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Your tyres are critical components of your vehicle, after all, only four pieces of rubber are keeping you firmly on the road. It's important to check your tyres and maintain them.
How to get the best out of them
Worn tread and under-inflated tyres are extremely dangerous and call for an immediate replacement.
In addition to having a fresh set of rubber fitted, it is just as important to conduct wheel alignment.
How often do you check your tyres? Email us.
It pays to have your tyres checked at regular intervals, especially if you are planning a trip somewhere.
10 simple tyre care tips:
1. Check the tread on each tyre on a regular basis - every two weeks should be a minimum.
2. Carry out proper checks across the entire width of a tyre and around its circumference.
3. Check the depth of the main tread grooves in several places across and around the tyre.
4. Use a simple gauge to check tread depth. The legal minimum tread depth for a car is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width and round its entire circumference.
5. Don’t wait until a tyre reaches the legal minimum before changing it. GEM recommends it’s time for a new tyre when the tread depth reaches 3mm.
6. You will also find tread wear indicators at regular intervals around the main grooves. When a tyre’s tread surface is worn to the same level as these indicators, then the tyre is at the legal limit and must be replaced.
7. Check for any cuts, tears, swellings and bumps. These could be caused by going through a pothole or hitting the kerb. If there’s anything to give you cause for concern, then get the tyre checked by an expert as soon as possible.
8. Check pressure using a tyre pressure gauge or the air machines found on most garage forecourts (some will charge you, a few are still free).
Pressures for your car can normally be found in your owner's manual. You may also find the pressure marked on the driver’s door pillar or inside the fuel flap. Otherwise, look up the pressures you need using a tyre pressure website.
9. Recommended tyre pressures change if you are carrying a full load or a lot of passengers. So make sure you use the right figure for the journeys you are about to make.
10. Don’t forget to check the condition of the spare tyre. Too often it’s the forgotten tyre until you suddenly find you need it.
How to get the best out of them
Worn tread and under-inflated tyres are extremely dangerous and call for an immediate replacement.
In addition to having a fresh set of rubber fitted, it is just as important to conduct wheel alignment.
How often do you check your tyres? Email us.
It pays to have your tyres checked at regular intervals, especially if you are planning a trip somewhere.
10 simple tyre care tips:
1. Check the tread on each tyre on a regular basis - every two weeks should be a minimum.
2. Carry out proper checks across the entire width of a tyre and around its circumference.
3. Check the depth of the main tread grooves in several places across and around the tyre.
4. Use a simple gauge to check tread depth. The legal minimum tread depth for a car is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width and round its entire circumference.
5. Don’t wait until a tyre reaches the legal minimum before changing it. GEM recommends it’s time for a new tyre when the tread depth reaches 3mm.
6. You will also find tread wear indicators at regular intervals around the main grooves. When a tyre’s tread surface is worn to the same level as these indicators, then the tyre is at the legal limit and must be replaced.
7. Check for any cuts, tears, swellings and bumps. These could be caused by going through a pothole or hitting the kerb. If there’s anything to give you cause for concern, then get the tyre checked by an expert as soon as possible.
8. Check pressure using a tyre pressure gauge or the air machines found on most garage forecourts (some will charge you, a few are still free).
Pressures for your car can normally be found in your owner's manual. You may also find the pressure marked on the driver’s door pillar or inside the fuel flap. Otherwise, look up the pressures you need using a tyre pressure website.
9. Recommended tyre pressures change if you are carrying a full load or a lot of passengers. So make sure you use the right figure for the journeys you are about to make.
10. Don’t forget to check the condition of the spare tyre. Too often it’s the forgotten tyre until you suddenly find you need it.
