| The tread compound hardens starting at 7°C, no longer providing sufficient grip on wet and cold roads. Winter tires however remain flexible and grippy even at low temperatures thanks to a high portion of natural rubber. |  | Assuming a tread depth of at least 4 mm, the modern winter tire tread pattern delivers excellent grip not only on wet roads but on snow as well. The snow presses into the wide tread grooves, providing additional traction. |  | When starting off from a standstill, the tread blocks deform when the tire moves, and its sipes create a multitude of biting edges that intermesh with the wintry surface, thus guaranteeing reliable braking properties and impressive acceleration values. |