Autowirez Blog

In order for your car to accelerate, brake and steer effectively, your tyres need to be in good condition. The following facts will be helpful when making decisions on which tyres to purchase and maintain.

Choosing the right tyre
When replacing a single tyre, be sure to replace with the same type of tyre opposite on the same axis. For example, the front near-side tyre must be the same type as the front off-side and the same for the rear. It is always recommended to at least replace your tyres in pairs or all four if needed. It is always a good idea to shop around for the best deal as prices can vary greatly. If your budget is very limited you should consider a lower priced brand over remould or part-worn tyres as these can be dangerous.

Tyre replacement in event of puncture or blowout
1. Before preparing to remove the damaged tyre wheel, park the vehicle on a flat, level surface and away from traffic if possible. For safety, turn your hazard lights on and wear a high-visibility fluorescent jacket if available. If you have no choice but to park in a busy location you can inform the police that you require roadside assistance. There is not a charge for this as it is in the interest of you and other road users.

• Apply the handbrake, turn off engine and put transmission in Park (Automatic) or Reverse (Manual). Have all occupants leave the vehicle and stay a safe distance away from the road.
• Chock the opposite wheel to the one you are changing for added safety from the vehicle moving.
• Remove the spare wheel from the vehicle and check for signs of damage prior to fitting.

The correct tyre pressures for your vehicle should be easily found either on the drivers door jam or on the reverse of the fuel cap on German cars. Both laden and unladen pressures may be given as several P.S.I higher to compensate for the increased load when towing a caravan, trailer etc. Be sure to let some air out of your tyres to drop the pressure when the load is removed and you will no longer be towing. Failure to reduce the pressure will result in poor road grip which can cause accidents.

2. Locate the jack point on your vehicle which should be detailed in your owners manual. Jack points are normally located under the door sills either in front of, or behind the wheel. Place the jack under the door sill and continue to wind the handle clockwise until the top of the jack meets the jack point. Most vehicles have a recess that the jack fits into to prevent the jack from slipping.

3. Before jacking the car up, loosen the wheel nuts one whole turn while the wheels are still on the ground. Attempting to loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel off the ground may prove difficult as the wheel will turn with the force on the nut.

4. With the wheel nuts now loose, continue to wind the jack handle clockwise until the tyre leaves the ground. Now remove all wheel nuts and wheel then place in spare wheel compartment ready for tyre repair or replacement.

5. With the wheel now off, line up the holes on the spare wheel with the holes on the hub and screw the wheel nuts into place by hand if possible. Once all the wheel nuts are finger tight, proceed to tighten them further with the wheel wrench in a cross pattern to ensure the wheel is fitted straight and flat against the mating surface of the hub.

6. With the spare wheel now fitted, check the tyre pressure as per vehicle recommendations detailed earlier, replace wheel trim and lower the jack slowly. Remove jack from under vehicle and place in jack compartment, ready for the next unlucky day.

Summary
Increasingly more cars nowadays are fitted with temporary spare wheels which are much lighter and smaller but are only temporary. They have a maximum speed limit too which is normally 50 mph as they are designed to get you to your destination or tyre centre and no more. These types of spare wheels are very noticable as they usually have a bright coloured sticker to remind you and other road users of your misfortune.