One of the most common questions that are asked around tyres is “do I need an upgrade.” Depending on the time of year, some also install winter tyres for the winter months and then opt to install other types of tyres when the season ends. Some car owners get concerned or confused about this due to the fact that it’s not viable for them to change their tyres every 6 months and because of the fact that you should ideally change both tyres on each axle - you will end up replacing every single tyre. There are a number of benefits associated with installing different tyre types depending on your driving habits as well as your vehicle itself.
If you find that you are having difficulty understanding the types of tyres that are available and the types of tyres that you may need - this article provides all of the information that you need!
Our team are one of the leading independent garages providing high-quality tyres in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas. Our expert team are more than happy to offer you impartial advice regarding your tyres. We also offer tyre checks at our purpose-built garage so our experts can take a look at your tyres if you have any concerns.
So visit our garage today or get in touch with a member of our friendly and expert team to find out more about the amazing range of tyres that we have available.
Do I Need Specific Winter Tyres?
Winter tyres use softer compounds with deeper grooves and more narrow cuts which are built into the tyre tread. These features are designed to offer fully optimal grip and traction in cold conditions and can be identified by the snowflake icon/symbol on the side of the tyre wall. In general, you should consider winter tyres for the following reasons:
- Extreme temperature is unfortunately on the rise which means that although it’s hotter in the summer it can also be colder in the winter - leading to more snow storms.
- These tyres do increase grip and performance in wet weather which makes them ideal for the wetter seasons of autumn and winter.
- If you travel up to the North of the UK and beyond into the remote areas such as the Scottish Highlands or you are taking your vehicle regularly across Europe in the winter months for a holiday - they are a great upgrade to ‘regular’ tyres.
- Certain vehicles such as vehicles with rear-wheel drive struggle in winter conditions such as snow, water and ice and can spin on the road. Although not entirely removing the risks, winter tyres have the potential to help with this.
- Please note - winter tyres are not a legal requirement in the winter.
How Can I Tell If My Current Tyres Need an Upgrade or Replacement?
You are bound to the law in terms of the tread depth of your tyres. If your tread depth is lower than 1.6mm (bald tyre fine) then you can be fined up to £2500 per tyre and have 3 penalty points applied to your license per tyre. This demonstrates just how important your tyres are - they are the only thing separating your vehicle from the road.
Regular tyre inspections are vital in ensuring that your tyres are of legal tread depth and that your tyres are safe on the road. You should also check for damage to the tyre wall which can happen due to debris or by scraping wheels on pavements as well as foreign objects being embedded into your tyres such as nails. Unfortunately, debris can occur on roads and motorways from crashes, environmental damage or other hazards.
Your tyres may just be older and you want to carry out an upgrade to ensure that you have a new set of tyres whilst on the road. There are a number of different reasons why you may want to
Best Practice When Looking to Replace Your Tyres
If you decide that it’s time to replace your tyres or you’ve identified an issue that has been mentioned above then it's time to visit a reputable car garage. Here are the essentials when looking to replace your tyres:
- Find a highly reputable tyre garage such as Freeway Exhaust and Tyre Centre. We are able to advise you on the best tyres that are suited for you and your vehicle. We stock a wide number of premium to affordable tyres to suit every budget and requirement.
- It’s highly recommended that should only one tyre requires a replacement - replace that you replace both tyres on the axle (if the back left tyre needs replacement, also replace the back right tyre.) This ensures that your new tyres wear down equally which allows you to monitor tread depth.
- There is a wide range of different types of tyres available from major manufacturers. We work closely with major manufacturers in order to provide you with the best tyres for your requirements and we have special deals and offers available to our clients!
So visit our garage today or get in touch with a member of our friendly and expert team to find out more about the amazing range of tyres that we have available.
Written on 23rd September 2022