New Year - New Tyres

The new year almost always brings with it the worst of the weather, so now is a good time to check your tyres ready for what may lay ahead. Make this a New Year Resolution. Check that you have at least  1.6mm tread otherwise not only will you fail your MOT but be illegal.  Keep an old 20p in the car and when you insert the coin into the tread, if the outer rim of the coin is exposed, then you need to replace the tyre. Better still buy a Tread Gauge for only a few pounds.

 

Many car owners are wondering about All season tyres and wondering if they are worth the extra expense. If you decide to fit all season tyres, you must fit them on all wheels. This is because if only fitting them on the front of the car, it could destabilise the balance of the vehicle when cornering and in wet or wintery conditions.

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Winter tyres are made from a different compound of rubber with more Silica, this makes the tyre softer and more suited to lower temperatures  than summer tyres, giving them more grip on icy roads .In freezing   conditions winter tyres will enable you to stop in shorter distances. However it is best not to test this out on snowy or icy roads.

 

When buying new tyres, buy the best you can afford as they, together with your brakes, are the most vital protection for your safety. Premium tyres are not the cheapest but will last longer than a budget tyre.  Always have the  same tread pattern on all your tyres, and the same make which makes the car handling safer.

 

It is better to check the tyre pressure when the tyres are cold.

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Tyre Labelling is important. This gives information on fuel efficiency, external noise and most importantly braking and wet grip performance. For example, a tyre rated A would give a stopping distance of 18 metres better than a G tyre rating. In other words labels A, B and C will give better grip, fuel and noise levels than D,E,F and G.  Again this is all a cost issue , however if you  value your life and the lives of your passengers, it is well worth it.

 

Happy and Safe Driving.