Look after your tyres

Caring for your car’s tyres will not only save you money, but also keep it safe to drive. If your tyres are in poor condition they could blow out on a busy road or lose traction in poor weather and cause a crash. Stick to the recommended tyre pressures in your manual and check them regularly. Otherwise pop into us here at Crackmore Garage and we can check them for you for free. Tyres that are over or under pressure wear unevenly and will need to be replaced sooner.

Check the tracking regularly too as wheels that are out of alignment will wear your tyres unevenly. Depending on your car, tyres can cost anything from £50 each so it makes sense to get maximum mileage out of them.

When should I buy new tyres?

All tyres wear out or become damaged and will in time need replacing. How quickly this happens depends on various things, like your driving habits, where you live/road conditions and how well you maintain your tyres.

You should inspect your tyres regularly – at least once a month. Check the list below to see if your tyres need replacing:

• Tread wear bars:most tyres have tread wear bars – bands of hard rubber that you can only see when your tread depth has gone beyond the limit for safe driving, which is generally 1.6mm.
• Uneven wear patterns:you should also check your treads for uneven wear patterns that can indicate other problems with your tyres or your vehicle.
• There’s a bulge or a blister on the sidewallof a tyre.These can lead to tyre failure and could be dangerous.
• A tyre has gone flat due to a leak of some kind
• A tyre has lacerationsor other significant damage.
• You have sidewall or tread punctures larger than 0.64cm. You cannot repair any punctures larger than that and you should never repair tyres worn below 1.6mm.

Tips for buying replacement tyres

• Replace all four at once

It’s a good idea to replace all four tyres at once. For optimum handling and control we recommend they are all the same type and size, unless otherwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

• Make sure they match

If you’re only buying two, make sure the new ones match the tyres you’re keeping, fit them to the same axel and that this is permitted by your local laws and by the vehicle manufacturer.

• Put new tyres on the rear axle

For better traction and stability when you drive, if you are only buying two new tyres put them on the rear wheels.