Tyres are one of the most important things to maintain on your vehicle, a small patch of rubber on each wheel is all that provides you with grip to stay on the road. We are able to supply and fit quality tyres  from the major manufacturers at compeditive prices

 

Tyre Markings

All tyres have a number of markings on the sidewall relating to the tyre size, maximum speed and weight rating along with the manufacturers name and the tyre model. For example, your tyre will have details like this on it: 205/55 R16 91V

In this case, the width of the tyre tread is 205mm, the height of the sidewall is 55% of the tread width, ie 0.55 * 205mm (112.75mm) and the tyre diameter is 16 inches. The letter R indicates a radial tyre and 91V is means a load rating of 615Kg (91) and a maximum speed of 149mph (V). When purchasing replacement tyres ensure that the size matches those already on the vehicle and that the speed and load ratings are at least those of the existing tyres.

Additionally, as from the 1st November 2012 all car, van & 4x4 tyres have to carry a rating label providing information on three key areas:

  • Fuel Efficiency - a higher efficiency tyre offers less rolling resistance thus reducing fuel consumption. A=Best to G=Worst
  • Wet Grip - how well the tyre performs in wet breaking. A=Best to G=Worst
  • External Noise - how much noise the tyre generates, measured in dB

Legal Requirements

To comply with the law, the tyres fitted to your vehicle must meet a number of legal requirements. Driving a vehicle that fails these requirements can lead to 3 points on your license and up to £2500 in fines per tyre with the driver being held responsible, not the owner of the vehicle.

  • The tread depth on each tyre on a passenger car must be a minimum of 1.6mm in the centre 3/4 of the tread around the entire circumference of the tyre.
  • You cannot mix tyre of different construction (eg Radial and Crossply) on the same axle.
  • The tyres must be suitable, ie correct size and type for the vehicle that they are fitted to.
  • No lumps, bumps, tears or exposed ply / cords
  • Tyres must have the correct markings including an 'E' mark to show it complies with ECE (European) regulations.

 Space saver spare wheels

It has become increasingly common for manufacturers to supply a new vehicle with a 'space saver' spare wheel rather than a full sized spare. These wheels are designed for emergency use only and should be replaced with the correct full size wheel as soon as possible. If you have to fit a space saver spare onto your vehicle then you will need to check its' maximum rated speed (often 50Mph) before driving.

Some drivers do not like the idea of having to use these 'space saver' wheels and replace them with a full size spare wheel and tyre. Some vehicles have enough boot space to allow the 'space saver' to simply be exchanged for a full size one.