Merityre Article Archive

All car tyres are round, black things with sidewalls and treads, and they need to be inflated from time to time. So, they’re all the same, aren’t they? In fact they aren’t all the same and to say they are is just like saying all houses are the same.

This is about the difference between common aspects and specifics. True, every house has a roof, doors and windows but a two-up, two-down terraced property and a mansion, though they’re both houses, are clearly very different. The same goes for tyres, albeit less obviously. Here, we can consider five distinct types of tyre, and these will illustrate the differences.

Standard or all-season tyres are the most commonly fitted type of car tyre. As their name implies, they’re the jack-of-all-trades of the tyre world. They work well in both dry and wet conditions. They aren’t too noisy on most road surfaces and their fairly hard rubber compound gives them a long life. These factors represent compromises, of a kind that work for most requirements – and for most drivers.

Performance tyres, on the other hand, balance certain factors in order to enhance certain characteristics. Car tyres of this kind don’t last as long as standard tyres but their softer compound yields better grip. Similarly, performance tyres don’t appreciate colder conditions, which is why they’re often called ‘summer tyres’. They also don’t readily suffer significant wear. Performance cars – and demanding drivers – deserve performance tyres.

Winter tyres are car tyres for use when snow and ice are liable to be encountered. These tyres have a more marked tread pattern, which is great for giving the best grip and preventing snow and ice from packing in the treads’ grooves. They are also made using compounds that remain flexible even when thermometers are reading low. Some even have integral metal studs to maximise grip. The costs for these specific characteristics are twofold. First, winter tyres create a lot of noise, even on smooth roads. Second, in normal conditions, they wear very quickly and can damage the road surface. The kind of conditions where you’d need winter tyres are obvious, as is the fact that they can’t be used year-round.

All-terrain tyres are the top of the range tyres for unfriendly conditions. Their big, open, chunky treads can grip on loose surfaces such as gravel and sand. Knowing that such surfaces are liable to be in rough country, manufacturers make all terrain tyres with tougher, stiffer sidewalls so they’re less susceptible to damage from potholes and debris. These tyres are sturdy and generally long-lived, at the cost of a considerable noise level on smooth tarmac. There is a still more specialized tyre for adverse conditions. Mud tyres have an extremely large tread block pattern and are suitable for use only in muddy conditions.

Car tyres of this kind are often used on the kind of four-wheel drive vehicles that are actually taken on rough roads; this includes 4x4s that specifically go off-road regularly.

Finally, run-flat tyres are car tyres that are capable of still being used even though they’re no longer inflated because of a puncture. Now appearing on more and more modern cars, they allow you to retain control of the vehicle despite being at zero pressure. However, they can run flat only for a given distance and at reduced speed – your car’s handbook will have the necessary details.

Which type of car tyres you choose to buy is clearly a ‘horses for courses’ decision, largely depending on what you want from the tyres. However, should you be in any doubt, the staff at any good tyre bay will be happy to give you their professional opinion on what type will be best for you.

Article Resource
Get an instant online tyre quote now or contact your nearest fitting centre to see how much you can save with Merityre car tyres specialist!

Here’s something about car tyres that’s both interesting and thought provoking. Take a look at the sole of your shoe. Why? Well, you may not know it like the back of your hand but here, you’re looking at your shoe’s sole for a reason. The area of the sole of your shoe is approximately the same as that of a car tyre’s contact patch, the amount of tread it has on the road at any one time. Multiply this area by four and it represents all that’s stopping your car, and anyone on board, from sliding off into the scenery when travelling.

Now, say your car weighs one tonne. The car tyres’ four contact patches therefore have to keep one tonne on the straight and narrow. Or do they? In fact, they must often cope with greater loads. When you drive round a corner, you feel centripetal force (not centrifugal force) pushing you towards the outside of the car. Your car tyres create this force and while it’s unlikely that your car can create a cornering force of 1g, it might well do so under very heavy braking. So, during accelerationg, cornering and braking, that four shoe soles’ area is coping with keeping you on the road, rain or shine, summer or winter.

