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| BE TYRE SMART |
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| Whether you drive a
limousine, a family saloon, a flash sports car or something
more humble. Your cars have one thing in common. The safe
performance of your vehicle is highly dependent on the
quality of those four tyres, each with a road contact
patch not much bigger than the average persons hand whether
you are travelling at 20mph or 70 mph! |
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| Your tyres are your
contact with the road and are responsible for: |
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- Acceleration
- Steering
- Safe stopping of your vehicle.
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| Are all tyres
the same? |
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| Tyres are not just black
and round; they are highly complex engineered products
resulting from years of investment in research and development.
Tyre performance characteristics can vary markedly and
so it is important to ensure that they are the correct
specification for your car. |
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Every new car-type tyre,
other than retreads, must meet European standards for
load/speed performance and be marked on the sidewall with
 |
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| Tread Depth |
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| On passenger cars, trailers
and light vans up to 3500kg in weight there must be a
minimum of 1.6mm tread depth in continuous bands around
the tyre across the central ¾ width of the tyre.
But don’t wait until you get to the legal minimum,
Tanvic would recommend tyres are changed at a minimum
of 2mm and preferably closer to 3mm. |
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| When you consider that
new tyres have approximately 7mm of tread depth the water
shifting capability of your tyres on wet road conditions
is steadily compromised as tread depth diminishes. |
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| Tyre Condition |
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| There must be no cuts
or abrasions exposing the steel or fabric cords of the
tyre casing. No bulges on either the tread or in particular
the sidewall of the tyre which is usually the area most
prone to damage. |
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| Cross ply v Radial |
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| Observe the law with
regard to fitting cross ply tyres, which should never
be mixed on the same axle with radial tyres. Fortunately
almost all modern tyres are radials |
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| Speed Rating |
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| Tyres are made to a
given load and speed rating specification. For example
the tyres specified for a family saloon may not be suitable
for a fast sports car, make sure the correct ones are
fitted. |
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| Inflation Pressure |
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- WRONG TYRE
PRESSURES. (high or low)
will cause more rapid wear and shorter tyre life.
- LOW TYRE PRESSURES.
Under inflation is one of the leading causes of tyre
failure; it can result in unnecessary tyre stress,
irregular wear and possible loss of vehicle control.
Not only that, under inflation will increase fuel
consumption and as we all know, fuel is a lot more
expensive than a shot of air !!
- HIGH TYRE
PRESSURES. Over inflation is also highly undesirable
with risks from blow out, uneven wear and a harsh
ride. Consult the manufactures guidelines for the
correct tyre pressures for your vehicle.
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| Wheel Alignment
and Wheel Nuts |
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| Incorrect wheel alignment
will cause uneven tyre wear and affect vehicle handling.
Have your tyre dealer check alignment periodically. |
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| Regularly check your
wheel nuts for tightness and again consult your tyre dealer
or car manufacturer for advice if required. |
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| Severe Penalties
if you break the law. |
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| The penalties for offences
related to the use of faulty tyres on vehicles are very
severe. |
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| 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
with 3 penalty points. |
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| Currently up to £2,500
and each faulty tyre is considered as a separate offence.
In other words two faulty tyres equals £5,000. |
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| OFFENCES
CAN RELATE TO: |
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- 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 its other wheels.
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| Practice Good
Driving Habits to help keep your tyres in top condition |
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- Obey speed limits – excessive
speed increases wear and tear.
- Avoid fast starts, stops, turns and
skids.
- Avoid potholes and other objects
in the road
- Do not run over the kerb or chafe
the kerb when parking your car.
- Do not overload your car. Consult
manufacturers guidelines.
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| For good quality advice
on tyres consult a reputable tyre retailer who has appropriately
skilled and regularly trained staff with City & Guilds
certificates of competence or similar. |
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