TYRE CARE TIPS

Top Tyre Tips For Checking Tyre Pressures Correctly

• Check your tyre pressure at least once a month.
• Tyre pressure should be checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level. This can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate which is often located inside the fuel filler flap or on the driver’s door sill.
• Check the pressure when tyres are cold (i.e. when you have travelled less than two miles).
• If you are carrying a full load of passengers or luggage or will be towing a trailer or caravan, tyre pressures should be increased in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Details can be found in the handbook.
• Ensure a reliable and accurate pressure gauge is used.
• Check the pressure in all four tyres not forgetting to check the spare tyre as well.
• While checking pressures, give the rest of the tyre a visual inspection. Remove any stones and other objects embedded in the tread. Look out for any bulges, lumps or cuts.
• If you are unsure on any aspect of tyre pressure or tyre condition take your vehicle to an approved fitting centre and speak to the experts

Stay Legal - Stay Safe

• The current minimum legal requirements for tread depth relating to cars and light trailers (including caravans) up to 3500 Kgs gross vehicle weight and or 8 seated vehicles including the driver is a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth covering the central 3/4 of the tyre width in a continuous band throughout the whole circumference of the tyre. However it is recommended by many safety organisations as well as most vehicle and tyre manufacturers that tyres be changed at 3mm, the following is an excerpt from the Continental tyre web site
  
  "The tread depth of your tyres can dramatically affect stopping distances in the wet and grip when cornering. The legal tread depth limit is 1.6mm, but for greater safety in the wet Continental recommends you change your tyres at 3mm. Your tyres are the only contact a vehicle has with the road. (At 1.6mm of tread depth your tyres are only 55% effective compared to new. This means your brakes are also only 55% effective. Below 3mm of tread depth, wet stopping distances start to increase significantly. All tyres have tread wear indicators, usually 1.6mm - 2mm high and positioned in the base of the main grooves. This is a simple visual way of checking the current tread depth of your tyres."
  
  
• Tyres must be suitable (of the correct size and type) for the use to which the vehicle(inc trailor where applicable)is being put
• Tyres must be inflated to the vehicle or tyre manufacturers recommended pressures
• Radial and crossply tyres should not be mixed on the same axle, a two axle vehicle with single rear wheels must not have radial tyres fitted to the front of crossply tyre are fitted to the rear.
• Mixing brands and patterns of the same construction type is permissible depending on the vehicle type and manufacturers recommendation. Check your vehicle's handbook for tyre fitment details and options
• No Tyre shall have a cut or break in its fabric more than 25mm or greater than 10% of the tyres section width in length or deep enough to expose the cords
• There must be no lump, buldge, or tear caused by the separation or partial fracture of the structure of the tyre and no cords or part of the ply structure be exposed.
• The current penalty for each faulty tyre in the UK can be 3 penalty points and a fine upto £2500.00

We Recommend!

• Check your tyres at least one a month and before long journeys, tyre pressures and signs of uneven wear or damage. Just kicking your tyres, believe it or not is not an acurate way to measure tyre pressure! Incorrectly inflated tyres can generate a tremendous amount of heat and can fail suddenly.
• Change your tyres at 3mm minimum tread depth for optimum performance and safety
• Have your wheel alignment checked to prevent uneven wear and save fuel! Correct alignment helps reduce the amount of friction and force needed therefore saving fuel.
• If you feel any vibrations through the steering or your vehicle just does not seem to be performing as it should, be safe and get it checked.
• Check your spare, its your friend, it gets lonley in the boot and a little attention will go a long way to ensure it won't let you down when you need it, and remember its an offence to fit a spare that is itself not roadworthy.
• Don't forget to keep any tools you may need to fit your spare tyre in good working order as stomping up and down on the hard sholder because you have no jack maybe classed as an offence.