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Your Essential Tyre Safety Checklist

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Your Essential Tyre Safety Checklist

General News · Posted by: Mobile Tyres 2 U · 7th January 2020

Tyres are instrumental in delivering a safe driving performance. Using faulty or damaged tyres, or tyres that don’t adhere to safety legislation, can spell serious danger to yourself and other road users. Throughout this article, you will find safety advice regarding tyre tread depth, pressure and damage. 

What are the dangers of substandard tyres?

Inadequate tyres can cause the following problems:

  • Impaired handling — you’ll have less control over your vehicle.
  • Increased braking distance — your vehicle will take longer to brake to a halt.
  • Weak grip — your vehicle is at risk of skidding or sliding, especially in wet conditions.
  • Increased chance of a puncture

All of these hazards can be avoided by ensuring your tyres have sufficient pressure, tread depth and are free from any significant damage.

Tread depth

The tread depth of your tyre is the measurement between the surface layer of rubber and the bottom of the tyre’s grooves. 

Sufficient tread depth provides grip on the roads. Without adequate tread depth, you are at risk of losing control of your vehicle, especially in wet conditions.

The law states that every tyre on a car must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. Caught with a tread depth below the legal limit, you could be fined up to £2500 per tyre. That means if the tread of all four tyres falls below a depth of 1.6mm, you could be hit with a £10,000 fine.

Use a tread depth gauge to measure the tread depth of your tyre. Alternatively, take a 20p coin and slot it into the groove of your tyre. If the outer band is showing, your tyre is likely to have an illegal tread depth.

 

Pressure

The pressure of your tyres is another attribute that can affect driving performance. 

Under-inflated tyres increase friction on the roads, which leads to premature wear and an increased risk of a puncture. Over-inflated tyres reduce traction, which leads to impaired handling.

The correct tyre pressure will vary between vehicle makes and models. To find the appropriate tyre pressure for your vehicle, check the manufacturer’s handbook. Alternatively, look out for a sticker on the driver-side door. 

To check the pressure of your tyres, use a digital tyre pressure gauge. Inflate or deflate your tyres until they reach the pounds per square inch as recommended by the manufacturer.

Wear and tear


Some level of wear and tear is inevitable, but a significant amount will increase the chances of your tyre malfunctioning or getting a puncture. It’s important to check your tyres regularly for anything unusual. Run your hands along the tyres and feel for any abnormalities. If you do notice an issue, get it checked by professionals.

Mobile Tyres 2 U offer tyre replacements and puncture repairs to customers throughout High Wycombe, Watford and the surrounding areas. Operating 7 days a week, our experienced team will assess your vehicle for any damage. If it is required, we will replace your tyres the very same day with our stock from the world’s most reliable tyre brands. To enquire further about our services, get in contact with our team today.

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