Freezing temperatures and snow and ice are regular conditions faced by winter drivers in the UK and as a result, TyreSafe has recommended car owners take the time to fit winter tyres to their vehicle.

These items are specifically designed to operate in colder temperatures and therefore they are less likely to lose grip when drivers face snow and ice out on the roads.

In addition, the larger sipes – the grooves in the tyre – allow more water to be displaced from the road's surface when driving, ensuring individuals who invest in these tyres are less likely to suffer from issues like aquaplaning.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: "While we can't know for sure if we will experience snow this year, we can be certain that drivers fitting winter tyres will have better grip and safety, throughout the entire winter period.

"We've had one of the mildest autumns on record, but the colder, wetter weather is now most definitely here bringing with it more hazardous driving conditions."

He added that the tread compound in normal tyres will begin to stiffen when temperatures fall below seven degrees Celsius. As a result, it makes perfect sense for drivers to invest in tyres that are specifically tailored to retain their malleability (and therefore grip) at these lower temperatures.

Indeed, tests carried out by the British Tyre Manufacturers Association on a car travelling at 60 mph showed that when fit with winter tyres in a temperature of five degrees Celsius, it was able to stop five metres – more than a car's length – sooner than when traditional, all-year tyres were fitted.

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This story was posted by Daniel Crosby, Assistant Marketing Executive at the Fuel Card Group.