Car Servicing

If understanding tyre pressures isn’t enough to deal with, just the tyre alone has 6 varieties in a number of designs, and each tyre has individual width, profile (height of sidewall), wheel diameter and maximum speed rating for when the tyre is at full load.

Cross ply Tyres

Older, diagonal-tread type tyres with a fabric brace. These tyres are less common than the radial ply tyres.

Radial ply Tyres

The most common tyres in the UK, and fitted to over 90% of all UK cars. Radial ply tyres are steel or textile braced (the material used under the thick layer of outer rubber) and are identified in the size marking by an “R.”.

Re-grooved Tyres

As the name suggests, these older tyres have the tread re-cut and refitted to another vehicle. This is extremely dangerous. Re-grooved tyres are illegal on passenger cars and utility vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) lower than 3500 kg.

Run flat Tyres

Run flat tyres are designed to keep going if a puncture occurs, and if you opt for these tyres, it is essential that the vehicle has a tyre pressure monitoring system for them to automatically detect and display the exact pressure within your car’s tyres. Run flat tyres can be identified by “RF” or “RSC” on the tyre’s sidewall.

Tweel Tyres

Tweel tyres are new airless tyres produced by Michelin. They won’t suffer from punctures and, theoretically, should last longer than regular radial and run-flat tyres.

Winter Tyres

Winter tyres (usually of the radial ply variety) are specifically designed to last longer in the wet, brake shorter and provide better grip in snow and icy conditions. They normally have deeper tread depth and are shaped for better grip to reduce aquaplaning. This is when tyres don’t make contact with the road in wet conditions causing the car to lose control.