Blog

Toyo tyres fitted to a Honda Civic near Cambridge.

The first job of the day was to fit two new Nexen tyres size 205/55/R16 to a Mercedes in Cambridge.During the job we had a call from a customer who had been given our card from a neighbor .He informed us that he had a damaged tyre on his Honda Civic and that it was not repairable so we took the tyre details from him and explained that it would be a simple process of collecting a tyre from one of our collection points in Cambridge.He decided to order two new tyres as the tread depth was getting low on the other side of the vehicle.Our customer was slightly concerned as he had planned to take the family into Cambridge for the day on the guided bus and thought he needed to be at home to meet us.We suggested that there was no reason to cancel his plans as we could collect the car keys from his neighbor and then take payment over the phone when he arrived home in the evening.The plan worked really well as our customer has two new Toyo tyres size 205/55/R16 fitted to his Honda Civic and also had a good day visiting Cambridge.

It's absolutely pouring down so time to consider tyres.

Yesterday's sun has gone and the rain has arrived to remind us all that unfortunately we are approaching the end of summer.While it is always important to regularly check the condition of your tyres with autumn approaching it is essential that your vehicle has sufficient grip on the road.Whether you have Premium tyres such as Michelin,Bridgestone and Pirelli or you have budget tyres it is important the the tread depth is sufficient to keep you safe on the roads.

The benefits of our vehicle inspection procedure.

When we have completed the work on a vehicle we always perform a vehicle check so we are able to inform the customer on the condition of all four tyres and the spare.We measure the tread depth on the existing tyres and record information which the customer receives with the invoice.We also record the current mileage and ask the customer for the predicted miles for the next twelve months so we know when to send our customer a reminder via email.Before leaving we check the air pressures on the existing tyres and if they are not inflated to the correct pressure we will action.This last check often highlights potential problems on the existing tyres as if the tyre pressure is particularly low it will alert us to the following 1. Nail or screw embedded in tyre 2.Tyre that is ageing and therefore air is escaping. 3.Faulty valve 4.Corrosion between wheel rim and tyre. We have many examples of us fitting only one tyre to a vehicle and discovering other issues during our inspection procedure and all our customers are grateful for our feedback.

New tyres fitted near Cambridge while our customers continue working.

The first job of the day was to visit a business based in Histon to fit two new tyres to a Skoda Fabia. We visit this company on a regular basis as the staff really appreciate the service that we provide as they do not need to leave the premises therefore saving them time and money.We then headed to Cottenham where a building contractor was working on a new build and did not want to leave the job to get new tyres fitted as he was working to a tight schedule.We arrived on time and fitted two new GT Maxmiler tyres size 195/70/R15 to his Ford Transit van and he commented how useful our service was to local tradesmen.The mornings work was a reminder how simple the process is as our first customer had ordered tyres online so all he needed to do was give us the keys as the payment process had already been actioned and our second customer had ordered by phone so we processed his card details before leaving.

Hometyre keeping the local residents safe on the roads.

We have been very busy over the last couple of days with numerous jobs in Longstanton. On Saturday we fitted two Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres to a Mercedes E class in the village and yesterday we repaired a puncture on a Citroen Picasso.This morning we fitted two Bridgestone tyres size 205/55/R16 to a Peugeot 207 where our customer had noticed the van passing his house regularly.Our first job tomorrow is again in the village where we are fitting two new tyres to a Ford Transit and one new tyre to a Vauxhall Zafira. It is convenient for us that these recent jobs are so close to us but more importantly it means that the local residents do not have to leave the village saving them time and money.

New runflat tyres fitted to Mini Cooper near Cambridge.

We were called to fit two new Runflat tyres to replace the existing front tyres that were low on tread on a Mini Cooper and as always we advised the customer to fit the new tyres to the rear and therefore reduce the chances of a puncture.Most punctures whilst driving at speed occur on the rear tyres as the front tyres pick up debris from the road and push the object in the direction of the rear tyres so the stronger the resistance the better.It is also important to reduce the chance of having a nail or screw embedded in a runflat tyre as they cannot be repaired as the strength of the side wall could have been compromised .

It's official by calling Hometyre to fit your new tyres you do save money and also valuable time.

We were working in Cambridge earlier in the week and we were approached by a regular customer who asked us to quote for supplying and fitting two new Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres for the rear axle of his Mercedes E class.On arrival back at the office we contacted our numerous suppliers and got the best price possible for our customer.Our customer told us to order the tyres and we would then arrange a time and place convenient for him so he could carry on with his busy schedule.Two hours later he phoned us to say that a static site in central Cambridge could supply the same tyres at a lower cost and the saving was quite substantial.We revisited our prices and found them to be the best around (as usual) and we also looked at other static suppliers prices in the Cambridge area and were reassured that by using Hometyre our customers make substantial savings on the cost of the tyres. While we were slightly puzzled by the price our customer had been quoted we were honest and told him to seize the opportunity and we would cancel the tyre order.The following day he phoned to say that he had given his front tyre size to the garage as he was unaware that the rear tyres were larger and then confirmed that as usual our prices were the best in town.We have re ordered two Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres SIZE 255/35/R18 and will be fitting them next week at our customers house.It is so reassuring to know that by using a premium service all our customers make substantial savings on the cost of new tyres and they also save valuable time by us visiting them at their home or place of work.

