Tyre Tips.

We have a dedicated category on our main blog for our Tyre Tips.

So if you come onto our blog just to read them, then all you have to do is look on the left hand side of the page for tyre tips.

Then click the link and it takes you too all of our tyre tips.

Hope you enjoy reading them, and that they help!

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Tyre tip #11 - width sizing

a. width of tyre (mm)
In this image it shows the tyre is 185mm

b. profile as % of a width
In this image the ratio is 60% roughly 11mm

c. Diameter of inner rim.

In this example it shows that the rim is 15″ in diameter.

From this you can also work out your rolling circumference

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Tyre Tip #10 – Weather

If your vehicle is used infrequently, particularly if you live by the sea, and if the vehicle is parked outside where the rubber is exposed to sunlight, always check the tyres for cracking and deterioration.

If you see any signs of this please pop on down to Jet Tyres and we can see what we can do for you.

We are here to help, so don’t be alarmed, drop us a call or simply bring your car down to one of our garages.

Tyre choices frustrate Rossi

The rider said that he had pleaded with the tyre manufacturer to choose a softer compound for the event as the new infield section of the track was likely to react better to such rubber.

“I already talked to Bridgestone in Mugello to modify the allocation for here because the rubber we have on the harder tyre is completely useless,” the seven-time world champion said.

“But they don’t modify it so we have to manage with just five or six tyres for the weekend.”

“We made a mistake and didn’t make a good setting,” he added. “We had to follow the condition of the track as it improved. At least [team-mate] Nicky [Hayden] looks okay. We have to take a more normal set-up tomorrow.

“So I didn’t have grip on the front at all. Braking and corner entry is very slow. Tomorrow we will modify it.”

Ferrari tyre compatibility

Ferrari have said its priority in the future must be to ensure its car can use its tyres better – after again seeing its form slump on harder compound rubber during the Belgian Grand Prix.

“We saw Vettel performing very, very well on the hard tyres, so that is why we were focusing on seeing where we were matching them,” explained Domenicali.

“It is a shame because I think that Fernando did really a great race, always attacking. I think that unfortunately we are not happy about the result and the classification, and the other thing that for sure we cannot be happy about is the fact that when the tyres were not working at the proper temperature range we are not able to match the pace that we should be able to do. That is the biggest task that we need to work on the project for next year.”

“Honestly I don’t know,” he said. “For sure we came here with a clear idea that there was not really a problem. I cannot say if that was the problem, because the real problem is that when we have tyres working outside the working range of conditions, then we are suffering. This is the problem.

“It is not only related to that. It is related to a lot of factors, and it would be great to have a clear vision of all of that because it would mean we have solved that issue. That is something we need to work on flat out, to be honest.”

Pirelli trying to help the environment

Pirelli tyres has revealed how it has adopted a ‘green technology’ programme to protect the environment.

Pirelli has been using this technology since 2002 in Italy, and also used it throughout its return to single-seater competition last year with the GP2 season.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, said: “The environment has always been extremely high on our agenda at Pirelli. The way that we dispose of the tyres is firm evidence of this: in fact, the road surfaces that spectators drive on to get to grands prix in future could well be made up of some of our recycled tyres…”

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Tyre Checking Timeline

1. Tyre pressure

Check your tyre pressures once a month and before long journeys.

A tyre can actually be quite under inflated without looking “flat”. So you should check the pressures regularly, particularly before a long journey. The right pressure is one factor in the safety and longevity of your tyres.

Ideally, check pressures when the tyres are cold; this means that they have not been used in the last 2 hours, or they have covered less than 2 miles at low speeds. Any tyre not in this “cold” condition is considered to be “hot”.

If the tyres are “hot” when they are checked:

• Add 4 to 5 psi (0.3 bar) to the pressures recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Never reduce the pressure of a “hot” tyre, even if the pressure is above the recommended level.
• Re-check the pressures when the tyres are cold.

In cases of unusual pressure loss, have the internal and external condition of the tyre, the condition of the wheel and the valve checked by a tyre specialist.

Inflation with nitrogen does not dispense with the need for regular tyre pressure maintenance as specified above.

Recommended tyre inflation pressures for your vehicle can normally be found in the vehicle handbook or on a label fixed on the vehicle, for example on the door frame or the fuel filler cap. Use the pressures relating to your tyre sizes and vehicle load/speed conditions.

2. Tread Depth

Check your tyres’ tread depth and general condition regularly.

Tyres must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1.6 mm.  This is because you may no longer be driving with sufficient safety and you may be breaking the law. Tread depth gauges can be purchased from tyre specialists.

3. Suspension alignment

A good time to get your suspension alignment checked is at a service or prior to an MOT.

If the suspension alignment (tracking) on your vehicle is incorrect, then road holding may be affected and your safety could be at risk. It’s not always possible to feel if your suspension alignment ‘is out’. You may have hit a kerb or pothole, which could have put your suspension out of alignment without you noticing. It’s a good idea to have a tyre specialist periodically check if any tracking adjustments are necessary, for example at a service or before an MOT.

4. Balancing

If tyres are being rotated around the vehicle, check the balance at the same time. Tyre rotation is usually done every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

There is a great deal of confusion between tracking and balancing. Tracking concerns adjusting the angles of the wheels, while balancing allows the tyres to spin without vibrating. Balancing prevents premature wear of the tyre, and also protects the vehicle’s suspension, steering systems and bearings. This contributes significantly to passenger comfort.

