Are you preparing to buy a set of new tyres to replace a worn out old set? Or do you simply need to replace a punctured one? Whatever your circumstances, it’s important to know what to look out for when visiting your tyre fitters in the Chatham area. As a customer-focused company, we prioritise your satisfaction, so we provide new and part-worn tyres in multiple sizes to suit any budget. We also undertake services like wheel balancing to ensure that, having fitted your tyres, they remain in optimal condition for as long as possible.
New tyres represent an essential piece of kit for drivers of any kind, be it a domestic, commercial or industrial vehicle. In order to make sure you get your visit to our tyre fitters off to the best possible start, we have highlighted below 3 things you should know before making your purchase.
From part-worn tyres to wheel balancing in Chatham, Steve’s Tyre Bay covers all tyre and wheel related issues. Call us on 01795 421 700 to discuss your specific requirements or visit our eBay shop to browse our range online.
3 Things You Should Know before Buying New Tyres
- Size Matters
While it may sound obvious, not all motorists know the appropriate size tyres to buy for their car. Like any reputable tyre fitters with expertise in wheel balancing and tyres, our team are always happy to clarify which size you need.
You can find tyre size information displayed on the sidewalls, printed on the outside edge in raised lettering. It will look something like this: 225/50 R 17.
Naturally, the numbers and letters vary between vehicles. In this particular case, however, the ‘225’ relates to the tyre’s width in millimetres. The ‘50’ refers to the side profile calculated as a percentage of the width. If you see the letter ‘R’, this simply means the tyres have a radial construction. The number 17 is the diameter of the wheel rim. Unlike other measurements, this is given in inches.
- Speed Rating Can Affect Your Insurance
In addition to the size of new tyres, Chatham motorists also need to pay attention to speed rating. This figure relates to the tyre’s legally approved top speed. As such, when searching for new tyres or part-worn tyres, ensure you choose ones that match the official top speed for your vehicle.
While it’s rare to travel at such speeds, you must get this right for insurance purposes. By having tyre fitters fit lower quality tyres with a reduced speed rating, you may encounter problems with your policy.
You can find speed rating details on the sidewall of tyres, close to that indicating the size. The rating scale ranges from A to Y, with each letter assigned a specific speed. For example, the letter H can handle speeds up to 130 mph. The difference between each subsequent letter usually amounts to an increase of 6mph.
- Check the Labels
Having ascertained the ideal size and speed rating, we advise Chatham motorists to check the labels of new tyres and part-worn tyres to ensure they meet performance requirements. Now mandatory for all new tyres sold in Europe, labels look similar to those found on white goods such as fridges or washing machines.
The 3 main elements on these labels include: fuel economy, wet grip and noise. Fuel economy and wet grip have a grading scale from A to G, with A being highly efficient and G representing poor performance.
The noise label displays information for overall decibels in large white numbers. This refers to external noise. New tyres with quieter external noise have less sound interference within cars while driving.
Remember, once our tyre fitters have fit your new tyres, we can also provide regular wheel balancing to prolong their lifespan, and your investment.
