Finding the right tyres for your car and ensuring they are to a satisfactory and legal standard is essential for keeping you safe on the road, and by doing this it will also improve your driving experience.

In the UK you are required by law to replace your tyres when the tread depth reaches 1.6mm or less and they must not have any cuts, bulges or cord/ply showing.

If you are uncertain of what condition your tyres are in, check with your local garage and they’ll advise you accordingly.

FINDING THE RIGHT TYRE
Before looking for new tyres you need to find out what type and size of tyre your vehicle requires, you can find the recommended tyre size and road speed in your vehicle’s manufacturer’s specifications.  If you don’t have this information, then refer to the size on the tyre sidewall or consult your local garage.

It’s important to note that although a tyre’s brand name may not be well known that does not necessarily mean the tyre build quality is poor and although two different sized tyres may be of the same brand that does not guarantee they are of the same quality. In the EU tyres are not required to have a wear rating as they are in America. It may be beneficial to buy tyres that are marketed for America as well as the EU, thus have a wear rating e.g. Nexen Tyres.

Please note: if you have bought a second hand car there is no guarantee that the tyres on the vehicle are to the manufacturer’s recommendation therefore, if you are ever in doubt consult your local garage.

See below for an explanation of what the writing on your vehicle‘s tyres means:

205/65 R 95 V

205: This is the width of the tyre tread in millimetres

65:  Is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the tyre tread, in this instance 65% of 205mm

R: R stands for radial; this is the construction of the tyre

16: The diameter of the tyre’s inner rim in inches

95: Is the load rating of the tyre, this is the weight the tyre is designed to support.

V: This letter refers to the maximum speed the tyre is designed to withstand when the vehicle if fully loaded (see below for the most common speed rating lettering)

S – 112 mph

T – 118 mph

H - 130 mph

V – 149 mph

Z – 150+ mph

W – 168 mph

Y – 186 mph

WHAT TYRES DO YOU REQUIRE?
If you drive a few thousand miles a year, mostly in a rural area, and never drive over 100mph then standard tyres in mid-price range should suffice. However, if you normally travel on motorways or at speed, finding the right tyre with an extended tread life will allow you to avoid changing your tyres as often, saving you money and time in the long run. Consult your local garage for advice.

Another factor to take into consideration, when finding the right type of tyre for your vehicle, is the typical weather for your location. In the UK, rain and wet weather is common, so it is best to find tyres that are well suited to provide good grip in this type of weather and still perform well.

ADVICE: It is good practice to rotate the tyres in the best condition to the front of your vehicle, this is because the majority of vehicles are front wheel drive, therefore the front wheels tend to wear faster as they are do a larger amount of work compared to the rear i.e. steer and do most of the braking.

NEW EU TYRE LABELLING REGULATION (EC 1222/2009) As of 1st November 2012, all tyres manufactured after 1st July 2012 are required to have a rating for 1 - Fuel efficiency, 2 -Wet grip and 3 – External rolling noise.

Fuel Efficiency – this is graded using a scale of A – G. ‘A’ being the most efficient and ‘G’ being the least efficient. [‘D’ is not used in this grading].

Wet Grip, also known as braking performance on a wet road – is graded using a scale of A – G. ‘A’ being shortest braking distance and ‘G’ being longest. [‘D’ & ‘G’ are not used in this grading].

External Rolling Noise – this is measured in decibels (dB) and categorised in 3 classes which are illustrated by 3 waves. 1 wave being a quieter tyre and 3 being louder. 

Spare Tyres Is a spare tyre part of the MOT test? The simple answer is no, however under the Road Traffic Act it is illegal to carry a defective spare tyre.

Space saver tyres are legal to carry as a spare and to use on the vehicle in the short-term, ie until it is convenient to get a replacement tyre fitted, but if the vehicle is presented for an MOT with a space saver tyre fitted then it would fail as a result.

If the spare tyre is suspended in a cage under the vehicle these can be subject to theft and there are some excellent locking devices which can be fitted to eliminate this problem.

It is imperative that your vehicle is in safe condition all year round, however it is especially important in the winter months as the weather conditions worsen.
Things to check:
Tyres, Fluid Levels, Lights, Battery, Heating, Windscreen Condition.

