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There are many statistics surrounding driving. In 2016, there were 37.1 million vehicles licensed for use on UK roads, with 1.87 billion miles driven by cars and almost 180,000 casualties. Of the casualties, 1,792 were fatalities- the highest since 2011. Ensure that your car is both safe and legal by checking your tyre tread depth weekly or before long journeys. The legal limit is 1.6mm which sounds like a small amount but can make the difference between a safe drive and an accident occurring.
As your tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, it is crucial that your tyres are in good condition for vehicle safety. If your tread depth is too low, your tyres will not be able to remove enough water from the road’s surface to ensure that grip is maintained. However, drivers often don’t realise the importance of tread depth and ensuring that it is maintained.
Braking distances and the threat of aquaplaning
Although the legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, tyre experts, such as Kwik Fit, and premium tyre manufacturer, Continental, recommend not allowing your tread depth to wear down below 3mm. Independent braking tests show that the braking distance with tyre tread depth at 1.6mm is almost double the distance at 3mm in wet conditions.
As you can see above, the difference in stopping distances for vehicles fitted with summer tyres on a wet road is clear even at fairly low speeds. This difference in stopping distances increases the likelihood of an accident, especially in areas where school children might be crossing.
The chances of aquaplaning also increase with low tread depth. Aquaplaning occurs when tyres lose contact with the road and travel on top of the water, this leads to a total loss of control for the driver. Often drivers will get control back. However, if this doesn’t happen then there is a high chance of accidents.
Tyre tread wear differs from driver to driver
Premium tyres, such as the ContiPremiumContact™ 5 are created with 8mm of tread depth. This allows the tyre to remove water quickly from the road’s surface, improving grip and driver safety. However, not all tyres are the same in terms of the way their tread wears.
Factors that contribute to tyre wear are how the car is driven and the compound the tyre is made from. For example, a driver completing a large number of miles at high speeds will see their tyres deteriorate faster than someone making shorter journeys. The superior compounds used in premium tyres will wear down more slowly than cheaper tyres. However, all tyres wear down eventually so it is important to check your tread depths weekly or before long journeys.
How to check your tyre tread depth
Whilst tread depth gauges are available, you can easily check your tread depth yourself using the “20p Test”. Simply place the coin into the grooves of your tyres and see if the coin’s outer band is hidden. If it is, then your tread is above the legal minimum. However, if you can see the outer band of the coin then your tyres may be illegal. This runs the risk of a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points on your licence for each tyre below the legal limit.
Want to know why ADAS calibration is important for vehicle safety & performance? Read our blog to learn more about the impacts of not calibrating your ADAS.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
0800 75 76 77 You can reach our customer care team 6 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Bank Holidays.
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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
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Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
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