Here at CRS Accident Repair Centre, we like to think we know a thing or two about tyre fitting and balancing. In fact, we’ve lost count of the number of tyres we’ve fitted and balanced over the years, and that’s saying something! As experts, we’ve put together a list of 5 things you need to know about both.
1. Don’t Overlooking your Tyres!
It may come as a surprise, but tyres are actually one of the most overlooked aspects of car maintenance. Recent data from the UK Government has found that more than one in 10 cars will fail its MoT due to either worn out or damaged tyres. But it’s easy to keep on top of tyre maintenance. New tyre fitting, when needed, will ensure they’re not only safe, but legal too.
2. There are Legal Requirements
The most obvious aspect of tyre safety is tread depth, meaning the deepness of the main grooves that cover the circumference of the tyre. The legal tyre tread depth for cars in the UK and Europe is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, and the tread must meet this minimum requirement across its complete circumference.
3. You can Face Fines
if you’re unlucky enough to have an accident and your car is found to have tyre treads that are below the legal limit, your insurance may be invalidated. Not only that, but you could also be looking at a substantial fine. Fines for each tyre can amount to £2,500 and three points on your license, making four illegal tyres a fine of £10,000 and 12 penalty points.
4. Fitting New Tyres can be a Life-or-Death Situation
You may think this is a bit over dramatic, but the truth is, driving with heavily worn tyres is not only illegal, but highly dangerous. Checking the thread depth of your tyres to make sure they’re within the legal limit is actually one of the most important safety checks you can carry out on your car, as driving with tyres that have a tread below the legal limit can put both you, and other motorists, at serious risk. Tyre treads below 3mm mean stopping distances increase dramatically, making accidents far more likely.
5. Don’t Overlook Tyre Balancing
The steering and suspension on modern cars are quite complicated, with many components that need to work together to make sure that the car rides smoothly, steers well, and handles safely. When you have a new tyre fitted, the balancing will come as part of the tyre fitting process. But tyres can and do go out of balance over time, so you may have to have them rebalanced again before they need replacing.
Wheel Balancing and Tyre Fitting in Rotherham & Chesterfield
CRS is an independent, manufacturer approved crash repair facility offering tyre fitting and wheel balancing in Chesterfield and Rotherham. We also provide a full range of accident repair services including alloy wheel refurbishment, car body repairs, or windscreen replacement. Contact CRS on info@cosmeticrepair.co.uk for more information today.