New Falken tyres fitted to a Volvo XC70 near Cambridge.

We were asked by a customer earlier in the week for advice concerning his Volvo XC70 as he was looking to replace all four tyres on the vehicle.The vehicle is not used on a regular basis and therefore the mileage is quite low but it is used for a visit to Europe during the winter months and our customer was looking for suitable tyres in the event of him meeting bad weather.He considered fitting winter tyres but there is a cost implication so he was looking for a sensible alternative.He had read good reviews concerning Falken T110 tyres as they have the M&S marking on the sidewall (Mud and Snow).We informed him that they had a 80% road and 20% off road rating and he decided to go with the Falken tyres. We managed to get them at a very good price and he is highly delighted with the result.

How are your Trailer tyres looking.

We fitted a set of new tyres to a Horse box yesterday including the spare as all five tyres were showing signs of wear on the sidewalls.In reality we suggest that we will never replace tyres on Caravans,Campervans,Horse Boxes or general Trailers through tread wear as all these types of units do minimal mileage in comparison to the vehicle that tows the unit.Therefore it is very important to check the general condition of the existing tyres on a yearly basis.It is recommended that Caravan and trailer tyres are changed after five years as they could start to lose air pressure as the structure of the tyre deteriorates with age.

Some answers to Tyre related questions we were asked during last week.

Last week we had a varied amount of different tasks to perform and we were asked lots of different questions (which we like) concerning tyres on vehicles and here is a snapshot of the questions and answers.

Q.I have a nail in the centre of a runflat tyre so can a puncture repair be performed?

A.No as the strength of the sidewall could have been compromised when the tyre loses air pressure.

Q.I own a Renault Megane and i have lost my locking wheel nut adaptor but my friend also owns a similar model so can i use their adaptor to remove the wheels?

A.The pattern on the adaptor are designed to fit your car only so there is little chance of the adaptor from another vehicle fitting.

Q.Is tracking and balancing the same thing?

A. No tracking is another term for wheel alignment which relates to how your wheels sit on the road and balance weights are fitted to the wheel when new tyres are fitted to counterbalance any weight difference and therefore give a smoother ride.

Q.I have increased my tyre pressures as i am towing during my vacation so how will my tyres be effected if i leave the high pressure in during normal driving.

A.The tyre pressure plate on the vehicle gives you the correct information for the weight you are carrying at the time and therefore will prolong the life of your tyres. Over inflated tyres will wear in the centre of the tyre and under inflated tyres will wear on the shoulder of the tyre.

When tyres are reaching the end of their lifespan check for inside wear.

We visited a customer near Cambridge this morning who had ordered two Goodyear Eagle tyres size 235/45/R17 for his Ford Mondeo. The customer was fully aware that the existing front tyres had very little tread but was horrified when he saw that the steel cord on the inside shoulder of both tyres was exposed.We see this situation on a regular basis as a tyre tends to wear on the inside shoulder when it is reaching the end of it's lifespan and it doesn't help that it is not clearly visible.If your tyres are ageing it is a good idea to turn the steering lock in both directions when you give your vehicle a wash and have a look at the inner shoulder of your front tyres. The rear tyres are slightly more difficult to see as they do not move but it is well worth kneeling down for a few seconds for a quick inspection.This morning was a good reminder to us all that a few minutes consideration on the condition of your tyres on a regular basis is very important and will help keep you and your family safe on the roads.

wheel alignment in Cambridge

We are heading to Cambridge this afternoon to perform a Wheel alignment on a vehicle and it has reminded us that some customers are unsure on whether they have an alignment issue.Alignment is also known in the trade as Tracking and not to be confused with Balancing.The most obvious sign of an alignment problem is if your steering wheel veers to the right or left when you are travelling in a straight line.Wear on the inner or outer shoulder of BOTH front tyres could indicate that the tyres are not sitting correctly on the road.We have been asked to perform a wheel alignment when a vehicle suffers vibration on the steering wheel but this tends to be a Balancing issue possibly where the weights on the wheel rim have moved or fallen off.If you have any doubts or are still confused call us on 0800 783 910 and we will advise accordingly.

Slow Puncture on a Mercedes 4X4

We were called to a regular customer today who was a bit concerned as he was slowly losing air from one of his tyres and he is setting off on holiday tomorrow.He was not sure why the tyre was losing pressure so we arrived on time with a new tyre size 255/50/R19 just in case it was a puncture repair that could not be fixed.On inspection we discovered a nail embedded very near to the shoulder of the tyre so the new tyre was fitted.Our customer informed us that the vehicle would be carrying a lot of weight during his vacation so we inflated all tyres as stated on the tyre pressure plate for a heavy load but reminded our customer to reduce pressures on his return.Today was a reminder that if your tyres are under inflated they will wear on the shoulder of the tyre and if they are over inflated the centre tread will wear prematurely.

