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Your tyre is the only point of contact your vehicle has with the road . That’s why it is vitally important that you have your tyres checked regular and select the right tyre when replacement is due. It can be confusing choosing the right type of tyre and our advisors are here to help.
The legal minimum tread depth for tyres is 1.6mm but did you know that in the wet at this level of tread your stopping distance will increase by 30% to 40% that’s why we always recommend changing your tyres at 3mm
Tyre Information
We understand that when you have a problem with a tyre you want a quality service, expert advice, value for money and the convenience of a local solution available 7-days-a-week.
We also appreciate that choosing the right tyre can be confusing, from choosing the right size, to selecting a tyre and brand that will be fit for purpose from the extensive range available. To help you, our tyre experts have developed some general information to help you look after your tyres.
When you think about it, your tyres are the only point of contact your vehicle has with the road. That’s why it’s vitally important that you select the right tyre type for the vehicle you are driving and for the purpose it is being used. We believe that motorists should get in to a habit of checking all four tyres every two weeks for correct tyre pressure, tread wear and general condition; and if you have one, don’t forget to check the spare tyre too.
Since tyres are the only contact between your car and the road, tyre pressures are essential to optimum performance of your tyres.
As the driver, it’s your responsibility by law to check and correct the tyre pressures on a regular basis.
Legal Limit
The legal minimum tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm throughout a continuous band comprising the central three-quarters of breadth of the tread and around its entire outer circumference.
In wet weather tyre tread grooves help to remove water from the contact patch between your tyres and the road surface meaning your car can brake, steer and accelerate properly.
Without adequate tread depth your tyres may not be able to perform properly in wet conditions, reducing your safety on the road. It is therefore advisable to consider replacing your tyres well before they reach the legal minimum.
Typical stopping distances in wet conditions at 50mph
Furthermore, drivers whose tyres fail to comply with the minimum tread depth requirements risk a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre
A quick and easy way to see if your tyre tread exceed the minimum legal tread depth is to take the 20p test.
Simply place a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit.
If the outer band of the coin is visible, then your tyres may be illegal and unsafe and should be checked immediately by a qualified tyre professional.
When taking the test, remember to check at least three locations around each tyre. As the test is so quick and easy, stay safe by checking your tyres at least once a month.
Each model and engine combination has its own recommended tyre pressure, which are set by Vauxhall when the car is first built, to maximise safety and performance.
There are two easy ways to find the recommended tyre pressures specific to your car:
1 - Look at the label just inside your Vauxhall’s door frame
2 - Find them in your owners’ manual.
Car Tyre Pressure Checker
Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recommends tyre replacement at 3mm.
Tyres pressures are very important: if your tyre pressures are too high or too low, the car’s handling and fuel-efficiency will be impacted.
In situations when your tyres have insufficient tread depth to clear the water properly from the road surface, you may experience the particularly hazardous phenomenon of aquaplaning.
During aquaplaning, your tyres lose contact with the road surface and travel on top of the water’s surface. With no contact with the road, you are unable to accelerate, brake or steer effectively, greatly increasing your risk of being involved in an accident.
To reduce your risk of aquaplaning, check your tyre tread depth regularly.
Take a look at how aquaplaning can affect your safety.
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