How To Check Your Tyres
Keeping your van in check is an important aspect of running your business. Whether you use it for deliveries or to carry around your tools on a daily basis you must make sure it is in tip top condition. Your tyres are the one component of your vehicle that is in constant contact with the road and they can take a battering, especially in the winter months when the road conditions are less than favourable. We’d recommend you check your tyres on a regular basis, especially if you’re covering lots of miles. Here are our top tips on what to look for!
General Condition
Take some time once a week to check over the general condition of your tyres. Look out for cuts and bulges, or anything sharp stuck in them that could cause a potential problem. You also need to make sure that the tyre tread is above the legal limit of 1.6mm. Your tyres need tread to grip the road; a tyre with worn tread won’t perform well and will greatly increase your braking distance, especially in wet weather. Most garages will recommend you change your tyres once the tread reaches 3mm, as after this the quality of your tyres dramatically reduce.
The 20p Test
When checking the tread on your tyres there is a quick and easy way to get an indication of how they’re wearing. All you need is a 20p coin to do the test. Simply place it into the tread of your tyre and as long as you can’t see the outer band of the coin your tyre tread is still within the legal limit. We’d recommend not solely relying on this method but it is a good indication of your tyre condition.
Pothole Damage
Cuts to council budgets have resulted in a vast number of roads falling below standard in the last couple of years. It’s estimated that £12 billion would be needed to fill in all the potholes that are opening up across England and Wales. Driving over a pothole may cause quite significant damage to your tyres, as well as your suspension, steering and shock absorbers. If you have hit a pothole we’d recommend getting your vehicle checked as soon as possible, even if you can’t see any obvious damage. Here at Sinclair Vans we are currently offering complimentary pothole damage checks, so give us a call today to book your van in.
Replacing Your Tyres
If you know it’s time to fit your van with new tyres then why not book it in for a full service with us where we can replace your tyres but also check that all other aspects of your vehicle are in full working order. Head over to our servicing pages to find out more.
