Car Tyre Safety Check

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Not attending to car tyre safety is a vital factor in many road accidents every year. You can have the best brakes and shocks but it won’t help if your tyres are worn or damaged. The idea behind braking is to have sufficient friction between the road surface and your tyres so your car can come to a complete stop. Poor car tyres maintenance will lead to worn treads which means your tyres will slide all over the road without stopping the car. This also affects handling and steering ability. Tyre damage is a real concern and can occur in several ways, not just age or mileage.

In fact, other factors include emergency braking, incorrect tyre inflation, wheel alignment, and poor road surface.   To ensure safety on the road, it is imperative that you perform a regular tyre check, at least every 2 weeks. You can also visit any of our Elite Garages for a FREE tyre check. Our expert technicians will do a thorough tyre inspection including tyre pressure, tread depth and visual damage check. Once they completed the tyre check, we will provide you with a detailed report indicating any concerns.

Why is a tyre check important?

Car Tyre

While safety is the most important element behind tyre maintenance, keeping your tyres in good condition can also save you money in terms of fuel efficiency. The three major areas you need to focus on during your routine tyre check include tyre pressure, tyre tread depth and visible damage inspection.

Under UK law, your tyre treads must be at least 1.6 mm deep around the tyre circumference and the central three quarters. Remember to check your tread depth in at least 3 different locations across the tyre to ensure there is no uneven wear.

Under- or over-inflated tyres are dangerous and could easily lead to tyre failure. Incorrect tyre pressure results in uneven contact with the road so tyres will wear excessively on the inside and outside edges.

Over-inflated tyres make less contact with the road which means less traction resulting in poor braking distances.   If you notice a nail or screw lodged in your tread during your visual tyre check, it’s probably best to leave it until you can get to a garage. Pulling it out could let air escape and you may end up with a flat tyre.   Visit any of our Elite branches if you suspect any tyre damage and we’ll take care of it while you wait.

The free tyre check can be carried out in approximately 5 minutes and includes a thorough visual inspection of tread depth and wear, tyre pressure and damage to the side walls.

FAQs Tyre Safety Checks

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Categories: Dorchester Winter Tyres

Winter tyres provide superior traction and control in cold conditions, especially when temperatures drop below 7°C. They have deeper tread patterns and softer rubber compounds, which allow them to perform better on snow, ice, and wet roads. All-season tyres, while versatile and convenient, don’t match the specialised performance of winter tyres in extreme winter conditions, but they are a good option for milder climates where extreme cold is less common.

Categories: Class 4 MOT Dorchester

A Class 4 MOT checks various components of your vehicle to ensure it meets the UK’s safety and environmental standards. The test includes an inspection of the brakes, lights, tyres, suspension, emissions, and more. If any of these components do not meet the legal requirements, your vehicle will fail the test, and you’ll need to have repairs done before re-testing. Ensuring these components are regularly maintained will help you pass the MOT without any issues.

Common issues include wear and tear on brakes, tyres with insufficient tread depth, and electrical faults. Suspension and steering systems are also frequent areas requiring attention, especially in off-road or older model cars, including Land Rovers. Elite Garages Pulborough can address these issues efficiently with their skilled technicians and advanced diagnostic equipment.

Delaying your car MOT is not recommended, as driving without a valid MOT certificate is illegal and can lead to fines. Plus, regular MOTs help identify early signs of wear or damage, preventing more expensive repairs later. We highly recommend not delaying your MOT as there may be serious consequences.

You can save on car maintenance by sticking to essential services like oil changes, tyre checks, wheel alignment and brake inspections, while avoiding unnecessary add-ons. By doing regular checks, and choosing trusted local garages like Elite Garages, you can help keep your vehicle safe without overspending.

If your cambelt snaps while driving, it can cause severe engine damage — especially in interference engines where the pistons and valves can collide. This often results in bent valves, damaged pistons, and even a ruined cylinder head. In many cases, the engine will stop suddenly, and repairs can be extremely costly.

The most serious dashboard warning lights are typically red and indicate issues that could put your safety—or your engine—at risk. These include the brake system warning light, engine oil pressure warning, coolant temperature warning, and the airbag or SRS warning. If any of these lights appear while driving, you should stop the car as soon as it’s safe and seek professional assistance. Ignoring them can lead to breakdowns, serious damage, or compromised safety systems.

Yes, avoiding routine maintenance can lead to bigger, more expensive problems down the line. Skipping things like oil changes, brake checks, or vehicle diagnostics allows minor issues to develop into major faults; many of which could’ve been caught early and fixed at a more reasonable price.