Driving Safely

As your tyres are the only direct contact between your car and the road, safe driving starts with having your tyres in excellent condition. There are a number of things on the road and off the road you can do to keep your tyres in good condition and thus ensure a safe and comfortable ride.

Driving and Tyre Safety On the Road

• Drive at a moderate speed, and carefully, especially with new tyres.
• Potholes and other obstacles can lead to internal tyre damage, which is not immediately visible. If you suspect internal damage, have your tyre checked by an expert.
• Wet, icy and snowy road surfaces will increase the risk of accidents. Make sure that you take extra care when driving under such circumstances, and that your tyres are in excellent condition.
• Use tyres that suit the driving and weather conditions. Try to switch to winter tyres as soon as October or November, especially if you use your car every day.
• Avoid using tyres with speed code and a load index not suitable for your vehicle.

Tyre Safety Off the Road

By keeping the following tyre safety tips in mind, you can always ensure safe driving.

• Check the tyre pressures regularly. If you drive around on under or overinflated tyres, your vehicle will become much more difficult to handle, and wrong tyre pressures will also increase tyre wear.
• Always make sure to balance your wheels properly. Hometyre will not only fit your new tyres, but will also take care to balance your wheels.
• Check your tread depth regularly. A reduced tread depth will increase braking distances, which dramatically reduces your driving safety. As the UK tyre law states, the British legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm. Hometyre recommends that you consider replacing your tyres once the tread depth is down to 3mm, especially if you are planning a longer trip.
• While some punctures can be repaired, and Hometyre will help you, if we think it is safe, you should always avoid repairing tyres with sidewall damage.
• Tyres age, even if you are not using them regularly. Before using tyres that you have not used for a long time, have them checked by a tyre expert.

Always buy new tyres that suit your driving habits, and the weather conditions. If you need more help, read our advice on how to choose the right tyres for your car. You can also contact us or request a callback if you would like us to offer you personal advice on choosing the most suitable tyres for your car.