Tyre Safety

Your tyres are the point of contact between you and the road surface, the contact size is not much bigger than a large footprint so weekly tyre checks are vital for long life and your safety, remember tyres affect Steering, Braking and Acceleration.

Check out our tyre safety information below to get the best ideas of about what you need to know about your tyres:

• Tread Depth
• Tyre Tips
• Tyre Law
• PSI & Bar Conversion
• Tyre Speed Marking
• Tyre Load Indices and Related Maximum Loads

Tread Depth

The current legal Minimum tread depth for Cars, Passenger Vehicles with up to eight seats plus the driver and for Goods vehicles, light trailers and caravans all up to 3500kg GVW is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread all around the tyre. This is also a requirement across the EU.

Most tyres have wear bars in the tread. When the bars are flush with the tread, its time to change them. Tyre Torque.com support the current tyre industry campaign to change the minimum Tread Depth to 3mm.

Return to the top of Tyre Safety

Tyre Tips

1. Correct tyre pressures are key to handling, braking and safety.
   
   
2. Check pressures weekly.
   
   
3. Only check tyres when cold using an accurate and reliable tyre pressure gauge. If you don't already have one we can give you a FREE one when you order your tyres from tyre torque.com, your reduced tyres online store.
   
   
4. Recommended pressures vary between vehicles and circumstances, if you are not sure check your vehicles handbook.
   
   
5. Remember to check the Spare tyre pressure as well if you have one fitted.
   
   
6. Are you confused between PSI & Bar? Click here to see a conversion table to make it easier for you.
   
   
7. Low pressures and air overloading will result in increased fuel consumption, will increase air pollution, will lead to a shorter tyre life and reduced braking, steering ability.
   
   
8. Higher air pressures will lead to increased tyre wear, more noise, and reduced steering and braking ability.
   
   
9. Tyres are subject to a hard life +30C to -15C or more, wind, rain, UV degradation, snow, ice, salts and chemicals when a tyre reaches five years old. Regardless of the tread depth of that aged tyre, you should for your own safety always change the tyres.
   
   
10. Directional Tyres are designed to enhance the performance of the vehicle but have to be fitted correctly. An arrow on the sidewall shows the correct way the tyre should face i.e. facing forward. If you have a blow-out and have a spare tyre you may notice that the tyre is going the wrong way round, in an emergency this is OK but you should get it changed as soon as possible.
    
    
11. Asymmetric Tyres have a tread pattern that is different across the width of the tyre. The markings on the tyre sidewall shows how they should be fitted.
    
    
12. Directional or Asymmetric tyres incorrectly fitted will result in your vehicle failing a MOT test.
    
    
13. Tyres have a Load and Speed Index. Click here to view the tables.

Return to the top of Tyre Safety

Tyre Law - What's your Licence and Safety Worth??

Any of the following tyre offences could result in a £2,500 per tyre fine and Three Penalty Points:

• Tread Depth; Below the legal minimum
• Inflation; A tyre not inflated to make it suitable for use on the vehicle
• Cuts; Cuts through the tyre casing or cords
• Lumps, Bulges or Tears; caused by separation or tyre structure failure
• Any exposed Ply or Cords
• Unsuitability; Regarding the use to which vehicle or trailer is being put or the types of tyres fitted to its other wheels

Return to the top of Tyre Safety

Unfortunately, we cannot cover all Tyre Safety Topics but will be happy to answer any questions you have. For more information on Tyre Safety or Tyre Tips contact the Tyre Torque Team at info@tyretorque.com, or use the form at the bottom of the page.

PSI & Bar Conversion

Return to the Tyre Tips

Tyre Speed Marking

Return to the Tyre Tips

Tyre Load Indices and Related Maximum Loads

Return to the top of Tyre Safety

Contact Us: Name: E-mail: Enquiry: