What tyres are for you? How do I choose my tyres? …… are questions we often get asked at Crescent Motoring Services!
How do you know when your tyres need replacing? – Well, these are always checked when you have your vehicle serviced and we will tell you the thread they are at at that time. The legal limit for minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm. This is across the central three quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the full circumference. Failing to replace your tyres before they reach this minimum limit could result in a hefty fine and penalty points on your licence.
You may not have thought about it before, but the type of tyres you install on your vehicle makes a huge difference to how your car performs in different conditions. Everything from the material to the tyre tread plays a significant role in how your wheels make contact with the road.
There are different types of tyres on the market and it is personal choice as to which you choose..we will always give you options. It’s important to understand tyre tread types, because they impact the performance of the tyre in different conditions.
Stuart at Crescent Motoring Services can guide you as to what types are available for your car depending on your budget and needs. Lots of things are taken into consideration with this of course as to where your are driving and how often. Circumstances in driving have a big part to play.
The tyre tread types are:
- Multi-directional/symmetrical – These are known as ‘symmetrical’ because the pattern on the inside matches the pattern on the outside of the tyre. The multi-directional lines means they can be placed anywhere on the car – which makes them cheaper.
- Asymmetric – These types of tyres feature a different pattern on the inside and outside of the tyre which makes them able to perform well in dry and wet conditions. However, asymmetric tyres need to be facing a certain way when mounted onto the wheel of your car, so this can make them a little more expensive.
- Directional – Their arrow-like design works well with wet conditions as the arrow channels water through the tread and displaces it very effectively. This gives you lots of grip, especially in wet conditions but, like asymmetric tyres, these need to be placed all facing the same way – which will be different on either side of the car.
In short, multi-directional tyres are the best if you’re on a budget, offering good value for money and a fair job in different conditions, while also being easier to replace individually. Directional tyres offer the most grip when anticipating wet conditions but because you can only place them all facing the same way, they can be more expensive. Asymmetric tyres are the best all-rounder tyres but come at a slightly higher price tag due to their performance.
Please contact us with regard to your tyre choice. The experience technicians at Crescent Motoring Services in Burton can specifically guide you depending on your requirements.