5. Valves

It’s essential for safety reasons to replace tyre valves every time the tyres are changed.

The valve plays a very important part in keeping your tyre airtight. It is subjected to high pressure and gradually deteriorates due to the forces put on it from the rotation of the wheel. These forces are quite dramatic. At 62mph the valve has a force of 1.7 kg pulling on it. It’s essential to have the valve replaced each time a tyre is changed. This will contribute to the life expectancy and safety of your tyres.

It could prove a false economy to compromise the life of your tyres, or even your personal safety, for the sake of the price of a new valve. Be sure to check carefully with your tyre dealer that they’ve replaced the valves when they change your tyres.

Found from the Michelin Website.

Tyre Tip #9 – tyre repairs have a safety mark?

Tyre repairs are governed by British Standard which divides tyre repairs into two sections; major repair and minor repair.

The BS also defines the limits to location, size and number of repairs that can be carried out and makes recommendations on the repair material to be used.

A tyre repair then, is not as straight forward as you first might think, it is important that a tyre must always be checked thoroughly by a specialist, before it is deemed repairable.

A tyre should not be repaired if it shows signs of ageing or deterioration of the rubber, cuts, cracks or run flat damage. Similarly, if the tyre has suffered bead damage, exposed cords or from a poor repair previously and if the tyre has 1.6mm of tread or less then the tyre must not be repaired.

Need some help?

If you are in any doubt that a tyre may or may not be repairable then do not repair it. For safety’s sake it is better to err on the side of caution.

Always seek qualified advice and a recommendation after the tyre has been inspected both externally and internally for damage, by a qualified person.

It is also worth noting that a ‘tyre repair’ is not always the most economical solution available. For example, if the tyre tread depth is low, the cost of the repair may be greater than the value of the remaining tread depth. Therefore you may wish to consider how long the tyre could last and how much mileage you expect to cover annually before you have the tyre repaired. Ask a specialist for a tyre quotation before having the tyre repaired as the most effective solution may simply be to replace the tyre.

Tyre Tip #8 – Changing your tyre in emergency

You can’t always get down to a Jet garage when you are in an emergency unfortunately.

But here is a tip to help you change your tyre yourself in an emergency.

Be able to change your tyre in an emergency situation..

- make sure you have the correct jack available for your car.

- lift the car using your jack, enough space off the floor for you to get the tyre off easily.

- be sure to always carry tyre changing tools in the boot of your car.

- if you are on a busy road/motorway and have to change a tyre, be sure to have your hazards on to alarm people behind you.

Manfords car mishap

Once again, tyre safety has been brought to the fore by a very serious incident which thankfully ended well in this case.

One Show presenter and stand-up comedian Jason Manford was left feeling very lucky, after he managed to walk away unscathed from a double tyre blow out on the M6 motorway.

Jason was travelling to a gig in Swindon in the fast lane at around 70mph when the incident happened.

Both tyres on the driver’s side blew out leaving the driver fighting for control, he managed to steer the car safely through two lanes of traffic and stop on the hard shoulder.

Being over inflated can cause poor vehicle handling and under inflated can cause them to over heat and can make the tyres wear too quickly.

Tyre Safety check

With the weather changing when it likes at the moment, its really important that you check your tyres before you go out.

Even though the weather may be heavy rain and you don’t want to check them, its a safety hazard if you don’t.

Current UK law requires car tyres to have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tyre, around its whole circumference.

The easiest way to check this is to follow the TyreSafe 20p test – simply insert a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of their car’s tyres. If the outer rim of the coin is covered by the tread, this indicates sufficient tread depth to be safe and legal. If the outer rim of the coin is visible, it is likely you need new replacements.

Bridgestone tyres still missing.

The Bridgestone tyres were stolen in Brierley Hill in July, and are worth up to £50,000 and have actually got a specific pattern on them that means they cannot be sold onto independant retailers, having a yellow and red dot are the ones that have been stolen.

The whole HGV truck was stolen and that has now been found but no tyres, so 650 tyres have been moved from it and the police are still wanting to find them.

“Unfortunately there is no CCTV footage available for us to identify the offenders but I would ask member of the public to contact Dudley Police if they know where these tyres might be stored or if they have been approached to buy or sell the tyres on,” PC Leech commented. Anyone with relevant information can contact Dudley Police on 0345 113 5000.

Tyre tip #7 - storage of tyres.

Even when they’re not being used, tyres can find themselves being dangerous.

Unless they are assembled and inflated, tyres should never be stored in stacks for long periods of time and you should avoid crushing the tyres under objects.

- In a ventilated, dry and temperate area, protected from direct sunlight and precipitation

- Away from any chemicals, solvents or hydrocarbons

- Away from any object capable of penetrating the rubber, pointed metal, wood.

Tyre Tip #6 - Check tyres before MOT

During a MOT inspection, the tester will check the tread on the tyre is at least 1.6mm deep across the central three quarters of the tread width going around the complete circumference of the tyre.

You may wish to bring your vehicle into Jet Tyres for a quick tyre check before under going a MoT test, as it can help alot, some people don’t realise that your tyres can be a safety hazard and its best to check them regularly yourself and get them check professionally often.