What do the numbers mean on the side on my tyre?

THERE ARE LOTS OF CODES THAT TYRE MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO PUT ON THE SIDES OF THEIR TYRES. THESE ARE SPECIFICATION CODES AND ARE REQUIRED BY LAW.

THE NUMBERS THAT WE NEED AS TYRE SUPPLIERS ARE (eg 195 65 R 15 91V) OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS THE TYRE SIZE.

THE  R  IN THE MIDDLE MEANS IT IS OF RADIAL CONSTRUCTION. 99% OF CAR TYRES MADE ARE RADIAL.

 THE OTHER NUMBERS AND LETTER ARE TO DO WITH CARRYING CAPACITY AND MAXIMUM SPEED.  

What is the legal tread limit / depth?

THIS IS 1.6MM. ACROSS THE CENTRE OF THE TYRE AND THERE MUST BE VISIBLE TREAD ON THE EGDES. THERE ARE WEAR INDICATORS (LITTLE BLOCKS) AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GROOVES. WHEN THE TREAD WEARS LEVEL WITH ANY OF THESE BLOCKS, THE TYRE BECOMES ILLEGAL.   

Why did my tyres only last 18,000 miles?

WE, AS CAR USERS DEMAND BETTER ROAD HOLDING FOM OUR CARS. SINCE THIS IS THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE TYRE, A COMPROMISE IS MADE BY TYRE MAKERS BETWEEN LONGER LIFE AND GRIP. THIS RESULTS IN TYRES LASTING BETWEEN 10,000 AND 20,000 MILES ON AVERAGE. TYRES CAN BE MADE TO LAST LONGER BUT WONT GRIP THE ROAD

The wall of my tyre has an egg / bulge /split in it. Why?

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH WE SEE  EVERY DAY. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE TYRE HITTING SOMETHING AND BEING CRUSHED AGAINST THE RIM. NORMALLY A KERB OR A POTHOLE. THIS IS NOT THE TYRES FAULT AND TYRE MAKERS WONT NORMALLY ACCEPT ANY CLAIM MADE FOR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP.AND THE TYRE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

Why is the tyre pressure important?

MAINTAINING YOUR TYRE PRESSURES IS IMPORTANT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, ALL TO DO WITH SAFETY AND LONG TYRE LIFE.

HAVING LOW TYRE PRESSURES WILL INCREASE THE FRICTION BETWEEN THE ROAD SURFACE AND TYRE TREAD.

THIS INCREASES FUEL USE,THEREFORE, LOWERS YOUR MPG (COSTS YOU MORE MONEY).

IT WILL WEAR THE EDGES OF YOUR TYRE SO YOU NEED TO CHANGE IT EARLIER.

THE INCREASE IN FRICTION WILL CREATE MORE HEAT IN THE TYRE. THIS CAN DAMAGE THE TYRES STRUCTURE AND EVENTUALLY, THE TYRE CAN FAIL. COMMONLY CALLED A BLOW OUT.

OVER INFLATION .

WILL CAUSE THE MIDDLE OF THE TYRE TO WEAR OUT BEFORE THE REST AND WILL CAUSE AN UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE.

ALL TYRES HAVE A MAXIMUM PRESSURE. THIS FIGURE IS MOULDED INTO THE WALL OF THE TYRE AND SHOULD NEVER BE EXCEEDED. OVER INFLATING THE TYRE WILL CAUSE IT TO EVENTUALLY FAIL . 

YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR TYRES PRESSURES ONCE A MONTH WHEN THEY ARE COLD OR WHEN THEY LOOK TOO SOFT. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR VEHICLE HANDBOOK TO SEE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE OR DROP BY YOUR LOCAL TYRE DEPOT FOR ADVICE.

Whats the difference between Tracking and Balancing?

TRACKING IS A MECHANICAL FAULT WITH THE CAR THAT WEARS OUT THE TYRES UN-EVENLY AND MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.

BALANCING A TYRE STOPS THE VEHICLE SHAKING AT SPEED. ALL WHEELS SHOULD BE BALANCED AS THIS WILL PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION . ANY VIBRATION PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME.

How do runflat tyres work?

QUITE SIMPLY , THE TYRE MANUFACTUROR HAS THICKENED THE WALL AND SHOULDERS SO THAT THE TYRE CAN SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR, EVEN WITH NO AIR IN IT. THE TYRE CAN THEN RUN WITH NO PRESSURE FOR A SMALL PERIOD OF TIME.

YOU CANNOT FIT RUNFLAT TYRES TO A CAR THAT HASNT BEEN DESIGNED TO USE THEM. THE SUSPENSION NEEDS TO BE ADAPTED AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.

Can you repair my runflat tyre?

THIS HAS BEEN ASKED OF US MANY TIMES AND WE HAVE ASKED THE MANUFACTURERS FOR ADVICE.

THERE ARE COUPLE BRANDS WHICH HAVE SAID DO NOT REPAIR. AND A COUPLE WHICH HAVE SAID REPAIR ONCE ONLY. OTHERS HAVE TOLD US TO TREAT THEM AS A NORMAL TYRE.

THERE ARE STRICT LAWS REGARDING TYRE REPAIRS WHICH ARE IN PLACE FOR YOUR AND OUR SAFETY. OUR TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHICH TYRE CAN BE REPAIRED AND WHICH CANNOT.  IF YOUR TYRE CANNOT BE REPAIRED, AN EXPLANATION WILL ALWAYS BE GIVEN.

ANY TYRE GIVEN TO US TO BE REPAIRED , RUNFLAT OR NOT, WILL BE EXAMINED BY OUR TECHNICIAN.   IF THE TYRE IS SUITABLE FOR REPAIR ,WE WILL EITHER REPAIR ON OUR PREMISES (COLD ) OR OFFER THE TYRE TO OUR SPECIALIST FOR A HOT REPAIR. ((HOT REPAIRS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR RUNFLAT TYRES).THIS SERVICE TAKES 3-5 DAYS.)

What is a remould?

A REMOULD IS MADE OUT OF A WORN OUT TYRE. THESE TYRES ARE EXAMINED AND IF NOT DAMAGED (QUITE SIMPLY) A NEW TREAD IS STUCK ON.( IT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN THIS)