Autumn is drawing near and winter will be on us before we know it. It will be darker and wetter as we are driving around and we need to make sure that our tyres are safe. I can't stress enough that it's really important to look after the tyres on your car, especially as the weather gets worse. In many ways they are the most important part on your car and so I thought I would share with you some tips on making sure that they are safe.
Correct Tyres
Having the incorrect tyres causes a large number of car accidents every year. Your braking distance is affected if your treads are too worn, meaning it will take you longer to stop, and this is only made worse if it is wet and icy. Also, did you know that having the wrong tyres can negatively affect your car's performance, which is not only bad for the environment, but also bad for your wallet! In the October to March months you may want to consider swapping your tyres for winter ones. As soon as the temperature drops below 7 degrees your tyres will harden and winter tyres are designed to deal with this problem. Braking distances in adverse weather conditions are better with winter tyres than with standard ones, which is definitely something to think about.
Tyre Condition
You also need to consider the condition of your tyres. Worn tyres can be really dangerous and can cause a blow out when you are driving - something you don't want to experience as it could lead you to lose control of your car and result in an accident. Bald tyres can also land you in legal trouble. Your tread depth needs to be above the legal minimum of 1.6mm, and if you are caught with tyre tread depths of less than this you could be given a £2,500 fine and three penalty pointers per tyre. It's easy to see for yourself if your tyre treads are legal - stand a 20p coin in the tread groove and if you can see it's outer edge you need new tyres. It is worth checking your tyres over every once in a while to make sure they are in good condition, don't forget to check for foreign objects which could cause a puncture and check that they are at the correct pressure too. I make sure that we check our tyres over every few months, and especially before the winter. If you are unsure what you are doing, or would prefer a professional take a look just head into your local garage and they will be happy to help. Make sure that you replace any that need replacing and always opt for new tyres over part worn. If you are local to Essex you could replace your car tyres at Jet Wheel Tyres.
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