Whether you have a busy city lifestyle or enjoy a more relaxed one in the suburbs, getting through the heavy traffic in London can be a headache. The one thing motorists who live and work in the capital want to avoid is trouble with their car's tyres. Ill-fitting or poorly maintained ones can lead to problems you'll want to avoid. No one wants to be trying to fit their spare on busy roads like the North Circular or the Westway where there is barely any room to perform such tasks safely. What do you need to know about car tyres? Here's a breakdown of the essentials.
Types of tyres
There are many different tyre types. Check the code on the side of your current ones to see which size will fit your car. Bear in mind that some tyres, such as winter tyres, just aren't needed in London. If it were to snow, then the roads would be typically clear within a day or two, so fitting them is overkill. The same goes for mud-terrain tyres, even if you own a 4x4. Instead, opt for all-season tyres, which are good all year round, providing good handling on wet city streets. Urban drivers should also look into run-flat tyres, which can be useful in any city where running over broken glass and other debris can be a problem. Driving in the city demands durability and reliability, so it’s worth investing in tyres to boost your car's performance. You can buy tyres at London's best professional fitting centre; DAT Tyres. Their experts will make sure your car is fit to drive, and their range of tyres is tailored for every budget.
Tyre Maintenance and Safety
The next thing to bear in mind is that tyres need looking after. Pump your car's tyres up every third visit to the garage you make to refuel. Doing so helps to preserve them with less wear than you would experience with even partially under-inflated tyres. It also makes your car nimbler and able to avoid hazards. With improved handling, properly inflated tyres also offer better braking which is important from a road safety perspective, of course.
You also need to make sure that your tyres have sufficient tread. Older tyres which look good on one part of the tread may be balding on another. This sometimes occurs if you have wheel spun your car or skidded even for just a few metres. Therefore, check the tread around each tyre. Replace any that are approaching the legal limit or that are bulging at the sidewall, a sure sign they're no longer safe to drive on.
Comments