When you’re driving – whatever the speed or conditions – your only contacts with the road are the four postcard size ‘footprints’ of your tyres.
Statistics show that almost half of all car accidents are caused when a car skids, tyres are your vital link with the road and it pays to have the best fitted by professional, qualified technicians.
Tyre Laws
The law demands that tyres have a tread depth of 1.6mm in a continuous band around the centre three quarters of the tyre. These levels represent the absolute minimum and tyres as worn as this should be replaced immediately. To help you judge how much tread you have on your tyres, manufacturers often mould tread bars at roughly 1.6mm. If you can see these bars your tyres are about to become illegal and unsafe.
The TIC recommends changing tyres at 3mm and below as braking distances can be 5.8 metres less than new tyres. At 1.6mm you take 13.6 metres longer to stop in wet conditions (TIC Tyre Industry Council)
The purpose of the tread on tyres is to allow the tyre to grip in the wet. Hugh volumes of water on the surface of the road have to be squeezed out by the tread grooves. For example, at 60mph, with a water depth of only 3mm, the tyre has to clear over 2 gallons of water per second.
3mm of water on a rainy day is not unusual. In rain puddles, you will often find as much as 8 to 10mm. if this water is not rapidly dispersed, the tyre will begin to “aquaplane” a sheet of water builds up between the tyre and the road – and the tyre loses all contact with the surface of the road.
This is very dangerous. The capacity to disperse water is dramatically reduced with low and worn tread depth, so for safety reasons carefully monitor the depth of tread on your tyres.
Correct Tyre Pressure
Check your handbook or our inflation chart and keep you tyres at the correct pressure.
Wrongly inflated tyres will greatly shorten your tyres’ life, and could make your car dangerous to drive. Check every two weeks – including the spare – and only check when the tyres are cold, as the pressures increase after the car has been run due to the air inside warming up.
If you have a heavy load – for example before going on holiday – check your handbook and increase tyre pressures as per manufacturer’s recommendation. Remember to reduce the pressures after removing the heavy load.
Tyre Valves
Check your tyre valves’ condition to ensure an airtight seal. As the tyre has to be removed from the wheel to replace a valve- it’s safer and cheaper to have then renewed when your tyres are being replaced. Make sure each valve is securely sealed with a cap. Hylton fit a new valve with every new tyre.
Valves can be made from rubber which deteriorates with age and use. Valves can become damaged or worn but will inevitably deteriorates through ageing the force they are subjected to while driving and exposure to the elements. They are relatively inexpensive yet vital to the performance of tyres and your safety. Manufacturers recommend valves are replaced every time your tyres are changed.
Every car has a specific steering track setting for its front wheels. If the setting becomes upset, by striking a kerb or hitting a pothole or simply by wear and tear- tyre wear can be rapid. Incorrect wheel alignment becomes obvious when either the inner or the outer edges of the tyres become unevenly worn or a “feathering” effect becomes noticeable.
If you suspect your alignment has been disturbed – have it checked at Hylton immediately. In any case have it checked every 6,000 miles or when tyres or steering components have been changed.
Toe refers to whether the fronts of the tyres are closer or further apart than the rear of the tyres. Different types of vehicles need different toe settings to allow for the way that wheels pull either towards each other or apart. Due to modern vehicle design, Hylton recommend 4 wheel alignments.
Camber is inward or outward tilt of a tyre. The camber is set by the vehicle manufacturer, and can be affected by potholes in the road and may need to be adjusted periodically.
Wheel Balance
Wheels that are not balanced or are out of balance generally produce a vibration that is uncomfortable to drive in and resulted in premature wearing of suspension and steering components, rotating parts and tyres, Hylton will re-balance all newly new tyres and wheels.
Steering
Worn steering joints or wheel bearings will prevent the wheel and tyre from running true tyre wear can be fast. Although steering assembly checks are apart of the test, high mileages can cause rapid steering assembly wear especially in older cars.
Shock Absorbers
Worn or inoperative shock absorbers will also affect tyre wear as the wheel will not be kept in constant contact with the road. Apart from being dangerous the tyres are unevenly scrubbed along the road surface and rapid wear takes place.
Check your Pressures
You’ll find them inside your cars driver’s manual. Check the pressure with a tyre gauge when the tyre is cold, as even a short journey can warm up tyres and raise the pressure.
Check for Damage
Give your tyres a close inspection for cuts and cracks which can lead to slow punctures or cause the steel wires in the tyre to rust.
Check your Tread
Less tread means less grip. The minimum legal depth is 1.6mm across the central three – quarters of the tread width and around the entire circumference of the tyre – if in doubt we will give you a free tyre check.
Slow Down In Wet Conditions
You are twice as likely to have an accident in wet weather as in the dry. The stopping distance of a tyre with 1.6mm of tread is double that of a new tyre with 8mm.
Don't Overload Your Car
Overloading has the same effect on tyres as under- inflation, causing premature tread wear and in extreme cases, a sudden blow out.
Choosing The Right Tyre
Your tyres are the only contact that you and your car have with the road – their importance to your safety is paramount. Choosing the right tyre for your requirements should be made with careful consideration of the options available.
