The tyre and vehicle servicing expert has placed initial orders for approximately £7m worth of the specialist tyres, and its network of 345 centres is already seeing customers requesting their summer tyres be removed and winter tyres fitted.

Winter tyres provide enhanced mobility and safety when temperatures drop to 7 degrees Celsius and below – at which point the performance of “summer” tyres deteriorates as the rubber becomes harder and less “elastic”. As a result, summer tyres suffer from reduced grip and braking ability, and deliver a less comfortable ride.

Last year, ATS Euromaster saw the sales of its winter tyres increase by 25% compared to the previous year and is continuing to see a strong demand for the fitments, particularly from blue light fleets, supermarket chains, utilities companies and local authorities.

Peter Fairlie, ATS Euromaster’s group sales director, said: ‘Winter tyres have continued to increase in popularity over the last few years as fleets understand fitting the specialist rubber is a key way to ensure their vehicles stay safe and mobile during adverse weather conditions.

‘Winter tyres are traditionally fitted from October and we’re already getting requests from fleets to swap their tyres over. Waiting until roads are covered in ice or a vehicle gets stuck in the snow isn’t the way forward – preparing early ensures fleets will be ready for when the chill really kicks in.’