Drivers "Get A Grip" With Toyota's Winter Tyre Programme

EPSOM, UNITED KINGDOM – Oct 3, 2011: Despite the Indian summer we are currently enjoying, Britain’s drivers should remember some hard lessons in the past two winters about the hazards of driving in snow and ice. Toyota has taken steps to help its customers reduce the risk of accidents and make journeys safer when temperatures fall with the introduction of its winter tyre programme.

Winter tyres are designed specifically to cope with lower temperatures not just snow and ice. Made from a different rubber compound, they give better grip and shorter stopping distances compared to standard tyres, on both wet and dry surfaces, when temperatures fall below 7°C.

Independent tests by the British Tyre Manufacturers Association* show that drivers can bring their car from 20mph to a halt 11 metres earlier on an icy road and eight metres on a snow-covered road.

Toyota secured a supply of thousands of winter tyres earlier this year suitable for most current and many past Toyota and Lexus models. Hybrids, in particular, are well catered for, with a healthy supply available for the 17-inch wheels featured on Prius, Auris Hybrid and the Lexus CT 200h.

Toyota Centres will supply competitively priced tyres and carry out the change-over for owners who can also store their standard set with the Centre until the spring.

Steve Settle, Toyota Director Customer Services, said: “Safety is of paramount importance and we have designed our winter tyre programme to give our customers the means to maintain their vehicle’s performance when driving conditions are at their worst. By working with Yokohama and Stapletons as our partners, we are also delivering the quality products and customer service they expect from Toyota.”

Toyota’s commitment to promoting the benefits of winter tyres as well as the importance of general issues such as tread wear, correct pressures and damage, is reflected in its membership of Tyresafe, one of the UK’s leading organisations promoting tyre safety and awareness.