Top Six Tyre Tips

How to achieve the best from your tyres

1. Always fit new tyres to the rear of your car. Whether front or rear wheel drive, it is advisable to fit the least worn tyres to the rear to ensure better roadholding, especially in difficult conditions. With the least worn tyres fitted to the rear there is less chance of the car losing control on slippery surfaces and in emergency braking situations.

2. Although the legal tread limit in the UK is 1.6mm (across the central ¾ of the width of the tyre), in wet conditions and especially snow the grip of the tyre reduces considerably below 3.5 mm. We would suggest, therefore that consideration should be given to changing tyres before they wear down to the legal limit. An extra millimetre or so of tread could be the difference between getting to your destination or not, or between avoiding a collision or not!

3. Always have your wheels balanced when fitting new tyres – a balanced tyre will wear less quickly and will also help look after your cars suspension and steering systems.

4. If your tyres are worn on the edges, this may caused by incorrect wheel alignment (“tracking”). We would advise having the tracking checked, as incorrect alignment can result in premature tyre wear as well as poor roadholding.

5. Check your tyre pressures regularly – incorrect pressures result in premature wear of the tyre. Roadholding is badly affected by under and over inflated tyres.

6. And remember – your tyres are the only thing between you and the road – their condition is vital for your safety!!