The law says that the minimum depth of the tread on your car tyres must be 1.6 millimetres, across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre. If you haven’t this amount of tread on your tyres, you might get 3 penalty points on your driving licence and a £2,500 fine. This is per tyre, so multiply it by four for the worst-case scenario.

There is, however, an even worse case scenario that affect car tyres. RoSpa, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents carried out some tests. On a hot rolled asphalt surface, a car with barely legal tyres travelled 36.8 per cent further before stopping. On a smooth concrete surface, the same car went 44.6 per cent further. Unsurprisingly, RoSpa recommends tyres be changed when the tread depth falls to 3 millimetres.

There’s another risk that worn car tyres create in the rain. You may have winter tyres, summer tyres, asymmetric tyres or run flat tyres. All have treads and when the treads are badly worn, their contact patches lose their ability to quickly dispose of surface water. When a tyre aquaplanes, it’s riding on a thin film of rainwater it can’t get rid of. Then, you have no appreciable grip and therefore very little control. There’s a memorable black and white picture, taken when Dunlop Tyre’s technical team identified aquaplaning in 1962. In it, a Mark Two Jaguar is shown at speed on a wet test track. White segments painted on its tyres’ walls show that the front tyres aren’t rotating at all – scary. Car tyres may have improved since then but like its cause, aquaplaning remains.

So, running your car tyres down the hilt tread-wise may be economical but it could cost you far more than you thought possible. Happily, you can keep a check on your tyre treads’ health. All tyres have tread wear indicator bars moulded into the tread pattern. When – or preferably a little before – these are no longer lower than the tread surface, it’s new tyre time. You can also buy a tread depth gauge from most motor parts outlets. Failing all else, you can check the tread depth using an old 10 pence piece. The ring of dots around the rim indicates 1.6 millimetres when the edge of the coin is pushed into the remaining tread. However, Matthew Dent didn’t retain this element when designing the ‘Royal Shield’ coins introduced in summer 2008.

Article Resource
Get an instant online tyre quote now or contact your nearest fitting centre to see how much you can save with Merityre car tyres specialist!

Car tyres can be punctured and go flat. When it’ll happen is unpredictable, although it’s never at a convenient time, but you can change a wheel quickly and safely. Details follow, assuming you have the necessary equipment; you may wish to acquire some of the items mentioned.

There is a cardinal rule about wheel changing – never attempt it on the hard shoulder of a motorway or busy road. If reasonably close to an exit or turnoff, you can ‘nurse’ your car to a safe spot but if you can’t, call your breakdown service. Trying to change a wheel inches from a busy traffic lane is far too dangerous to contemplate.

Your safe spot needs to have a firm, smooth surface. Park your car, turn on its hazard lights and set up your warning triangle. Then find the equipment you need. Your car will have a jack and wheel nut wrench in its toolkit and the spare wheel will be either in or under the car. The handbook will tell you where the spare lives and how to extract it. Before starting, have any passengers get out of the car and stand well away from the car and passing traffic.

And so to work. Ensure your car’s handbrake is firmly applied and that the car is in gear or, if automatic, is in ‘park’. Then, chock the wheel diagonally opposite to the one you must change. Now to position the jack. Place it exactly where the handbook says – nowhere else will do – and raise the car just enough to check the jack is firmly seated. Remove the wheel trim if one is fitted, cutting through any cable ties retaining it. Alternatively, if there are any, remove the wheel nuts’ caps.

Loosening the wheel fastenings can involve applying considerable force. Ensure the wrench engages completely before starting to turn each fastening – they’re usually loosened anticlockwise. The car’s weight stops the wheel turning and all you do now is slacken the nuts or bolts. Always apply force downwards. You may stand up and press on the wrench with your foot but support yourself against the car. If one fastening is an anti-theft locking nut/bolt; there’ll be a fitting you can use with the wheel wrench to loosen it.