New Nexen tyres fitted to a Kia Soul

Whilst fitting two new Falken tyres to a Vauxhall Insignia last week we were asked by a gentleman living next door to our customer if we would check the condition of the front tyres of his Kia Soul as a garage had given an advisory notice a couple of months ago. We advised that they were getting very near the legal limit which is 1.6mm tread depth so he asked if we could visit him this week to fit two Nexen tyres size 225/45/R18. We informed him that the majority of punctures occur on the rear axle so it was advisable to move existing rear tyres to the front and fit new tyres to the rear axle. The customer sometimes carries a heavy load so we showed him the tyre pressure plate on his driver door and he is now aware of what air pressure to use when pulling a trailer.Our customer was very grateful of the advice we gave him as now he will get much longer life from his tyres.

All jobs local today with new tyres fitted in and around Longstanton.

Hometyre Cambridge covers a large area with customers supplied with new tyres in Cambridge,Ely Newmarket and Haverhill but today all our jobs were near to Longstanton. The first job was to fit a new GT Maxmiler tyre for a Mercedes Vito van for a customer in Bar Hill as the original punctured tyre was not repairable. We then visited a local business in Longstanton and fitted two new Falken tyres size 225/55/R17 to a Renault Megane. The furthest distance travelled today was to Waterbeach where we supplied and fitted two new Nexen tyres size 245/45/R18 to a Vauxhall Insignia.This weeks diary is starting to fill with jobs booked in Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds already and we are confident that we will be visiting Ely,Saffron Walden and Haverhill during the week.

It was boiling hot and busy all day fitting new tyres.

The sun was beating down as we fitted our first new tyre of the day in Milton as we replaced a Continental Sport Contact 3 size 235/35/R19 on a Vauxhall Astra. We then headed to Lode where we fitted two new Falken tyres size 245/45/R18 to a Vauxhall Insignia. A quick cool drink was in order then off to Balsham to replace a Goodyear Eagle size 275/45/R20 on a Audi Q7 and then off to Saffron Walden.On arrival in Saffron Walden our customer kindly added ice to our warm squash and we proceeded to fit four new Bridgestone tyres size 225/45/R17 to an Audi A3. We then headed back to base to collect a General Grabber tyre for fitting in Longstanto size 245/75/R16 on a 4X4 where a welcome cup of tea was provided.The end of a busy and very hot day but also a very rewarding day.

A new tyre fitted at Granta Park near Cambridge

We were called by a customer who works at Granta Park as on the way to the office a tyre lost air very quickly and the vehicle was not usable for the journey home.We arrived within the hour and fitted a new tyre and whilst removing the damaged tyre we found the alloy wheel to be badly corroded on the inside rim so we wire brushed away the corrosion and applied bead sealer.The vehicle was a Honda Jazz and during our vehicle inspection process we found that the front tyres would need replacing soon and informed our customer that there was a good chance we would need to clean alloys before fitting the new tyres. Our customer was very impressed with the speed of response to her phone call and the valuable information that we provided while on site.

Three different reasons why you could be losing air from your tyres.

We visited a customer over the weekend who owns an MG sports car and a Vauxhall Vectra and one tyre on the MG and two tyres on the Vauxhall were losing air pressure over a period of time.We looked at the MG first and found the tyre to be over ten years old and due to the age of the tyre this was why it could not hold the air pressure so a new tyre is being fitted today.We then looked at the Vectra to find that the alloy wheel on the nearside front had very bad corrosion and therefore air was leaking from the rim so we wire brushed the rim clean and applied bead sealer and this will solve the problem.We then spotted a nail embedded in the nearside rear tyre which was luckily in the centre of the tyre so we performed a puncture repair.This job was a reminder that there are many different reasons why you could be losing air from your tyres.

Hometyre vehicle inspection procedure works.

We visited a regular customer in Newmarket to replace one tyre on a Fiat Punto and during our vehicle inspection we noticed that one of the rear tyres was a different size to the other tyres. The customer was shocked at our discovery but thankful we spotted the error.A similar situation occurred last week when we spotted that an existing tyre on a VW Golf had been fitted with the tread pattern showing in the wrong direction.Both customers have benefited from our thorough checking process.

Continental tyres fitted to a Renault Megane and Bridgestone Runflat for a BMW X6

We visited a regular customer last week to perform a free tyre check as his vehicle is due an Mot test next month and we found that two tyres were getting low on tread so he called us back and we fitted two Continental tyres size 205/50/R17 and our customer can be confident that the Mot will go smoothly.Another regular customer called to say that they had hit some debris on the road when driving their BMW X6 and a runflat tyre had been damaged.We arrived on time and fitted a new Bridgestone runflat tyre size 275/40/R20 and the vehicle was only off the road for a couple of hours.We have rescued two more customers this afternoon the first being an owner of a Skoda Fabia who hit a pothole and the second hit a kerb driving a Vauxhall Vectra and with our help both are back on the road.