Winter is here, and parts of the country are already freezing, so it’s the ideal time to check your car tyres if you haven’t done so for a while. Fail to do this now, and you might have to replace them in an emergency, which is a nightmare if you have lost your locking wheel nut, or can’t find it for some reason.
At this time of the year, it’s a sensible step to fit a set of winter tyres to improve road safety, especially if you live in areas that are commonly affected by ice, snow and slush. A good set of winter tyres will give you greater control, and steering will be more precise, making for safer driving. Winter tyres have special types of tread, and they are made from a specific blend of materials to cope with the most demanding road conditions. Install a set of winter tyres, and there are numerous benefits including:
- Improved braking and handling in snowy conditions
- More stability and better control in wet conditions
- Better grip and contact with the road
- Ability to cope with a wide range of temperatures
- Superior traction on snow-covered areas
Tyre safe recommend you fit a set of winter tyres if you regularly experience temperatures below 70 C. Of course, if you don’t want to fit a set of winter tyres, or have a good set of all-season tyres already fitted to the car, regular checks on the rubber can ensure you are safe, whenever you make a journey.
There are a number of safety checks you can make and they include:
Tyre Tread Depth: Make sure you have adequate tread depth by performing the 20p test. Insert a 20 pence piece into the groove of the tyre and if the outer band of the coin disappears, you know your tread depth is above the 1.6mm limit. If you can clearly see the outer band of the 20p, your tyres are unsafe and should be replaced. As well as being unsafe, tyres below the 1.6mm limit are illegal, and you can receive a hefty fine if you are stopped by the police.
Inflation: Check your tyres at least once a month to ensure they have the correct air pressure in them. Get to know how much air each tyre should be holding and top up where necessary using an airline. If you find one or more tyres are regularly losing air, you might have a slow puncture and should have this investigated as soon as possible.
General condition: Look at the overall condition of your car tyres and in particular, see if there are any bulges on the sides, cracks or signs of splitting which could be potentially hazardous. If you see any foreign objects embedded into the tyre, these should be removed for safety purposes and if this causes the tyre to deflate, it either has to be repaired or replaced.
Spare Tyre: When you are checking the condition of car tyres, it’s important not to forget the spare. You never know when you might need to use this in an emergency, so it has to be in a good and safe condition. As well as physical checks, ensure there’s plenty of air in the tyre, as per the manufacturer recommendations.
Are you happy with the condition of your tyres? The next thing to check is whether you have a locking wheel nut removal tool, in case you have to remove one of your alloys at any point. If you can’t find this and need to take the wheel off at any point, don’t worry, there is a solution for this, just get in touch with us and let us help.
Simply contact us here at Locking Wheel Nut Removal Service for a FREE quote and we’ll soon have the locking nut removed. We offer services throughout the whole of the West Midlands and you can call us today on 0121 733 1956 or 0777 6231952.