Next, jack the car up until the wheel with the flat tyre is off the ground – and never place any part of you between any part of the car and the ground. Now, remove all but the topmost wheel nut/bolt. Then, you can support the wheel, remove the last nut or bolt and take the wheel off. Note that a wheel and tyre combination can be heavy so make sure you lift it with a straight back and a firm footing.

Now to fit the spare wheel. Lift it into place on the hub, align the nut/bolt holes and fit the topmost one. Turn it finger tight then replace the remaining fastenings, also finger tight. Lower the jack and remove it, then fully tighten the fastenings in a diagonal pattern. You can now put the equipment you’ve used – and the offending wheel and tyre – back where it belongs.

All finished now? Not quite. Nowadays, wheel fastenings must be torque tightened to a specific degree. You also need to check the pressure in the spare tyre, adjusting it if necessary; and of course, have the punctured tyre repaired or replaced. The first two tasks should be carried out as soon as possible, for safety’s sake.

Two further points remain. The first concerns making wheel changing as easy and safe as possible. Refinements exist and you may want to take advantage of them, buying a pair of heavy gloves and a reflective waistcoat, and acquiring anything else you might need. You may also want to practise a wheel change at home, when it’s warm and dry.

The second and final point concerns ‘space saver’ spare wheels. Your car may have one and restrictions of speed (usually 50mph) and distance apply to them. In some cars, after a space saver spare is fitted, some dashboard warning lights may illuminate. Some ABS, traction control and automatic gearbox sensors can be confused by the presence of a space saver spare. Once again, your car’s handbook will tell you about this.

Article Resource
Get an instant online tyre quote now or contact your nearest fitting centre to see how much you can save with Merityre car tyres specialist!

Knowing how to maximize the life of your car tyres isn’t only a simple way of saving money in the long run. Looking after your car tyres also keeps you safe and legal; being neither can be very costly in more than a financial sense.

Run the tyres at the right pressure

This is a good starting point. Too little pressure wears the edges of the tread prematurely, lets the tyres flex too much and can cause overheating. Too much pressure increases the wear on the centre of the tread. Remember that, comfort and safety aren’t the only issues – running tyres at the wrong pressure is illegal.

Make sure your wheels are properly aligned

Misaligned wheels are another sure-fire tyre killer. Misalignment can make your tyres wear unevenly, wear the inside or outside edges and cause problems with both braking and steering. Moreover, a significant amount of such wear means you’ll have to throw your tyres away far too soon.

Drive sympathetically

 Your car may have traction control and ABS but you can still trash the tyres effectively despite them. How? By driving aggressively. Make sure you accelerate as gently as possible whenever you can and use the brakes carefully, not as though every stop is an emergency stop. Don’t forget that unnecessarily hard cornering shortens the life of your tyres. On a front wheel drive car, the front tyres wear more quickly because they have to transmit power to the road, and take steering and braking forces.

Drive slower

Consistently driving fast will wear out your car tyres sooner.

Choose the right tyres

You could get ‘long life’ tyres for your, which wear more slowly though they tend to be a little noisy. Tyres having a softer rubber compound will be nice and quiet and will wear more quickly. Always follow the tyre fitter’s recommendation of the best compromise for your needs.

Always keep your car under cover

All car tyres degrade over time. If you can keep your car in a garage, out of the sun, you can be sure your tyres will last longer. If you see a fine lattice of cracks has appeared in your tyres’ sidewalls after, say, five years, the tyres are unsafe and must be replaced.

Give your tyres a break

Remember that ‘traffic-calming’ measures shorten the life of your tyres but you can help your tyres out by driving intelligently. Always cross speed bumps slowly. Never straddle speed bumps. Instead, make sure that the only wheels on one side of your car pass over them. Keep an eye out for potholes, avoiding them where you can. When parking, make sure you never mount a kerb. Apart from making life easier for your tyres (and your wheels), these actions will prevent your wheels being knocked out of alignment, leading to wear – and possibly worse.

