Car insurance - Tips & Advice - Car Maintenance

There are usually two occasions when a driver will typically think about the state of their tyres. One is at MOT time and the other is when there’s a problem and the bill comes in.

There is a lot you can do to make sure tyres don’t go wrong in the first place. To begin with, check the pressure every week – your manufacturer’s manual or Haynes book will tell you about the pressure they need to reach. A tyre at the right pressure will perform at its best and will last longer than one that has not been looked after. Hand-held pressure gauges aren’t expensive from, for example, Halfords. Make sure the tyres are cold when you check them and do the check at least once a week.

The Tyre Industry Council has published data that suggests that a quarter of tyres on the road are unroadworthy without their owners’ knowledge. Things shouldn’t come to that since most tyres have tread wear indicator bars built in. These are the small bumps in the main grooves, which are set to the minimum legal tread you can have. If you can see the bump, you need to change your tyres and you should already have done so. Legally you can have as little as 1.6mm tread, but this can only be guaranteed to work in good conditions – if it’s likely to be icy or wet, it’s a good idea to talk to a garage when the tread gets down to 3mm.

Occasionally you’ll need to change tyres. Remoulded tyres are available but are likely to last a shorter time than a new tyre. Remember to ask your garage to tighten the new tyre by hand; if it’s been machined on and you’re unlucky enough to get a blowout, you can end up unable to change it without specialist help from a rescue service.

Finally, don’t forget to give your tyres a thorough visual check once a week or preferably more often. Any scratches or bumps can be a sign of a structural weakness and you should talk to your garage immediately.

Of course, Direct Line will be there to offer an easy to use and efficient service at low cost if there’s a difficulty. Get a quote now, and see where you can make savings.

For further information on road safety, check out Brake, the road safety charity, at www.brake.org.uk.