This means having your tyres balanced and the axle geometry checked. Regularly getting your tyres balanced – for example when changing from standard to cold weather tyres – ensures vibration free driving. Not only will the vehicle drive more smoothly it reduces the wear on your tyres and on other parts of the vehicle suspension. Another positive aspect: you are increasing the safety for yourself, your passengers and other road users.
If the puncture is in the middle of the tread of the tyre then it can usually be repaired. The British Safety Guidelines we adhere to BSAU159 recommend that punctures within the central ¾ of the tread can be considered safe to repair.
If the location of the puncture is near the edge or on the sidewall of the tyre then unfortunately we aren’t able to repair this and you will need a replacement tyre.
Often tyres have to be replaced long before their specified life has been reached principally because of rapid or uneven tread wear. The most common causes of avoidable tread wear are:
Under Inflating - Causing rapid wear along the edges of the tread.
Over Inflating - Causing rapid wear along the centre of the tread.
Faulty Brakes or Shock Absorbers - Can cause flat bald spots around the tread of the tyre.
Incorrect Wheel Alignment - Will cause rapid wear along the inside or outside edges of the front tyres. If you strike a kerb or hit a pot-hole, the delicate settings of the steering gear geometry are invariably misaligned which will result in this sort of wear.
Damage Limitation - Cuts, breaks and abrasions to the tyre casing can penetrate deep into the inner fabric of the tyre and can be extremely dangerous – capable of causing high speed blow-outs. However, penetration of the tread by a nail or shard of glass or metal can often be safely repaired.