Using these proven top tips means your car tyres will last longer. This means you’ll save money by not having to replace your tyres before their useful life ends.

Most garages selling car tyres offer a wheel alignment service but not all customers know what this is or what it’s for when they come to buy new tyres. As its name suggests, wheel alignment is to ensure that your car’s wheels are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. Aren’t the wheels like this anyway? They should be but wear and tear, especially that aggravated by speed bumps, can put the wheels out of alignment, as can damage caused by touching a kerb or hitting carriageway debris. Misalignment can cause a braking car to pull to one side or the other, give inaccurate steering and drastically shorten tyre life.

What is involved?

There are usually three factors to be checked and if necessary, adjusted.

The first test is to ensure the wheels are vertical as viewed from the front of the car – this is checking the camber angle.

The second check is slightly more complicated. A car’s front wheels are turned from side to side when you steer. Imagine looking at a front wheel from the side of the car. If you had X-ray vision, you’d see that the steering pivot isn’t vertical but leans back at the top, towards the rear of the car. This is the castor angle, which, if out of adjustment, can cause all manner of strange steering behaviour when you drive.

The third and last check is the tracking. Again looking from the front, the car tyres are usually ‘cross-eyed’, they ‘toe-in’. This is so slight you can’t see it but the setting is important. The tyres are generally set to toe-in so that the when the car is driven, the forces acting on the front wheels and suspension make the front wheels run parallel to one another. If the tyres ‘toe-out’ (think Marty Feldman) through misalignment, or toe-in too much, steering accuracy will suffer and tyre wear will increase. On many cars it’s also possible for the rear wheels to be misaligned.

Should car tyres be worn through misalignment and/or have worn or damaged steering or suspension parts, or even the wrong tyre pressures, correct alignment could be difficult or impossible. The technician will ensure you know about what, if anything, needs adjusting, repairing or replacing.

Man at Work

Wheel alignment used to be achieved with mirrors, weights and string. But such paraphernalia is old hat now; technicians usually use computerised, laser-equipped measuring installations. With these, they can measure and adjust wheel alignment quickly and extremely accurately. So while you enjoy a refreshing cup of tea or visit the shops, your car’s wheels will be aligned with precision, which will extend the life of your car tyres.

What is involved?

How can you keep them this way? Simple – all that’s needed is a little care when you drive. Avoid any debris on the road and watch out for potholes. Take your time over speed pads and straddling speed bumps damages tyres and suspension; drive so that only the wheels on one side of the car go over the bump. Most importantly, when manoeuvring, do not hit kerbs.

Article Resource
Get an instant online tyre quote now or contact your nearest fitting centre to see how much you can save with Merityre car tyres specialist!

Driving carefully by not over accelerating, braking hard and sharp corning is the best way to extend the life of your car tyres. This article has five other tips to keep your car tyres in good condition:

1. Correct Tyre Pressure

Regularly check your car tyres are not under or over inflated.

Under inflation causes greater flexing of the rubber, increasing the operating temperature and reducing the tyre’s lifespan.  The wear on the edge or shoulder of the tyre is increased and damage can be caused to the vehicle’s suspension when driving over a pothole.

Under inflation also results in poor fuel economy. Increased rolling resistance makes a car engine work harder and uses more fuel.

Over inflation is equally bad by increasing the wear in the centre of a car tyre’s tread; an area important for protecting the tyre against impact damage.

To find the recommended tyre pressure check the owner’s manual or look for a plaque on the inside of the fuel flap.

2. Balance and Alignment

Whenever your car tyres are repaired or replaced make sure they are correctly balanced when remounted on your car. If not this will cause vibrations, increasing tyre wear, damaging suspension and leading to driver fatigue.

