Contents:

• The Law
• Wear
• Valves
• Alignment
• Balancing
• Ageing

The LawTop

The important point to remember about the legal requirements for tyres is that it should be considered the minimum, not the recommend level for safety. In other words tyres should be replaced before they reach the legal limits.

In the UK the law requires that your vehicle is fitted with the correct type and size of tyres for the vehicle and the purpose for which it is used. There are different tyres for different uses. The law also requires that tyres are inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure.

The legal minimum depth of the tread on a tyre is 1.6 millimetres, across the central three quarters off the tread, for the complete circumference of the tyre. In other words all the way round the tyre. There are wear indicators on tyres to indicate when they reach their minimum limit.

To really be safe many motoring organisations recommend a minimum of 2mm tread, while a number of vehicle manufacturers recommend 3mm. Checking your tyres regularly may help you avoid prosecution, three points on your licence and a possible fine of £2500 for each warn tyre. 

The law also requires that tyres of different construction types are not fitted to opposite sides of the same axle. The two main construction types are radial and cross-ply.  

Brands and patterns of the same construction type are permissible depending on the vehicle and manufacturers recommendation. You should check your vehicles handbook for guidance.

If you have a tyre tread gauge you can check your tyres regularly yourself, alternatively why not be really safe and call Paul Stapely Tyres. We will check your tyres completely free of charge.

WearTop

A tyre tread is designed to force the water away from the tyre and the road. Clearly the more it is worn the less effective it is at removing the water and greater the chance the driver will experience aquaplaning. Aquaplaning is where the vehicle is effectively riding on top of a film of water and control, including steering and breaking, is lost. With this in mind and respect for your safety you should change your tyres when there is 2mm of tread remaining. In fact many vehicle manufactures recommend 3mm, especially wide tyres.  

Also try to ensure the difference between the tread is within safe limits. The difference in tread depth between tyres on the same axel should not exceed 5mm, and in the case of some four wheel drive vehicles, 2mm. Check your vehicle manual.

Worn tyres, even partially worn, are inefficient in snow so you should check tyres more regularly in the winter.

Why not be absolutely sure and safe by taking up our free tyre check offer. .

ValvesTop

Although a relatively simple mechanism the components of a tyre valve are very precise.

And although valves are generally reliable you should check your valves regularly and if you lose a valve cap, you replace it as soon as possible. Its purpose is to keep the dirt from the precise components of the valve. 

At Paul Stapley tyres we not only replace the valve every time we change a tyre, but we include it in the price.

AlignmentTop

Tyre alignment, often called tracking, is important in two ways. First poor alignment will impact on your vehicles road holding ability. The second, often over looked, is that problems with alignment can cause rapid and abnormal tyre wear and damage to steering components.

If road holding appears to reduce, your tyres seem to be wearing abnormally or the vehicle is violently knocked then you should check alignment.

Paul Stapley Tyres will do this for you. It is far cheaper to check alignment regularly, than spend much more on new tyres or expensive steering repairs.

BalancingTop

If a wheel is not balanced correctly it can cause vibrations in the steering wheel. Poorly balanced wheels will also cause premature wear of tyres and even wear to suspension.

If you experience these symptoms call Paul Stapley tyres and we will check and rebalance your tyres using the latest equipment and save you the cost of a new set of tyres.

When you have a new tyre fitted or a puncture repaired with Paul Stapley Tyres we always rebalance - its just part of the service and all in the price.

AgeingTop

If you have a caravan, trailer, camper van, or classic car that spends months waiting for those nice sunny days, the suns ultraviolet light, weather, and the atmosphere in general can cause damage. Typical are cracks in the walls, rubber deterioration or hardening.

Keep a check on little used tyres and if your not sure give Paul Stapley Tyres a call and take up our offer of a free tyre check.