Tyre Maintenance
Tyre Maintenance is a very important aspect of motoring mainly because it is the only part of the vehicle that keeps you in contact with the road. However, maintaining your tyres will also help them to last longer.
Tyre Pressures
The pressure in your tyres can have a great effect on how your tyres wear down. Too much pressure and you will notice that the tread in the middle of the tyre will wear down significantly faster than the rest. On the other hand, if your tyres are under inflated you will notice that the edges of the tyres wear down faster than the middle, reducing the life of the tyre. Having under/overinflated tyres can also have a significant effect on other aspects of driving such as an increase in fuel consumption and the handling of the vehicle deteriorating.
Most cars have the recommended tyre pressures written in the owner’s manual, inside of the drivers/passenger door, or on the inside of the fuel cap. If you are still unsure TyreSafe.org have a Tyre Pressure Calculator that lists the recommended pressures for most vehicles or preferably call in to our depot for a Free Pressure check.
The Law - What Do I Need To Know?
Your vehicle must be fitted with the correct type of tyre for its use. The legal limit for minimum depth of the tread on all car and van tyres is 1.6 millimetres, across the central 3 of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre. The tyres fitted to your vehicle must be of the same construction on the same axle i.e Radial, Crossply or Bias Belted.
We recommend you change your tyres at around 3mm as leaving them any longer will make a major difference to the handling and braking capabilities of your vehicle.
We suggest you call in for a free monthly tyre and pressure check to avoid the chance of penalty points (3 points per illegal tyre) or up to £2,500.00 (per tyre) in fines.
Do I Need New Tyres?
There are several signs to look for which will help you decide whether it's time to change such as lack of grip and braking ability. Tyre age is another problem as the tread may be ok, however perishing on the sidewall can cause blebbing and ultimately a blowout. Ageing tends to occur most when your car is used infrequently.
Again we suggest you call in for a free tyre depth and pressure check on a monthly basis.
