TYRES.
As the only part of your vehicle in contact with the road surface, your tyres are the most critical part of your family’s road safety. Your braking, steering and acceleration all rely on your tyres relatively small contact area with the road surface so correct care and maintenance is essential.
Did you know.. around one in three of all cars and vans on the road have at least one defective or badly worn tyre, according to the Tyre Industry Organisation.
Not only are such tyres dangerous, they are also illegal, and you could end up with a fine and points on your driver’s licence for each tyre!
At A1 Autocentre we stock a wide range of tyres from budget tyres to high performance tyres for most vehicles.
We offer all types of tyre fitting services to our customers whether it be a tyre replacement, puncture or wheel balance, our team of professionals work efficiently yet thoroughly, providing an extremely high standard of service at an affordable price.
How do i know if my tyres are legal? Easy! Take the 20p Test!
An easy way to see if your tyres are above the legal limit is to take the 20p test!
Find a 20p coin (This is the most challenging part!) and insert the coin into the main tread grooves of the tyre.
If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tyre tread is above the legal limit. If the outer band of the coin is visible, then your tyre may be illegal and unsafe!
This is the time to get your tyre checked.
WHAT SIZE TYRE DO I HAVE?
With so many different numbers on the side of a tyre its understanding when customers have no idea of their tyre size!
At A1 Autocentre we want to try and make it as easy as possible for our customers.
If you look on the sidewall of your tyre, you’ll find the letters and digits which stand for specific measurements and ratings that your tyre is designed to meet.
The main numbers you need to focus on when changing your tyre are displayed in the picture below.
TYRE SIZE
LOAD INDEX &
SPEED FITTING
WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN.
-
205 - Tyre width in millimetres
-
55 - Tyre sidewall profile. This means the height of the tyre side as a percentage of its width
-
R - Radial (standard for all tyres now, previously they were cross-ply)
-
16 - Wheel rim diameter (inches)
WHAT ARE RUN FLATS?
A run flat tyre has specially strengthened sidewalls which are capable of supporting the car's weight should a sudden drop in pressure occur - such as when the tyre is punctured. Typically, a run flat tyre is perfectly safe running at 50mph for approximately 50 miles but should be checked by a tyre professional as soon as possible. The great news is, you’ll be able to drive straight to the tyre centre, rather than endure the hassle of switching to the spare wheel!
TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
In order to assist you in monitoring the pressure in your tyres, all new cars are now equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) which notifies you of any pressure issues.
If you see a TPMS warning while driving, find a safe place to stop your vehicle where you can manually check your tyre pressures against the vehicle manufacturers’ recommended
settings. These details can be found in your vehicle handbook, inside the fuel filler flap or on a placard located on the driver’s door sill.
TPMS has been fitted to cars for many years but recently the mandatory fitment and maintenance of such systems has come into force. The process began with the introduction of legislation on 1 November 2012, whereby all new models of cars sold in the EU had to have a TPMS fitted. This was broadened out in November 2014 to include every new passenger vehicle being required to have a TPMS before being sold. In the UK on 1 January 2015, legislation came into force stating that for these vehicles, an inoperative or faulty TPMS sensor would result in an MOT failure.
Do you sell
Part Worn Tyres?
Apart from not knowing the history of the tyre and potentially being dangerous.
Many drivers buying part worn tyres do so in the belief that they offer better value for money when compared with new tyres. However, this isn’t necessarily so and buyers should consider the cost per mm of useable tyre, rather than just the initial purchase price
Locking Wheel Nut.
If your Vehicle has a locking wheel nut for your tyres then we will need this to change or repair yout tyre!
Please make sure you have this with you when you arrive otherwise we cannot remove the wheel.
How long does it take to change a tyre?
In a hurry? no problem! we are able to fix or replace your tyre for you while you wait so no need to panic!