal with wet roads, ice or snow.
  • So-called sipes, small channels cut into the tread blocks, clear water, slush and thin snow.
  • Nothing grips snow like snow. So, in the case of compact snow, deep tread grooves interlock with snow, providing additional grip.

Depending on where you live and where you will be driving this winter, your tyres may need some or all of these features. Find out whether winter or all-season tyres are the right choice for you. If you are faced with conditions that require winter tyres even occasionally, we highly recommend the switch, even if it isn’t required by law. It’s a matter of safety.

When to switch to winter tyres

Once you’ve established that you need winter tyres (by law or by choice), you need to find the best time to make the seasonal tyre switch. Changing to winter tyres too early in the season increases tread wear, as the softer compound isn’t as robust in warmer temperatures. However, making the change too late can cause tyre damage and lead to serious safety risks, such as a loss of grip and reduced braking performance on wet. In some countries or regions, where winter tyres are mandatory, you may even be fined for driving with summer tyres in winter. You may be familiar with the rule of thumb to use winter tyres from October until Easter, but more specifically, you need them once seasonal temperatures drop.

Where are winter tyres mandatory?

Many countries across Europe have winter tyre laws in place. In some countries, winter tyres are mandatory during a certain time period, in others only in certain weather conditions. We’ve put together an overview of all the laws, including details on minimum tread depth, studded tyres, snow chains and other legally mandated winter equipment.

Map of Europe

Winter tyres vs. all-season tyres

Do you live in a region with mild winter conditions, where temperatures rarely drop? If you think you don’t need winter tyres, but summer tyres may not be good enough, perhaps all-season tyres are the right solution for you. Check our article comparing the advantages and safety features of tyres designed to perform all year round

Two cars mounting Continental all-season tires

Prepare your car for winter

You know how it goes: One day you’re driving through beautiful fall foliage – next thing you know, winter’s here. Don’t get caught off-guard and prepare early with our handy checklist to get your car ready for cold weather, ice and snow.

A man cleans snow near the car with shovel in nature.

Tyre pressure in winter

Did you know that the cold affects your tyre inflation? The lower the temperature, the lower the air pressure in your tyres. At the same time, the right tyre pressure is important for grip and traction, especially in winter. Find out how exactly cold temperatures affects tyre pressure and how to make sure your tyres get through winter with just the right inflation.

Inflating a tire on a red car in snow.

Tread depth for winter tyres

Tyre tread is always important, but in winter, as your tyres encounter rain, ice and snow, it matters even more. Find out the legal minimum tread requirements and why it’s so important to have enough tread as you drive into winter.

A young woman is measuring the tread depth of her car tire.

Test results for winter tyres

One of the reasons Continental tyres perform so well in independent tyre tests is the fact that we test our tyres so rigorously before they are even released to the world. We put our winter tyres in particular through a series of tests under a variety of extreme winter conditions.

A sports car shown at winter tuning event.

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