The Friday-Ad Motors guide to buying tyres

Not everyone is a car expert. For those of you who aren’t, certain things can be frustrating. Buying tyres for your vehicle, for example, can be a confusing affair which can leave many people flustered.

You may be stuck deciding which tyres are best suited for your car compared to which ones are the best value for money. All in all, some people could use some help when it comes to buying new tyres.

So, here we are to help you when it comes to making the purchase.

First off the legal stuff

Firstly, it is worth knowing that the legal tread depth limit for tyres is 1.6mm. You must ensure that you’re regularly checking your tyres to ensure that they are legally sound to drive on.

It is also important that you don’t mix different types of tyres on the same axle. This is also illegal, however, they will make an exception if you are using a spare tyre that was originally provided with your car.

Consult your manual

As a simple first step, you should always consult your car’s manual to see which tyres are specified for your vehicle. When it comes to getting new tyres, it’s always a good idea to stick to the specific tyres that your manual recommends. If you do use different tyres to those specified then you could reduce the control you have over your car and its handling. Using incorrect tyres may also end up making your car’s warranty invalid, which is obviously not a good thing.

Seasonal tyres

Some people have issues over the law surrounding winter tyres. In many countries throughout Europe, you are required to have winter tyres fitted during the colder months. However, here in the UK these tyres are not mandatory.

Even though these tyres are not required by law, it can be a good idea to purchase some to help you deal with the trickier surfaces that arise in winter. Winter tyres differ from other tyres in the pattern and depth of their tread.

When the temperatures drop and the roads become icy and dangerous, it is recommended that you opt for these tyres as they offer you more grip. They are easily identified by the snowflake and mountain symbol, so seeking them out shouldn’t be difficult.

Once you have your winter tyres, it is important that you only use them when the temperatures sit below seven degrees. If you do use them when it is warmer, you could wear them down quicker and then when the temperatures do drop and the roads become treaturous again, they won’t offer you enough safety and grip.

Some people take issue with the effort it takes to switch them over and the logistics of storing these tyres for the rest of the year. However, if you are able to overcome these issues, then buying a set of winter tyres is a good idea.

 Picture courtesy of William Warby via Flickr Creative Commons.

Tyre labelling scheme

The Government has introduced new legislation which means that tyres are now required to be labelled showing their wet grip, fuel efficiency and noise ratings. This is designed purely to make life easier for buyers, so you know exactly what you’re looking at.

The wet grip of a tyre is worked out based on the car’s ability to brake in the wet in a straight line. It is graded from A to G, with A being the tyre that grips best in the wet.

When it comes to the fuel efficiency of a tyre, this is measured by the rolling distance and is again rated from A to G, with A being the most efficient.

Noise levels are also listed in the tyre labelling scheme and the exterior noise levels are split into three categories with the figures measured in decibels.

Buying used tyres

If you’re looking to save yourself some money then you may decide to purchase used or part-worn tyres. This is fine, however, you should be careful when doing so as this can be a little bit risky.

Used tyres should still have their EU labels on them and it’s always vital that you purchase them from a reputable retailer. If you are driving on worn tyres then you must ensure that you are driving safely and that the tyres are road legal.

Tyres that are too worn could lead to your car insurance being invalidated, which could lead to fines of as much as £10,000 and a hefty points penalty.

Run-flats

Run-flats are becoming more and more popular. These tyres enable the car to keep driving for around 50 miles after they have been punctured, which reduces your downtime.

It is worth bearing in mind that if you are going to opt for these tyres you are not allowed to travel over 50mph and you should avoid towing as they’re only designed to support the weight of your car.

When it comes to recognising a run-flat tyre, you need to again consult the markings. There are many that can indicate this type of tyre including, RFT, DSST, RunFL and ROF.

Speed ratings for tyres

When consulting your car’s manual you will be able to see the minimum speed rating for your car. If you do choose a tyre with a lower speed rating you could, again, invalidate your insurance. The speed rating will be indicated by letters and you can find it on the side of the tyre after the size description.

Main article image is courtesy of Dean Hochman via Flickr Creative Commons and was modified by Friday-Ad.

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