HELP DESK

A steering wheel will vibrate at higher speeds because of:
- Tyre wear
- Faulty wheel alignment, or
- Incorrect balancing

As soon as you feel the steering wheel vibrate or shudder it's important to have your wheels immediately machine tested at a garage. If left unchecked, you will soon notice your vehicle’s fuel consumption increase, and problems developing with both steering and braking.

The tyres may need to be re-aligned. Low tread may also be a cause. Some drivers are prepared to take the risk of driving with the car pulling slightly to one side by compensating with the steering wheel. The condition invariably deteriorates very quickly. It's therefore, crucial that you have your wheels alignment-tested at a garage without delay.

When a tyre makes any forceful contact with the kerb there is always the possibility that damage has been caused, inside or out. Conduct a visual inspection for any obvious noticeable impact, loss of pressure and tread damage. When driving, be alert for any sign that your car has started to pull to one side, which indicates that the wheel alignment or balance may have been affected. It's important that you have your wheels machine tested for both alignment and balance at a garage as soon as possible.

Driving on tyres with below the minimum tread depth or are damaged in any way inside or out could be fatal and will increase your risk of an accident.

In law, the driver and the owner (if different) are liable and one or both may receive a court summons.

The maximum fine which a court can impose for using a vehicle with a defective tyre is:

£2,500 and three penalty points
£5,000 in the case of a goods vehicle or a vehicle designed to carry 8 passengers or more.

If a vehicle is fitted with more than one defective tyre, you can be prosecuted for each tyre found to be illegal. Disqualification from driving is also possible in certain circumstances.

The legal MINIMUM limit of tread depth for your tyre is 1.6 mm across the central 75 per cent of tread around the complete circumference of the tyre.

A quick tread depth check: Many tyres have tread wear indicators - small raised areas at the bottom of the grooves. If the surface of the tread rubber is level with the raised areas then the tyre depth is most likely very close to or even below the legal limit.

A quick, easy way to check tread depth: The most commonly recommended method is to use a 20p coin to measure tread depth. This is because the depth of the slightly raised and easily visible outer rim of a 20p coin is 2.5 mm.

When you insert a 20p coin into the lowest tread depth of your tyres, if you can see any part of the outer rim of the coin, your tyre depth will be less than 3 mm – below the recommended level that you should consider replacing a tyre.

Specialist tyre depth gauges are also widely available from most car accessory stores.

Details of tyre sizes will be in your vehicle owner handbook. Alternatively, you can find a set of numbers and letters located on the outside walls, near the upper edge, of your current tyres. Be careful to check the front as well as the back set of tyres as they could be different.

There are a number of factors which you should consider when you are looking to purchase one or more tyres:
Premium, Economy or Budget tyres?

Premium tyres - offer the longest use and best performance with noticeably better handling and greater traction on the road.

Economy tyres -are made from a mid-grade compound, which provide a durable and cost effective solution.

Budget tyres - are ideal for those working to a budget. While mass produced, they provide the minimum acceptable level of tyre standards and road traction.

Brand

There are many brands available ranging from premium to mid range and budget quality, including Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, Firestone, Pirelli, Continental, Avon, Bridgestone, Uniroyal, Hankook, Kumho, Yokohama, Nokian, Enduro, Falken, Nankang,Toyo.

Season

It’s possible to specify for a Winter or an All Season Tyre, the latter type providing low temperature flexibility and a tread pattern of both a normal summer tyre and a hard winter tyre.

Features

For a specific vehicle requirement, you may need to purchase Run Flat or Heavy/ Extra load tyres.

There is no legal enforcement in the UK to use winter tyres. However, the fitting of winter tyres is recommended as a practical solution if you live in a remote area where winter conditions are likely to be more severe and persist for a longer period of time than the rest of the country.