Take advantage of our free winter check service.

Winter Servicing Your Car - A Useful Checklist
TYRES
Check the condition of your tyres – ice and poor weather conditions on the roads seriously affect the grip your tyres have on the road. Ensure you have at least the minimum legal requirement tread depth of 1.6mm on your tyres but it is recommended you should have between 2 -3 mm of tread in those winter months. It’s not just the tread you have to check - see if there are any bulges, cracks or foreign objects in the tyre and check that the tyre pressures are correct as well (see your manufacturer's guide) And don’t forget to check over the spare tyre too!

FLUID LEVELS
ANTIFREEZE
The antifreeze level should be kept topped up in the winter to protect the water in your engine from freezing. When topping up your antifreeze make sure you use the correct specification for your vehicle - find this in your manufacturer’s guide. Check that your car, van or 4 x 4’s antifreeze will protect against those lowest of temperatures in winter by taking your vehicle to your local garage.

BRAKE FLUID (& BRAKES)
When visibility is reduced and road surfaces are icy you need to have reliable brakes so ensure the brake fluid level is correct and check the condition of your brakes, alternatively take your vehicle to a garage to have your brakes tested professionally.

WASHER FLUID (& WIPERS)
In those winter months you’ll tend to use your washer fluid more frequently, keep the level topped up with screen wash to avoid freezing which will also help clear your screen on those frosty mornings. Your front and rear wipers should also be in good condition, make sure they are not cracked or perished and clear the windscreen efficiently.

OIL
check the level of oil and top up if necessary to avoid any damage to the engine. To help you gauge how much to fill up your oil, on average the amount of oil between the min and max level is approximately 1 litre.

LIGHTS
As the days become shorter and nights become longer you’ll need to ensure all your lights are working correctly before you set off. This includes your hazard, fog, brake and reversing lights these are essential especially with poor visibility weather conditions – keep your lights clean too for maximum visibility.

BATTERY
Starting your vehicle in the cold weather puts a strain on your battery as well as the increased use of demisters and lights - have your battery tested to make sure it is in good condition and replace if necessary.

HEATING
Test your heated windows and demisters before the winter weather kicks in so you have enough time to get it repaired if necessary. You should also leave your air conditioning on for at least half an hour per week when driving in the winter, this will keep it working correctly and will also help to defrost the car.

WINDSCREEN CHIPS
If you have any chips in your windscreen you should have them repaired before the winter months, this is because the icy weather can cause them to turn into cracks by the freeze-thaw method.  Your windscreen provides just under a third of your vehicle’s structural strength therefore it is essential to repair a chip. They are relatively cheap to repair, or free if you’re covered by your insurance and take very little time to repair, whereas a crack is difficult to repair and will usually result in the renewal of your windscreen instead.

Advice for travelling by car in winter 
Before setting off on any journey in the winter check the weather and traffic forecast, if the weather is poor try not to travel further than necessary, if at all. If it is essential that you must drive in the ice, snow and fog follow these tips:

• Allow extra time to arrive at your destination taking into consideration the time it’ll take to de-ice your car and a slower speed you may have to travel at.
• Clear your front and rear windscreens fully before leaving.
• Keep to or drive slower than the speed limits.
• Avoid heavy acceleration or braking – keep in mind that the stopping distance will have increased in these conditions.
• Make sure you use the correct lights, especially when visibility is poor i.e. fog lights on when visibility is less than 100m.
• Avoid erratic steering and taking bends or corners too fast, you should brake early and decelerate gradually.
• Take supplies with you – a blanket, flask full of a hot beverage and some food just in case you break down or get caught in traffic. Also keep a first aid kit in your vehicle as well.
• Keep a red warning triangle sign in your vehicle in case of a breakdown. Most new vehicles now come with a red warning triangle already installed in one of the compartments of your vehicle, usually found in the boot. This is because it is now a legal requirement in most European countries to carry these in case of breakdown.
• Finally, ensure you tell someone where you’re going, take a phone if possible (that has a substantial amount of battery) and know a recovery number.