Car tyres are one of those unfortunate expenditures that almost every motorist has to endure from time to time. Unless you’re running a company car or still living off Mum and Dad, chances are once every couple of years the four bits of rubber that separate your car from the road are going to cost you a few quid. Now, whilst replacing your tyres is somewhat of a necessary evil, there are measures you can take to keep the cost down. These take a number of forms, five of which we’ll examine here.
1. Drive Carefully
The simplest way of keeping the cost of your car’s tyres down is to replace them less frequently. The minimum legal limit for tyre tread in the UK is 1.6mm – the longer it stays above this threshold, the fewer times you need to replace your tyres. And the most effective way of protecting the tread on your tyres? That’s right, driving carefully and sensibly.
This means anticipating situations that require you to slow down in order to avoid having to break aggressively. It involves accelerating gently and cornering smoothly and gently. Slamming on the breaks, wheel spinning away from traffic lights and ramping the curb as you take a corner too fast are all sure fire ways of damaging your tyres and sending them to an early grave. Take care of them and they’ll last a great deal longer!
2. Keep Them Inflated
Keeping your tyres inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendations is not only great for your fuel economy; it also reduces the wear and tear on your tyres too. Over time your tyres’ pressures is prone to dropping for a number of reason, including minor punctures or perforations and air escaping from their components. It’s important therefore to regularly check your tyres and inflate them as necessary.
The recommended pressures will be located in your car’s user manual, not on the side of the tyre – this is actually the maximum pressure.
If you find your tyre pressure drops suddenly it’s important to replace or repair the wheel as quickly as possible. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, contact a breakdown firm or local tyre fitters.
3. Shop for the Best Deals
As is often the case, shopping around can save you money. Request quotations from local garages or tyre fitters and search online to find the best value for money. You’ll need to take into account whether or not the price involves fitting and warranty in order to compare like for like, as well as the make and brand of the tyres you are investing in.
4. Beware of False Economy
And this leads us nicely onto our next point – avoiding false economy. With tyres, it is often the case that you get what you pay for. Premium bands are going to last you an extra few thousand miles when compared to tyres from budget manufacturers and so it’s important to work out exactly what you can afford.
Often, spending a little more in the short term can save you considerable money in the long run. On the other hand, how long are you expecting to keep the car? There is little value in fitting a car with top of the range tyres if you plan to sell it within the next 18 months.
Buying second hand tyres is also somewhat of a minefield and should be undertaken with extreme caution. Whilst there are bargains to be found, second hand tyres are often a prime example of false economy as they last a fraction of the time and are far more prone to damage and punctures.
5. Make Regular Inspections
Finally, look after your tyres by making regular inspections of them and of your car. Checking for perforations, bulges and other tell-tale signs of damage is important to minimise the chances of having a blow out and being forced to replace rather than repair your tyres.
In addition you should ensure your wheel alignment and balancing are up to scratch every time you take your car into the garage, as these can drastically effect how quickly your tyres wear down. They can be thrown out by something as simple as hitting the curb and can cause uneven wear in a matter of days or weeks.
1. Drive Carefully
The simplest way of keeping the cost of your car’s tyres down is to replace them less frequently. The minimum legal limit for tyre tread in the UK is 1.6mm – the longer it stays above this threshold, the fewer times you need to replace your tyres. And the most effective way of protecting the tread on your tyres? That’s right, driving carefully and sensibly.
This means anticipating situations that require you to slow down in order to avoid having to break aggressively. It involves accelerating gently and cornering smoothly and gently. Slamming on the breaks, wheel spinning away from traffic lights and ramping the curb as you take a corner too fast are all sure fire ways of damaging your tyres and sending them to an early grave. Take care of them and they’ll last a great deal longer!
2. Keep Them Inflated
Keeping your tyres inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendations is not only great for your fuel economy; it also reduces the wear and tear on your tyres too. Over time your tyres’ pressures is prone to dropping for a number of reason, including minor punctures or perforations and air escaping from their components. It’s important therefore to regularly check your tyres and inflate them as necessary.
The recommended pressures will be located in your car’s user manual, not on the side of the tyre – this is actually the maximum pressure.
If you find your tyre pressure drops suddenly it’s important to replace or repair the wheel as quickly as possible. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, contact a breakdown firm or local tyre fitters.
3. Shop for the Best Deals
As is often the case, shopping around can save you money. Request quotations from local garages or tyre fitters and search online to find the best value for money. You’ll need to take into account whether or not the price involves fitting and warranty in order to compare like for like, as well as the make and brand of the tyres you are investing in.
4. Beware of False Economy
And this leads us nicely onto our next point – avoiding false economy. With tyres, it is often the case that you get what you pay for. Premium bands are going to last you an extra few thousand miles when compared to tyres from budget manufacturers and so it’s important to work out exactly what you can afford.
Often, spending a little more in the short term can save you considerable money in the long run. On the other hand, how long are you expecting to keep the car? There is little value in fitting a car with top of the range tyres if you plan to sell it within the next 18 months.
Buying second hand tyres is also somewhat of a minefield and should be undertaken with extreme caution. Whilst there are bargains to be found, second hand tyres are often a prime example of false economy as they last a fraction of the time and are far more prone to damage and punctures.
5. Make Regular Inspections
Finally, look after your tyres by making regular inspections of them and of your car. Checking for perforations, bulges and other tell-tale signs of damage is important to minimise the chances of having a blow out and being forced to replace rather than repair your tyres.
In addition you should ensure your wheel alignment and balancing are up to scratch every time you take your car into the garage, as these can drastically effect how quickly your tyres wear down. They can be thrown out by something as simple as hitting the curb and can cause uneven wear in a matter of days or weeks.
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