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There are many different reasons for tyre wear. Your tyres don't just get worn due to age and use; other factors including emergency braking, incorrect tyre inflation and wheel alignment, and poor road surfacing can easily damage a tyre.
To ensure that you stay safe on the road, it is important that you look after your tyres. We recommend that you carry out routine car tyre care and inspect your tyres weekly or before each long distance drive.
Please check the following:
Maintaining correct tyre pressures
There are three main reasons why maintaining the right tyre pressure is important. The first and most important factor is safety. Tyres that are under inflated can overheat; and over inflated tyres can lead to poor vehicle handling on the road.
The second reason is economy. Over or under inflated tyres have a decreased contact patch with the road and suffer from uneven tread wear as a result. Your tyre tread will wear more quickly due to the smaller contact patch, therefore, your tyres will need to be replaced more regularly. Vehicles with under-inflated tyres also have increased rolling resistance, which means more fuel is required to maintain the same speed.
The third reason for maintaining the correct tyre pressure is the environment. Correct tyre pressures help to maintain optimum fuel efficiency. This can equate to lower CO2 emissions coming from your vehicle than those with incorrect tyre pressures thus reducing the environmental impact of your car.
Vehicle manufacturers will often suggest different tyre pressures for your front and rear tyres so make sure you follow these guidelines. The correct tyre pressures for your car can be found in the vehicle handbook and are often printed either in the sill of the driver’s door or on the inside of the fuel flap. Alternatively use our tyre pressure finder.
When braking, your car relies on the tread on your tyres to grip the road and come to a stop in the shortest possible distance. Braking distance increases as tyre tread wears out so it’s important that you check them weekly or before a long journey to ensure you still have adequate tread on your tyres. It is recommended that tyres are replaced when the tread depth reaches 3mm in order to maintain optimum braking performance. The legal limit for minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the full circumference. Failing to replace your tyres before they reach this minimum limit could result in a hefty fine and penalty points on your licence.
If you place your finger in the main tread groove you should feel a small raised notch. When your tread wears down to the height of this notch, your tyre should be replaced, as it has reached the minimum legal tread depth. You can also use a tread depth indicator to gauge the remaining tread on your tyres - or even a 20p piece. Place the 20p coin inside the main tread groove of the tyre. If the outer band of the 20p piece is obscured by the tyre then your tyres have adequate tread. If you can see the outer band of the 20p piece your tyres could be approaching the legal limit, so it’s advised to have them checked as soon as possible.
Finally, check your tread depth in at least 3 different locations across the circumference of the tyre to ensure there is no uneven tread wear.
Check for External Damage
Tyre damage such as cuts, lumps, and bumps are often caused by an impact between the tyre and a kerb, pothole, or object in the road. If your tyre has any of these symptoms then you must have the tyre checked as quickly as possible by a tyre specialist, as this sort of damage can result in sudden tyre failure.
It is always recommended to have your tyres checked if the vehicle has been involved in an emergency manoeuvre like sudden and heavy braking. Emergency braking can sometimes leave your tyres with a ‘flat spot’. This can be another reason for premature tyre removal. If you have any questions about tyre care or any concerns about tyre damage or the condition of your tyres, please contact your nearest Kwik Fit for advice as soon as possible.
If in doubt, visit your nearest Kwik Fit
At Kwik Fit, we provide a free tyre check service on a drive-in basis at all of our centres. Our trained technicians will carry out a full inspection of your tyres to check the general condition of the tyres, ensuring the tread depths meet minimum legal requirements. They will also check and correct your tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommended PSI. The findings of your tyre inspection are detailed in a written report for your convenience.
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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Select Tyre Size
Front Tyre Size
Rear Tyre Size
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'.
We have identified the tyre size(s) that may fit your {VEHICLE}. Please select your front tyre size and rear tyre size below 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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Centres do not open until 10:00 on bank holidays. If choosing an earlier appointment time on a bank holiday, please bring your vehicle to centre at 10:00 rather than the time shown.