Correct alignment is necessary to have the steering, suspension, wheel components and car tyres all working in harmony to achieve the optimum performance from your vehicle.

It doesn’t cost much for your local garage or car tyre specialist to check the vehicle’s balance or alignment.  Without it the resulting cost of repair will be far greater.

3. Inspection

A visual inspection once a month does not take long and is important to maintain your car tyres in a safe condition.

Check the tread depth. Most tyres have a tread wear indicator built into them. Look for a horizontal bar of rubber located between the tread patterns, at a depth of 2mm.  When the height of the tread wears down to the height of this bar it is time to replace your car tyres.

Check the car tyres for any unusual bulges or lumps as these are often a sign of internal damage. Inspect the tread and sidewall rubber for any signs of cracking. If found change the tyre as soon as possible as cracking can cause a blow-out.

Remove any stones and other objects stuck in a car tyre’s tread. If a nail is found embedded in the rubber, do not remove as the tyre will rapidly deflate. Instead take the tyre to a specialist who may be able to repair the puncture.

4. Repairs

Don’t risk driving on a car tyre that is losing pressure. Take it to a specialist who will give the tyre a complete inspection and make the decision whether it can be repaired or replaced.

Driving on a flat tyre for even a short distance will damage it beyond repair.

Never try repairing a car tyre yourself. This should be handled by a trained professional.

5. Tyre Rotation

The weight of a vehicle is not evenly distributed on all of the car tyres. By regularly rotating the tyres their lifespan is extended and uneven car tyre wear is avoided.

Visit a car tyre specialist for further advice and to check the condition of your current car tyres.

Article Resource
Get an instant online tyre quote now or contact your nearest fitting centre to see how much you can save with Merityre car tyres specialist!

You don’t have to be an automotive expert to spot potential problems when buying a new car. Here are five visual checks that will help you make the decision whether to buy a second hand car.

1) Car Tyres

Ask when owner last fitted new car tyres. Check the tread depth. If it’s below 3mm the car tyres will soon need to be replaced. The legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm.

Look for uneven wear. This may indicate a problem with the car’s steering, suspension or brakes.

Check the car tyres for any unusual bulges or lumps as these are often a sign of internal damage.

Inspect the car tyres’ sidewall rubber for signs of cracking. Crazing and cracking due to weather exposure usually becomes evident on car tyres that are more than five years old.

Don’t forget to check the spare tyre.

2) Vehicle Identity Number

The vehicle’s identity number (also known as the VIN number) is a 17-digit figure that can be found on the car’s engine, at the base of the windscreen or on the driver’s door. Check that it matches the number printed on the car’s registration document and logbook.

Don’t risk purchasing a car if the VIN numbers do not match or cannot be found in any of the specified locations.

3) Bodywork

Check the car’s paint finish and look for any signs of repair. It is easier to spot dents and imperfections by looking along the side of a car.

Compare the seams where the body panels join. Any differences may indicate the car has been repaired after an accident.

It is worth lifting the carpet in the boot to look for any evidence of hidden repairs and check the engine for any signs of welding.

4) Oil

Use the dipstick to check the vehicle’s oil. If the level is low this may indicate a leak or the engine may be burning oil. Have a look underneath the car for further signs of leakage.

The oil on the dipstick should look relatively clean and golden. Black and tar-like oil indicates it has been a while since it was last changed.

5) Mileage

‘Clocking’ is term applied to the illegal practice of winding back a car’s mileage counter.

Look for any evidence that the dashboard has been tampered with. Check the steering wheel and driving pedals for signs of wear and see if this tallies with the car’s mileage. A shiny, worn steering wheel is often a giveaway for a vehicle with low mileage.

If in doubt ask to see the MOT certificates as these will have the car’s mileage printed on them. If not available then there are companies who can provide this information, usually for a fee.

For further advice about car tyres, bodywork or checking the vehicle’s documentation consult a specialist or visit your local garage.

