Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making winter tyres mandatory on road vehicles during the autumn and winter.

Winter tyres do have improved grip in snow and icy conditions and some countries require these tyres at certain times of year. In those regions that may be exposed to prolonged periods of significant winter conditions, or where the driver knows that they will have no choice but to journey on roads that may be affected by snow and ice, the cost of equipping vehicles with winter tyres may be justified.

However, given the relatively low frequency of heavy snow and ice experienced in the UK, the Government currently has no plans to introduce a legal requirement mandating winter tyres.