October 30, 2012 11.32 am This story is over 136 months old

Ambulances prepare for cold winter

Better response times: More than 1,000 cold weather tyres will be fitted to Lincolnshire ambulances, as the service gears up for winter.

More than 1,000 cold weather tyres will be fitted to Lincolnshire ambulances, as the service gears up to face plummeting temperatures and icy roads.

This is the second year East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) has fitted the seasonal tyres to its fleet.

In total 306 ambulances and two-wheel drive fast response vehicles will be fitted with cold weather tyres.

Tests showed they could reduce ambulances’ braking distances by more than half and allowed for responsive steering and good traction with the road in all conditions.

Steve Farnsworth, EMAS Fleet Manager, said: “Fitting cold weather tyres is key to preparing for potentially difficult conditions over the coming months.

“We don’t know what the weather will throw at our crews but the tyres we’ve chosen perform in extreme cold and in the wet as well as being able to deal better with snow and ice.

The programme will cost £80,000 and will see some vehicles fitted with as many as six winter tyres as they have twin wheels at the rear. The whole process will be completed by the end of November.

Cold weather tyres will be re-used from last year, where possible and following safety checks.

Tyres currently on vehicles will also receive a safety inspection when removed. Those which can be re-used will be stored until spring 2013.

Source: EMAS