Article Resource
Get an instant online tyre quote now or contact your nearest fitting centre to see how much you can save with Merityre car tyres specialist!

Car tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road. Keeping them in good condition is essential for safe driving and achieving the optimum performance of your car.

Here a ten car tyre tips:

1. Regularly check car tyre pressures. By spending an extra 5 minutes at the petrol station checking your car tyres are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, fuel economy can be improved by 10%.

A car tyre that is inflated below its recommended pressure will wear faster because of its higher operating temperature and the extra flexing of the rubber. This causes deterioration of the tyre casing and rapid wear of the tread shoulders.

Over inflation can also increase wear due to the decreased size of the contact area between the car tyre and the road. It accelerates the wear in the centre of the tread, an area important for protecting the tyre against impact damage.

2. Always carry a spare. It is not a legal requirement but you’ll be thankful you have one when a tyre gets a puncture in a remote location. If using a compact spare tyre remember not to exceed 50 mph and replace it at the earliest opportunity.

3. Check the car tyres for any unusual bulges or lumps as these are often a sign of internal damage. Inspect the tread and sidewall rubber for any signs of cracking as this can cause a tyre blow-out.

4. Keep the tyre valves clean and always remember to replace the dust cap.

5. Avoid driving over of potholes in the road. The extra flexing of the rubber will hasten the tyres deterioration.

6. Remove any stones and other objects embedded in a car tyre’s tread. If you find a nail do not remove it as the tyre will rapidly deflate. Instead take the tyre to a specialist who may be able to repair the puncture.

7. Keep the car in a garage if possible.  Weather exposure causes crazing and cracking on the car tyres of vehicles kept outside.

8. Take care when using a pressure washer as it can cause damage to a tyre’s sidewall. Only use at a safe distance.

9. Try to replace all four tyres at the same time. If this is not possible replace either the two front or the two back tyres together. It will prevent uneven wear which can affect the vehicle’s handling.

10. Consult a car tyre specialist before replacing a tyre. They will advise on the right choice of tyre according to your car’s make, your budget and your driving circumstances.

Article Resource
Get an instant online tyre quote now or contact your nearest fitting centre to see how much you can save with Merityre car tyres specialist!

Car tyres in good condition are not an excuse for driving fast in heavy rain. There is a high potential of aqua planning, significantly reduced visibility and you may encounter a flooded road.

This article provides advice about driving in heavy rain and what to do if you encounter a flood.

During the winter months regularly check your windscreen wipers to ensure they can cope with heavy rain. If the rubber has deteriorated, replace it immediately. It’s very simple to do or local garage will be happy to help.

If caught in a downpour then double the distance between yourself and the car in front. This is because stopping distances are increased on wet roads as your car tyres struggle to find grip. Visibility is also reduced which will lower your reaction time if required to brake suddenly.

Even today’s modern road surfaces struggle to cope with a heavy downpour and standing water is a potential hazard. Try to avoid standing water and slow down. If you don’t there is a high risk of the car aqua planning.

Aqua planning occurs when the car tyre’s tread pattern is unable to disperse enough water to maintain a point of contact between the tyre and the road. This makes the vehicle uncontrollable with the loss of steering, grip and a sensation of driving on ice. It can be a very frightening event as I’m sure anyone who has experienced it will agree. The best advice when it happens is to hold your steering wheel lightly and lift off the accelerator until your car tyres regain their grip.

If you’re unlucky enough to break down in heavy rain, stay with your car but check you are not in a location that is at risk of flash flooding. Your engine may have been affected by the water and in many cases the car will restart when it has had a chance to ‘dry out’. If you have called for assistance do not prop the bonnet open until help arrives. This will cause the electrics to become rain-soaked and the car will be even harder to restart.

