Tyres & Wheels
You'll find the recommended pressures inside the drivers manual. Check the pressure when the tyre is cold, as even a short journey will warm up tyres and raise the pressure.
Under-inflation can cause tyre damage, uneven wear, and an increase in fuel consumption.
Over inflated tyres give a less comfortable ride and wear out in the centre of the tread.
Check the pressure in the spare tyre to ensure it's ready in an emergency.
Check your treads
Worn tyres mean less grip.
Abnormal or uneven wear can often be an indication of a mechanical defect on the vehicle. In these circumstances the mechanical parts (steering, wheel alignment, brakes) should be check immediately.
Check for damage
Look for cuts, cracks and bulges or any other evidence of damage from violent impact or kerbing. Damaged tyres may be illegal and can be dangerous. Contact your tyre centre immediately for expert advice.
Visit Lucas Autocentre for a free check
The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres in the United Kingdom and the European Community is 1.6mm throughout a continuous band comprising the central three quarters of the breadth of tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre.
Most car type tyres have tread wear indicators, usually at least six small ribs across the bottom of the main tread grooves, and when the tread surface becomes level with these ribs the tyre is at the legal limit and must be replaced.
One of the features of tyre tread pattern designs is to give good grip in wet conditions. Generally speaking available grip reduces as the tyre wears or as the road surface water depth increases and you should reduce speed in such conditions.
The 1.6mm minimum legal limit applies to:
Cars and passenger vehicles with up to 8 seated passengers - not including the driver
Motor vehicles and light trailers (including caravans) up to 3500 kg gross vehicle weight
The penalties for offences related to the use of faulty tyres on vehicles are very severe.
In the case of any vehicles, except goods vehicles and vehicles adapted to carry more than eight passengers, for every offence there is a fine at level 4 of the standard scale with discretionary disqualification and compulsory driving licence endorsement with 3 penalty points.
Level 4 is currently 2500GBP and each faulty tyre is considered as a separate offence. Two faulty tyres equal 5000GBP.
Possible Offences:
Offences can relate to:
Tread Depth - a tyre worn below the legal minimum
Mixing - an incorrect mixture of radial and cross ply tyres
Inflation - a tyre not inflated to make it suitable for the purpose to which the motor vehicle or trailer is being put
Cuts - certain long and deep cuts as specified in regulations
Lumps, Bulges or Tears - caused by separation or partial failure of the tyre structure
Exposed Ply or Cord
Unsuitability - regarding the use to which the motor vehicle or trailer is being put or to the types of tyres fitted to it's other wheels
Wheel balance:
Unbalanced wheels will affect the comfort of your ride! They lead to premature wear of many vehicle components
Unbalanced wheels may not be noticed by the driver because modern suspension systems are very efficient at dampening out vibration. This is why any vibration felt by the driver or the floor could be an indication that one or more of your wheels need balancing
Check alignment
Misalignment will effect the handling and safety of your vehicle
It will also lead to uneven tyre wear
You will almost certainly not detect it, but a small amount of miss alignment (1mm) means your tyre is being forced sideways approximately 1 metre every mile you travel
This is why it is essential to have the tracking regularly check
At Lucas Autocentre we have state of art wheel alingment equipment to carry out four wheel alingment chcks and adjustments visit Lucas Autocentre today for a free check.
Nitrogen filled tyres: (if possible this should go at the top of heading with tryres as not many garages use this method)
Why Nitrogen?
Police forces across the country carried out roadside surveys to check tyre pressures
On average they found 75% of tyres checked had incorrect tyre pressures
Road Traffic Accident Statistics show that 86% of tyres have incorrect pressures
Tyres filled with Nitrogen will maintain their correct pressure for longer, because Nitrogen doesn't leak through the tyre's structure. Normal compressed air contains Oxygen and water vapour, both of which permeate through the tyre casing.
Filling with Nitrogen will provide
Better road holding
Longer tread life, up to 25% increase
Reduced fuel consumption, up to 5% reduction
No corrosion to the inside of the wheel
As tyre specialists, we recommend that all 5 tyres on your vehicle are refilled with nitrogen.
We charge 1.50GBP per wheel for this service.
Subsequent tyre rechecks and nitrogen top ups (if required) are free of charge.