tyres and wheel alignment

The Tyre Facts

Tread Depth - the legal limit is 1.6mm of tread depth across the central ¾ all the way round. Anything less than this seriously compromises your safety and can earn you a fine of up to £2500 and 3 points on your Driving Licence, per tyre.

In wet weather, good tread helps to remove water from the contact patch of the tyre and the road providing your car with good grip, steering and acceleration.

We will check this for free at our garage, and there's no need to book. We will only advise you to change your tyre when you actually need to, which is generally around 2mm.

Tyre Pressure - you should check your tyre pressure every two weeks and before any long trip, to ensure they meet the manufacturer's recommendations.

The correct pressure can be found in the vehicle's handbook and sometimes on a sticker on the door jam or fuel cap.

If your pressure is too low you will wear the outside of the tyre quicker than the centre but if your pressure is too high the centre of the tyre will wear quicker than the outside.

We will check and adjust your tyre pressure to the manufacturer's recommendations ensuring that your tyres are safe and elongate their life by preventing uneven wear.

Tyre Condition - visually inspect your tyres for cuts, cracks and bulges, as these can lead to slow punctures or blowouts.

Abbey Service Centre will check your cars condition during a Free Tyre Safety Check or Free Vehicle Health Check.

Wheel alignment on any vehicle is important. When the wheels of a car or truck are properly aligned with each other, it maximises the running efficiency and reduces wear and tear. If, for example, you notice that one or more of the wheels on your car are wearing unevenly, with one side of the tread showing much more  wear than the other, this usually means that the wheel alignment is out and it is necessary to realign the wheels. 

You may be wondering how you can know if your car wheels are out of alignment. It's easy to tell when the wheel alignment is far out. You may feel the car pulling to the left or right, and when you let go of the steering wheel when driving on a flat, smooth surface, the car will drift to the left or right, rather than drive straight ahead. You should also be able to see uneven tyre wear, usually most noticeable on the front tyres, but sometimes seen on the rear tyres as well. You may also notice that the steering wheel is no longer even when driving straight ahead. When car wheels are not properly aligned, it will mean that one or more wheels will wear unevenly.  the other, this usually means that the wheel alignment is out and it is necessary to realign the wheels. 

As a general rule it is wise to have your alignment checked; Every 12,000 - 15,000 miles or once a year. However, it is also highly recommended when;

• You knowingly hit a kerb or pothole
• New tyres are fitted
• Steering and suspension components are replaced
• The vehicle has been involved in any form of accident or collision

If you are not sure whether your car wheels are properly aligned or not, you can have them checked at  Abbey Service Centre to put your mind at rest. Wheel alignment is an inexpensive procedure that doesn't take long, but it will let you know whether your car is safe to drive or not for you and your family.