2. Check tread

Whatever tyres you plan to run, check the tread depth.

The legal limit is 1.6mm, but 3-4mm is best for winter driving, as performance in the wet drops off rapidly below this.

Try Halfords’ Analogue Tread Depth Gauge (£5.99). And if your tyres are over five years old, you need to replace them.

In the four-figure code on the sidewall, the first two numbers are the week, and the second pair the year.