Making sure your tyres are in good roadworthy condition is not only important for safety reasons but it improves the drive, saves money on fuel and also keeps you on the right side of the law!
Motorists can be fined up to £2500.00 per tyre so potentially that’s a whopping £10K on a set of 4 illegal tyres plus penalty points on your driving licence!
Added to that, if you are involved in an accident, even if it is not your fault, your insurance could be invalidated.
The law states that the tyre is free from defects and the tread needs to be 1.6mm across the central ¾ across the tyre, though we recommend replacing your tyres when the tread is at 3mm. We wish everyone could experience what our team has on training days. The difference in stopping distance between tyres with a 1.6mm tread and a 3mm tread is phenomenal, as demonstrated on this video made by Continental Tyres.
The easiest way is to call into any of our branches for a free tyres safety check but here are the things we recommend you do
Tread Depth
Ideally use a tread depth gauge and check the tread at several places on the tyre, ensuring that at least ¾ of the tread area across the tyre has a minimum of 1.6 mm. If you don’t have a gauge, use a 20 pence piece; place the coin in the tread of the tyre and as long as you can’t see the outer band around the coin, your tyre is above the legal limit
Tyre Pressure
When checking tyre pressure, the first thing you need is a gauge that matches the specifications of your vehicle. You can find information on these specifications in your manual.
Next, remove the dust cap from the valve and attach the gauge, making sure it’s firmly in place. You might hear a hissing sound as some of the air escapes but this is normal.
Your gauge will then display a reading which you can compare with the recommended tyre pressure of your vehicle. Your tyre may need inflating or deflating depending on the reading. You can inflate your tyres at most fuel stations, or use an electrical or foot-operated pump at home
Tyre Condition
Because your tyres are in constant contact with the road they can suffer a lot of damage from general use, uneven surfaces, and the dreaded potholes
Regularly examine your tyres foreign objects like nails, screws and stones. If you find any lumps or bulges get them checked by a professional as this could be an indication of internal damage.
Please call into any of our branches and we will give your tyres a free safety check and make sure that your tyre pressures are correct – for safer and more fuel-efficient driving.
