I know from driving a lot in Basingstoke that the roads can get super busy, so car safety is paramount. Sure, residents may have close proximity to the M3 motorway plus the M4 via the A33, but that does not mean that its road network all it should be. All too often, drivers on the smaller roads can find themselves snarled up in traffic. It can be a nightmare! Slow-moving cars often suffer from more wear and tear because of the amount of braking and accelerating that is needed. In addition, Basingstoke has plenty of potholes which can ruin a good set of tyres if you don’t steer around them! If you hit any, then your tyres can suffer even more.
Luckily, you can order your car tyres in Basingstoke online with fitting at Headley Tyres website, so should you run into any difficulties, it should be a pretty easy fix. But for now I wanted to share a few things you can check for to ensure your tyres are safe before you drive….
Tyre Thread Depth
Checking your legal tyre tread depth is one of the most important checks you can make on your car. Having worn out tyres can be seriously dangerous – an accident waiting to happen. There is also a risk of a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for a worn tyre too! The legal limit is 1.6mm, which you can check using the side of a 20p coin for ease – 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.
Check tyre pressure
When you run over speed bumps and go up and down kerbs – as you often need to in towns like Basingstoke – the air pressure in your tyres will lessen. Also more air is usually lost during warm weather, so more regular checks are needed when temperatures rise. If your tyre pressure is off, your ability to grip the road will drop, especially in wet road conditions. Check your tyres to ensure they are pumped up properly!
Check for bulges and abnormalities
When tyres age, the rubber compound they are made from can begin to perish. It’s best to get small wear and tears repaired before you have a bigger issue like a bulging tyre. In such circumstances, you may notice gouge-like marks on the sidewall of your tyres. If not, then it will probably be that you detect bulging sections of rubber. If you spot bulging tyres, ensure they are changed immediately as this is extremely dangerous!
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