At Lawson AutoTech in Larbert, we want everyone to drive safe vehicles. One of the most important things you can do is ensure your tyres are legal and safe at all times. Our checklist explains what you need to do to check your tyres but if you have any doubts, please pop in and talk to one of our mechanics. We can also supply and fit new car tyres.
About Lawson AutoTech
Lawson AutoTech is a car repair garage in Larbert. They offer a full range of vehicle services, however, they specialise in car servicing, MOTs and repairs.
The experienced and professional mechanics work on cars, hybrid and electric cars, and light commercial vehicles. For all these vehicles they offer MOT Tests, servicing and repairs.
Some of the other services they offer include DPF cleaning, new tyres, suspension repairs, brake repairs and air con refills.
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Tyres should never be neglected. The safety of your vehicle depends on it. Your car’s brakes,
along with the tyres, are two of the most crucial components of your vehicle. Ensuring you
are driving a safe vehicle is important not only for your own safety but for other people on
the road as well.
An article on the UK Government website states that 1 in 5 motorway breakdowns are caused
due to worn or incorrectly inflated tyres. A problem that can be easily prevented.
Having a tyre safety checklist is an important part of making sure you are driving a safe and
legal vehicle.
LAWSON AUTOTECH
TYRE SAFETY CHECKLIST
Regularly check your tyre safety and maintenance checklist for some of the common issues
your tyres can have. Tyres take more abuse than almost any other part of your vehicle. They
have direct contact with the road and the many potholes that may cause them to wear, lose
pressure, or puncture. Your tyres can be easily inspected for wear and damage. How well you
maintain your tyres will impact your safety, vehicle performance, fuel e□ciency, and repair
costs.
As well as carrying out regular checks, monthly is recommended but this will depend on the
number of miles you drive, it is wise to check your tyres and the spare tyre before a long
journey.
Having a su□cient tread depth is vital to ensure that your car can grip the road properly. Your
tyres should have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. Without this minimum tread, your
vehicle will be illegal to drive on UK and European roads. If you plan to drive in Europe you
should check the current rules for that country as some countries have additional winter
driving rules. Should the Police find you driving with illegal tyres in the UK, you can be fined
£2500 and given 3 penalty points per tyre.
How to check tread depth
Tyre Safety & Maintenance Checklist
1 TREAD DEPTH
20P METHOD
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The most common method is to get a 20p and sit it in the tread. If the outer band on the 20p
is obscured by the tyre, then your tyre exceeds the legal minimum. If you can see any of the
band you should go to your local garage to get a new tyre. This test should be carried out in
multiple places around the circumference of the tyre as it is only legal if the full
circumference has a minimum tread of 1.6mm.
Some makes of tyres now include a tyre tread wear indicator which means you don’t need to
find a 20p! If the tyre is flush with the bars in the tyre groove then you should get your tyre
replaced immediately.
If you aren’t confident about checking your vehicle’s tyres yourself, pop into your local repair
garage or tyre garage. One of their qualified mechanics will check your tyres and advise you of
any issues.
TYRE READ INDICATOR METHOD
PROFESSIONAL CHECK METHOD
All your tyres should have the correct air pressure. Underinflated or overinflated tyres can
a□ect handling and grip making your car harder to steer, which can be dangerous while
driving. It can also make your braking distance longer which increases the risk of having an
accident. Underinflated tyres increase the risk of aquaplaning in wet weather. Proper
pressure in your tyres will ensure you have a smooth ride, improve traction, better handling,
and optimum fuel economy.
How to check tyre air pressure
2 TYRE AIR PRESSURE
1. Check the recommended PSI for your vehicle. This can be found in your vehicle
handbook or it can usually be found printed inside the door of the fuel tank or in the sill
of the driver’s door.
Try to check your tyre pressure when your tyres are cold and not in the middle of a long
journey. Once you have been driving for a while, the pressure will change as the tyres heat up.
You can check your tyre pressure at any filling station if you don’t have your own pressure
gauge.
If you don’t maintain your tyres at the correct pressure, they are likely to wear out much
faster.
2. Remove the valve cap and insert the pressure gauge. Check the reading and then act
accordingly, eg inflate the tyre to the correct pressure.
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Once you have checked the tyre treads and air pressure, you should inspect your tyres for
other signs of wear and tear. It is important to check the sidewall for any cracks, cuts or
bulges in the tyre. Remove any stones stuck in the tyre as they could damage your tyre and
cause a slow puncture.0
If you find any problems, get the tyre replaced or repaired as soon as possible. At Lawson
AutoTech, we can repair and replace tyres. We o□er a full range of new tyres from budget to
premium.
3 WEAR & TEAR
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Tel: 01324 570400
Email: info@lawsonautotech.co.uk
Car Repair Garage: lawsonautotech.co.uk
Address:
Lawson AutoTech
10 Central Park Avenue
Larbert
FK5 4RX
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