Tyres and Your Car Insurance

Here are a few pointers for making sure that you stay on the right side of the law and do not compromise your insurance cover.

Tyre fitting is crucial to the maintenance of your car and can have a major impact on your car's insurance. Fitting the wrong type of tyres to your car could invalidate your insurance. If, for example your vehicle has been designed to be fitted with run-flat car tyres, don't be tempted to switch to standard radial tyres. Recent research carried out by Auto Express showed that in addition to running the risk of invalidating their insurance, switching to standard tyres resulted in significantly longer braking distances.

It is both illegal and dangerous to mix radial and cross ply tyres on the same axle or to have radial tyres on the front axle and cross ply tyres on the rear.

It is vital that correct tyre pressures are maintained. Both over and under-inflated tyres can have a major impact on handling safety and tyre life. Under-inflated tyres result in shorter tyre life, increased fuel consumption, increased air pollution and a greater risk of tyre failure through overheating. Over inflated tyres can cause reduced comfort, a greater risk of impact damage, reduced braking and handling stability and less grip. Pressures should be checked regularly and only when the tyres are cold.

The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres in the UK and the rest of the European Community is 1.6mm throughout a continuous band in the centre ¾ of the tread and around the entire circumference. You can check your tread depth using a tread depth gauge at a garage or car retailers as well as by looking at the tread depth indicators in the tyre. Tread depth indicators are the raised sections of rubber found in between the treads. If the tread depth indicator is level with the rest of the surface of the tyre, your tyre needs changing. But don’t leave it until the last minute to change your tyres. Research shows that wet performance and braking distances are significantly compromised once tread depth falls below 3mm.

It is essential to regularly check the general condition of your tyres for damage such as

• Cuts in the tyre. Tyres must not have a cut or tear in excess of 25mm or 10% of the section width of the tyre, whichever is the greater, and which is deep enough to reach the ply or cord
• lumps, bulges and tears caused by separation or partial failure of the tyre’s structure
• exposed plies or cords

Driving with damaged tyres is both illegal and highly dangerous.

If you are planning on driving your car abroad, check out the regulations of the countries you are going to. In some European countries the fitting of winter tyres is obligatory during the winter months.

The penalties in the UK for offences related to faulty tyres are severe. For every offence there is a fine at level 4 of the standard scale (around £2500) and 3 penalty points. Disqualification is also possible in some cases. Each faulty tyre is considered a separate offence. Offences can relate to tread depth, mixing, inflation and tyre damage.

BlackCircles.com offer motorists an easier way to buy top brand cheap car tyres and 4x4 tyres and have them fitted locally. In just a few simple steps you can choose your tyres and book an appointment for your tyres to be fitted at your local garage (one of over 950 across the UK), at a time and date that suits you.