Tyre Safety
Car Tyre Safety and the Law
Stay safe on the road by looking after your car tyres and ensure they are compliant with UK road laws.
If you are unsure if your vehicle’s tyres are safe and would like to arrange a quick tyre check please call Kayleigh on 0844 247 1875 (calls charged at local rate).
Tyre pressures
Having the correct tyre pressures in your vehicle is important as it allows you to:
- Maximise fuel efficiency
- Maintain breaking distances and handling
- Extend the life of the tyre
As the driver of your vehicle it is your responsibility to check that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.
The correct pressures required for the front and rear tyres will be specified by the car’s manufacturer. To check what the correct tyre pressures are for your vehicle you will need to refer to the owner’s manual. In many cars you will find a sticker on the inside edge of the driver’s door with this information.
Tyre wear
Your vehicle’s tyres will wear gradually over time so it may be difficult to notice a gradual decrease in their performance.
Tyres become worn for many different reasons such as:
- Over or under inflation
- Age and usage
- Incorrect wheel alignment or balancing
- Emergency breaking
It is important to check each tyre’s level of tread individually to assess whether the tyre is within the legal tread limit.
The legal limit for the minimum amount of tread on a car tyre is 1.6mm, measured across ¾ of the tyre width around the whole circumference of the tyre. The penalties for driving a car on the road with tyres worn below the legal limit can include penalty points on your licence and a cash fine of up to £2,500 per tyre.
Wheel balancing
Each wheel on your vehicle must be correctly balanced to ensure that it rotates evenly. A set of correctly balanced wheels will give you a smooth ride and help you avoid unnecessary tyre wear.
The signs that your vehicle requires its wheels balancing are vibrations felt through the steering wheel or car floor. Commonly the vibrations are felt when your drive above a certain speed so driving on a dual carriage way or motorway can be a good way to check if you have a problem.
Wheel alignment
Your vehicle’s wheels can move out of alignment when they are involved in small incidents such as hitting a curb or driving through a pothole.
When wheels become misaligned your car tyres wear more quickly, you increase your fuel consumption, and your road handling will be affected.
You may notice that your car is pulling to one side when you lightly hold the steering wheel in a straight line. This is a sure sign that something is wrong and you should arrange to have your car checked.
We offer a free wheel alignment check to assess whether any alignment work is required. To book your free check call Kayleigh on 0844 247 1875 (calls charged at local rate).
