For many drivers, spring and autumn mean one thing: time to change the tyres! Only those who travel with all-season tyres or who live in areas with minimal snow and ice in winter can escape the cumbersome twice-yearly ritual. But even these drivers cannot avoid it completely, since worn-out tyres must always be replaced in a timely fashion. The minimum requirement for the tread depth of a tyre in UK law is 1.6mm. It is advisable, however, to change the tyres when the tread depth gets as low as four millimetres or when the tyres turn eight years old. The DOT number on the sidewall of the tyre indicates its date of production.
Though there is no legal requirement mandating seasonal tyre changes in the UK, some drivers find it worth their while from a safety point of view. Drivers wishing to use season-specific tyres are generally advised to use winter tyres between October and Easter. Such tyres contain different rubber compounds than summer tyres and a profile that is specially adapted for winter weather conditions. They are not suitable for use in summer temperatures. Where the M+S (Mud + Snow) symbol could once be relied upon to indicate suitability for winter use, drivers are now recommended to look out for the snowflake symbol❄ and to consult test reports for information about the quality of various tyres before buying. When tyres are changed, it is important to ensure that the better-preserved tyres are mounted on the rear axle. If tyres are being mounted for the first time after a change of wheel, they can generally be relied upon to get you safely from A to B.
Those wishing to change their tyres at home should seek out some reliable instructions for changing a tyre online. Since very few drivers wish to go through the hassle, however, they usually end up paying some costs for the tyre change. The amount varies from workshop to workshop - a comparison can help you decide. Balancing costs extra. Some fitting stations can also offer to store their customers' winter and summer tyres for them when not in use. Those who choose to keep their tyres at home should shield them from UV light and stack them on top of one another (store complete wheels in an upright position). Motorists can save money on the twice-yearly tyre change by keeping informed of the great deals on offer on sites like mytyres.co.uk. Drivers whose vehicles are equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system can find further information here.
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