Winter tyres are made from a rubber compound with a tread pattern specifically designed to retain flexibility in low temperatures (below +7C). As well as giving a better grip on wet roads in cold conditions, winter tyres also provide good braking/traction performance on snow/ice, stopping up to 11 metres earlier than regular tyres in icy conditions when braking at 20mph.

The sidewall of a winter tyre will be marked with a symbol showing a snowflake or snow-topped mountains.

Winter Tyres In EU Countries: The law in some European countries will require residents to drive with winter tyres at certain times of the year or when conditions make their use necessary. At other times, visitors are permitted to drive on 'summer' tyres, which have been fitted with snow chains under certain conditions or when local signs dictate.

If you are travelling with your vehicle to another country and expect winter conditions, it is important that you carefully check the law on tyre use before you go. You may be liable to receive a penalty fine if you hinder the normal flow of traffic or cause an accident because your vehicle was not adapted to drive in that particular country’s weather and road conditions.

Correct tyre pressure varies according to individual vehicle make and model. You should carefully check the correct pressure for your vehicle, which can be found on the:

Inside of your petrol cap, and
Inside the door pillar, as well as
In the vehicle handbook.

Tyre pressure will change as the load and weight of your car changes, and sometimes during extremely hot weather conditions. It is recommended that you check your tyre pressure weekly to ensure your tyres are safe at all times.

Run Flat tyres should not be fitted to a car that is not designed to use them. Even though Run Flat tyres have a much thicker sidewall intended to hold the weight and retain the mobility of a car if the tyre has a puncture.

Similarly, normal tyres should not be fitted to a car designed to be driven on Run Flat tyres.

Directional tyres are designed to roll in one specific direction only by the adjustment and customisation of individual tyre properties. Tyre performance is increased by reducing road noise and improving wet grip as well as offering better directional stability and traction in snowy or icy conditions.

Since 1 November 2012, a new European regulation requires all new tyres manufactured after 1 July 2012 to display a new label providing information on an individual tyre's wet grip, fuel efficiency and noise performance, rated from A (best) to G (worst). The label applies the same colour coding and letter rating system as used with white goods, such as washing machines and fridges.

We aim to supply a variety of different brands and sizes at all times. If you cannot see the tyre you need listed, please get in touch and we will help you find the right tyre for your particular vehicle.

PITSTOP are the COMPLETE Professional Tyre Supply Service:

We offer unbeatable prices on new and part worn tyres
We maintain a huge selection in stock
No hidden charges - Tyre Price, Delivery charge, are inclusive of VAT
As one of the UK’s established national and European supplier of Brand New Tyres and Part Worn Tyres, PITSTOP always apply the strictest protocols at every stage of the selection and testing process.

Our Total Tyre Diagnostics – guarantees every tyre we sell or fit:

Is individually and rigorously tested every time
Complies fully with technical British Standards of Quality Control

All orders received before 1pm on Monday to Friday are processed and dispatched the SAME DAY using a 48 hour courier service. Any orders outside these times are processed the next working day.

Email or call us! We will be more than happy to speak to you about your order.

We have a “no quibble 30 day money back guarantee”, provided you have not fitted the tyre to your vehicle.

We use a reputable UK Courier company, and can provide tracking details for each order.

You can pay for your order using:

PayPal
Credit or Debit cards

If you bring your vehicle to PITSTOP for a tyre to be fitted on the premises you also have the option of paying by cash.

If you wish to have your tyres fitted, please use the fitting option as the delivery method. You can then visit our premises at your convenience. Please bring along one form of ID. We also offer laser wheel alignment.

Yes we do! PITSTOP uses advanced Hunter HawkEye Elite® Alignment Systems featuring high definition sensor imaging and fully integrated software to guide every adjustment with pin-point accuracy.

Tyre fitting cost £10 per tyre.

We arrange for the disposal of all discarded tyres by authorised, licensed collection from PITSTOP premises, at no extra charge.

Email: info@pitstop-tyres.com

Phone: 020 8593 7374 (within UK)
+44 208 593 7374 (Int.)