Flear & Thomson Tyres

Having your tyres inspected is quicker and easier than you might think – and it’s well worth doing. Correctly aligned wheels fitted with well-pressurised tyres that meet minimum UK tread depth standards are far more likely to provide you with a safer driving experience.

Here at Flear & Thomson, we offer a comprehensive range of tyre services, from the selling of the tyres themselves to fittings, wheel tracking and all manner of safety checks.

If your car is fitted with tyres which are not brand new, we highly recommend having them checked by our manufacturer-trained technicians.

For more information on tyre safety and the best tyres to suit you, visit the F&T 24Hour Tyre Website CLICK HERE TO VISIT SITE, then enter in your tyre size (found on the sidewall of your tyre) and see the extremely competitive prices that we can fit your tyres for at our dealerships.

TYRE PRESSURE

We carefully inspect each tyre to ensure that it’s correctly inflated (i.e. not under or overinflated). We do this by checking the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) or BAR (the metric equivalent) atmospheric pressure. Every vehicle is different so calculating the correct pressure is crucial.

With excessive tyre pressure, you’ll experience poor traction, particularly when cornering. This is of particular concern in icier conditions which occur with unerring frequency in Scotland during the winter.

With insufficient tyre pressure,tyre treads will wear more quickly than they should, which means they won’t last as long as expected. In turn, this will affect steering while increasing fuel consumption (if applicable).

Correct tyre pressure ensures longer lasting tyres, a reduction in fuel consumption and a safer driving experience thanks to enhanced handling and traction.

We take into account potential occupancy and cargo capacities too. This allows us to come up with two figures – one for ‘light’ driving and a higher figure that represents full capacity.

We also consider varying weather conditions. Here in Scotland, for example, we tend to experience more rainfall than other parts of the UK, thus making our roads slicker.

To ensure that our readings are as accurate as possible, we test the pressure of ‘cold’ tyres – those that haven’t been driven for at least two hours.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

We conscientiously check each wheel to ensure that it’s correctly aligned. If not, it’s likely that you’ve been experiencing steering issues and a reduction in fuel efficiency. Correctly aligned wheels not only minimise the risk of irregular steering, they also help reduce the chances of problematic suspension.

At our Perth, Dunfermline and Stirling locations, our expert technicians are able to accurately assess the primary tracking angles of each wheel, as per manufacturer stipulations.

There are many reasons for incorrect alignment, such as your vehicle colliding with another vehicle or object, hitting a curb or encountering a pothole. Anyone of these things can cause aberrant tracking, which is why we recommend having your wheels checked with us on an annual basis.

TYRE TREAD DEPTH

This is the first thing we look at. If the tread depth of a tyre is less than 1.6mm across the central 75% of the tyre, it falls below minimum legal requirements. That said, anything less than 3mm is considered insufficient to guarantee safety because you’re less likely to experience optimal grip, particularly during adverse weather conditions.

Don’t risk it

Driving with tyres that don’t meet the minimum legal standards is not only a hazard to you and your fellow passengers, it poses a risk to other road users too.

Not only that, if you’re involved in an accident, any insurance claim could be made null and void, which means having to pay for repairs out of your own pocket – as well as possible compensation for the other driver.

What’s more, if you’re caught driving with defective tyres, you could be fined up to £10,000 and have 12 points deducted from your licence. (It’s a £2,500 fine and a three-point deduction per tyre.)

Inspect your tyres

We highly recommend checking your car’s tyres once every two weeks. It’s a quick and simple procedure that will provide you with motoring peace of mind.

Tyre tread depth gauges are accessible and affordable, making it easy to check each tyre. Or you can do so with the aid of a 20 pence coin.

• Insert the coin into the tread grooves of the first tyre.
• Can you see the outer band of the coin? (The part that’s lodged into the groove.) If not, your tyre is above the legal limit. Repeat this process for the remaining three tyres.
• If you can see the band, your tyres are likely unsafe and require professional inspection by trained technicians, which is where we come in.

In certain instances, tyres have indicators clearly marked on the tyre wall, making the checking process easy.

Make your appointment

We’re here for all your aftersales needs, including all aspects of wheel and tyre maintenance and replacement.

Please don’t hesitate to phone your local Flear & Thomson branch to book your appointment.