The rain may be so heavy that you experience a flooded road. The AA provides some good advice about how to deal with this:

1. Do not drive through flooded water unless you know how deep it is.

2. Stay in the middle of the road. This is known as the crown of the road and should be where the flood water is shallowest.

3. Drive slowly to avoid creating a bow wave, which can cause neighbouring houses to be flooded.

4. Pass one vehicle at a time through flood water. Allow the oncoming traffic to pass first.

5. Do not risk driving through fast moving water as your car can easily be swept away.

6. Driving at speed through a flood can cause expensive damage. Even a small quantity of water sucked into the engine through the air intake will cause serious damage.

7. As you drive through the flood water, keep the engine revving by slipping the clutch. This prevents water in the exhaust which may stall the engine.

8. Test your brakes as soon as you leave the water.

Car tyres in good condition will be able to cope with most wet driving surfaces. But with heavy rain or a sudden downpour extra care must be taken to avoid a possible accident or injury.

Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are a leading UK independent supplier of car tyres. Visit their website for free vouchers, including 10% off your next MOT, free wheel alignment check and free locking wheel nuts.

You may need to replace or change your car tyres because of their age, deterioration or to improve the vehicle’s performance. This article outlines some of the key factors that need to be considered before choosing the right car tyres for your vehicle.

1) Car Tyre Size

A good policy is to choose the same size car tyres as the ones that the car was manufactured with. If you are unsure of the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended car tyre size, check the owner’s manual or look for the information on the tyre placard (usually located inside the fuel flap, on the car door or in the glove box).

Changing car tyre size can improve a vehicle’s handling and performance but be aware of the Government regulations before doing this. A car tyre specialist can provide advice on this matter.

2) Driving Habits

Certain car tyre brands are quieter than others, which is an important factor if you spend much of your time driving up and down motorways.

Driving on county lanes where the road surface can be muddy or slippery will require car tyres that can provide extra grip. This is usually determined by the tyre manufacturer’s choice of tread pattern.

Or you may be a city driver who constantly has to brake and accelerate. Some car tyres are better suited to this style of driving than others because of the type of rubber compound used in their production.

3) Price

The saying “you get what you pay for” is true with a car tyre. But if you use your car infrequently don’t buy the top of the range car tyres as economy tyres will be more than suitable for your needs.

If you use your car every day, spending extra on better quality tyres may prove more economical as they shouldn’t wear out as fast as a budget tyre.

4) Car Tyre Type

Car tyres don’t only differ by brand and price; there are different types of car tyres produced for a variety of purposes. Five common types are:

a) Standard/ All Season Tyre
An average tyre that is suitable for all year round use. It works equally well in the wet and the dry.

b) Performance Tyre
Designed to provide excellent grip in the dry. Often used on fast cars or for drivers whose style requires improved handling performance.

c) Winter Tyre
Winter car tyres are designed to cope with poor weather and difficult driving conditions. The tread block pattern on winter car tyres is larger and more pronounced than on standard tyres.

d) All Terrain Tyre
All terrain tyres provide good grip on loose surfaces such as dirt and sand. Often used by off road vehicles, they can be used on standard roads but are very noisy.

e) Run Flat Tyres
Run flat tyres are a relatively new concept but are becoming more common on new cars. They are designed to operate without air to enable the vehicle to continue being driven when it has a puncture.

5) Weather Conditions

The UK weather conditions can be very changeable. Summer can have temperatures in the high 20′s. And then winter brings freezing temperatures, icy conditions and wet weather.

Cold weather car tyres are becoming a popular choice as they are designed to cope with the cold and wet weather of winter but with no significant downside if used during the summer months.

Standard or performance car tyres are suitable in countries with a warm and dry climate all year round.

For further help consult a car tyre specialist who can provide you with impartial advice on which are the best tyres for your vehicle, budget and driving circumstances.

Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are a leading UK independent supplier of car tyres. Visit their website for free vouchers, including 10% off your next MOT, free wheel alignment check and free locking wheel nuts.