Many drivers forget to check the condition of their tyres regularly, with some even waiting for their annual MOT for a diagnosis. Tyres are the only point of contact that your car has with the road, and they have to bear the entire weight of the vehicle and its occupants, so a year is a very long time in the life of your tyre.
If you are a Motability Scheme customer, your all-inclusive package helps keep you moving. It includes support with tyre replacement if they’re worn or damaged through normal use, in line with our fair usage policy. Puncture repairs and wheel balancing are also included. And if your tyres are stolen or vandalised, replacement is included at no extra cost, subject to our fair usage policy.
However, it’s very important that all drivers carry out some checks regularly, to keep you safe on the road.
We asked the tyre experts at Kwik Fit for their advice and they’ve provided us with some essential steps to help maintain your tyres.
Tyre tread is vital to make sure your car can grip the road properly, especially in wet conditions, making it one of the most important checks you can do. Specifically, tyre tread depth refers to the measurement of the large deep grooves found in the central three quarters of the tyre tread.
Make sure all four tyres have at least 2mm of tread. The more tread you have, the better equipped your tyres are to brake in the shortest distance. But as tyres become worn, so too does their effectiveness to provide grip. That’s why it’s crucial to check the remaining tread depth on each tyre regularly.
There are a number of ways to measure your tyre tread depth. The first is a device called a tread depth gauge. You can buy one from around £6 from places like Amazon or B&Q. This simple tool is designed to give a quick and accurate measurement of the depth of an individual tyre by dropping a pin into the tread groove and measuring how deep the pin falls.
If you do not have one of these, another way to check is to use a 20 pence coin. ‘The 20p test’ is a quick and easy way of assessing if the tread depth of your tyres is a concern. Simply insert the coin into the grooves of the tyre and bring your eye level in line with the face of the tyre. If you can see the outer band of the coin, it’s likely the tread is worn to a point that the tyre needs to be replaced.
Remember, Kwik Fit will replace tyres on Scheme vehicles when the depth falls to 2.0mm as part of your all-inclusive package, in line with our fair usage policy.
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Checking your tyre pressure regularly may seem like an inconvenience, but as well as keeping you and your passengers safe on the roads, it can also help you save money.
The obvious danger with having low pressure in your tyres is that the added strain on the rubber sidewall could cause the tyre to burst. But even if your tyres are only slightly underinflated, this can decrease fuel efficiency and they can wear out more quickly, meaning you’ll be paying more at the pump and will need to replace them more frequently.
Good question, and one you should find the answer to before you attempt to inflate your tyres as over-inflation can also cause steering issues and rapid tyre wear, so do not overdo it.
The easiest way to find out the recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle is to check your vehicle manufacturer’s manual. Or try looking around the frame of the driver’s door or inside the fuel tank flap as you will often find a sticker indicating the correct tyre pressure.
Tyre pressure is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch). Once you know the recommended PSI for your front and rear tyres you can pay a visit to any good petrol station forecourt who will supply air for a small fee. Simply set the desired PSI on the machine, take off your tyre valve dust cap and apply the air hose. The machine will show you the current pressure and automatically inflate to the pressure entered.
If you do not want to make the journey to a garage forecourt each time, you can also pick up a digital tyre pressure reader to check your pressure at home.
Many newer cars have a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This system keeps an eye on the air pressure in your tyres and warns you if one or more tyres are getting low.
If a tyre pressure warning light comes on, it can be worrying. But in most cases, it simply means a tyre needs some air.
What does the TPMS warning light look like?
It usually looks like a flat tyre with an exclamation mark inside it, or a horseshoe shape with an exclamation mark, like the below image. The symbol may be amber or yellow.
What should you do first?
Before calling your dealer, check your tyre pressures:
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Look up the correct tyre pressure for your car in the handbook or inside the driver’s door
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Inflate the tyres to the recommended pressure at a petrol station or with a home pump
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After inflating, the warning light should go off once you start driving, or after you reset the system if your car requires this
If the light stays on after you’ve checked and topped up the tyres, or if it comes back on quickly, then it’s time to contact your dealer or Kwik Fit for advice.
This simple check can save you time and help keep you safely on the road.
Every day your tyres take a pounding, whether it’s from potholes, curbing or debris left in the road. So it’s perfectly natural that they would suffer from some general wear and tear.
However, you may not always be aware of the damage unless you go looking for it. Keep your tyres in good condition by getting into the habit of inspecting them regularly. Look at the surface of the tyre to inspect them for lumps, cuts, bulges and irregular tyre wear. Also, use your hand to feel for anything that might be embedded into the rubber, such as a screw or nail.
When checking your tyres, if you notice anything unusual or something you’re not sure about, do not worry, get in touch with your local Kwik Fit centre and their team will be able to assist.
With tyre replacement from Kwik Fit included as part of your lease, we’ll help get you back on the road as quickly and safely as possible, in line with our fait usage policy.
Need help with your tyres?
Your Motability Scheme lease includes support with tyre replacement, puncture repairs and more.
If you want to check what’s covered, you can quickly find the details in your account.
