Tyres FAQs: Everything You Need To Know

As we are offering a free tyre and wheel check for the whole month of May, we wanted to cover some of the most common questions about tyres, the most important things to remember and where to find all the tyre information you need. 

How Often Should You Check Your Tyres?

It's recommended to check your tyres at least once a month or before embarking on a long journey. Regularly checking your tyres can help identify low-pressure or tread wear issues. 

What Should You Look for When Checking Your Tyres? 

You should check the air pressure, overall condition and tread depth. Air pressure can be done through an air machine located at your nearest petrol station. And remember, when checking the overall tyres’ condition, look for any cracks or unusual worn patches. Tread depth can be checked using a 20p coin. Notice the banding on the edge of the coin. Place this in the tread; if it’s below the band on the coin, you need a new set of tyres. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. 

Why is Tread Depth Important? 

Tread depth is essential for a good grip on wet roads. The pattern of the tread helps remove water from between the tyre and the surface of the road. Tread below the legal minimum causes longer stopping distances and reduced grip, leading to a high chance of aquaplaning. 

 

 

Why is Correct Tyre Pressure Important? 

Under or over-inflated tyres can lead to being unsafe on the road. The handling of your car and grip can worsen, causing irregular or unpredictable car behaviour. 

Under-inflated tyres can suffer from sudden rapid deflation and premature wear on the outside edges, as both the wheel and tyre are prone to damage. 

Over-inflated tyres result in less area of contact, meaning less grip and increased wear on the centre of the tread. 

What are the Fines for Driving with Illegal Tyres? 

If you are driving with illegal tyres, you can face a hefty fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. It’s worth spending the money replacing the tyres than possibly being fined a lot more. 

Where Can I Find the Correct Tyre Pressure? 

You can find your tyre pressure information in your car handbook, fuel filler cap or on the driver's door sill. 

How to Find Your Tyre Size

Your tyre size will be located on the side wall of each of your tyres, in the car handbook, fuel filler cap or on the driver’s door sill. 

It will read in this format: Width of Tyre/ Profile of Tyre/ Rim Size/Speed

To find out more about tyre sizes, click here. 

How Long Will My Tyres Last? 

Your tyres will last around 20,000 miles. This depends on a variety of factors, such as how far you travel and how often you travel. 

Even if you don’t travel often and use your car to pop to the shops, your tyres can be susceptible to cracking due to less use. This is something to check every month. 

We hope this blog has helped you understand the importance of checking your tyres and how to check your tyres so you know you are safe driving on the roads. 

Tags: *Car_Tyres *Tyre_Pressure *Car_Safety *Safety *Tyre_Safety *Wheels *Pothole_Damage *Free_Check