Winter tyres explained - should you buy them for your car? Tyres specially designed for cold weather add grip and safety in harsh driving conditions. Read on to find out if you should buy winter tyres by: Chris Rosamond 15 Dec 2020 Europeans living in regions that suffer from harsher climates are well-used to swapping their summer tyres for winter rubber. UK motorists can be a bit more sceptical about the benefits as our winters are relatively benign, but tests consistently prove you don’t need to live halfway up a snowy Alp to enjoy safer driving on a set of winter tyres.