Car tyres - daft question!

[veggiechicken]

So where does the "safety" come in?

I threw mine out and bought a grown-up one.

Didn't they bring in the safety tyres as a way of reducing the weight of the car (to improve mpg) and freeing up space in the boot (to make you think it was bigger than it was).

[cardiffsteve]

Go to Atlas Tyres in Cathays, VC.
They're very good and just tell them you want one tyre and that's what they'll do.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Steve

[veggiechicken]

I'm only getting rid of my jinx because well, it's been a jinx from day one. Plus I've never had a brand new car.

Aww - your first new car That really is exciting

[Bigmallly]

I think for the extra £50, I'll order the spare tyre just for piece of mind........Sorry VC, you can have your thread back..........

[veggiechicken]

Happy to share BM. I have my answer

[cardiffsteve]

Only problem with a new car is you'll be worried about people bumping it in car parks.
Especially in supermarkets.

Happy new car BM.

[Bigmallly]

Funny you should say that Steve as I was thinking exactly the same only my concern was parking at work as that was where I got mine pranged. I just need to be a bit more aware of where I park I reckon & keep fingers crossed.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Nowt todo with fuel savings, these things are just space savers. It's not a question of being a safety thing either as they would of course need to be safe. As for one new tyre or two, as long as a tyre has the necessary legal tread, it is ok to use even if there is a new tyre on the other side of the car. Wheel balancing isn't balancing one tyre against another either. It's balancing that wheel only. With a valve at one side of the wheel for example, that could cause a vibration and a weight is attached to the rim to rectify the imbalance.

Maybe consider moving one of the rear tyres to the front of the car and swapping with the older tyre that is not being replaced as the rear tyres don't usually wear as quickly and should havemore tread if that is causing concern.

I just put a budget tyre on the back of my car yesterday. Pennies off £75 and that is budget.

[ugley_matt]

Bear in mind that the contact patch for all for wheels (the bit thats actualy touching the road) is about the size if a sheet of a4 paper and all thats stopping you from going off the road. Always get the best tyres you can afford, not the most expensive mind you.

[bearded bloke]

VC,while you are at the tyre place as them to rotate the wheels.Put both rears on the front,the new tyre & the unused spare on the rear,then keep the good used front as the spare.
The used tyres will steer & brake better than the new ones.



Space saver tyres actually are more fuel efficient as a spare compared to full size,firstly by reducing the overall weight of the vehicle,secondly by the improved underbody aerodynamics reducing drag.



Money saving tip ....... go to .... Tyres Online | Cheap Tyres | Winter Tyres & Car Servicing UK ... enter tyre size,select tyre,select supply & fit,then you can choose from a list of local fitters,it is cheaper to do this way than going direct from the same fitter

[veggiechicken]

Thanks All
BB I found your link a bit scarey - put your car registration in and it tells you what tyres you need. I'd been crawling round trying to work out what - out of all the numbers - was the tyre size for ages. Never noticed how much is written on the side of a tyre before
Seems it'll be about £90+ (incl fitting) for a Bridgestone which is on the car now.
Re swapping rear tyres to front - I thought you were supposed to have the best ones on the front

[RedThorn]

I'm confuzzled now too, I've always moved the front's to the rear as they wear slower at the back and put the new 'un's in the front (before they ran out of tread...the ones that ended up on the back wheels that is)

[Mikey]

Only problem with a new car is you'll be worried about people bumping it in car parks.
Especially in supermarkets.

Happy new car BM.

When I had a new van 2 1/2 years ago I was very surprised by what some people will do. I've had two rear wiper covers nicked, a side rail end cap pinched, these aren't items that can fall off they take a lot of work to remove. What is wrong with people.

On a lighter note, I frequently rotate my tyres, my local garage don't charge for doing this, they are pretty good like that really.

[bearded bloke]

It's what the man from Michelin told us to do at the garage,but as with everything opinions will vary although Bridgestone say ........

Rotation is necessary because of the uneven wear characteristics of each wheel position on the vehicle. A good example is Front Wheel Drive vehicles which places braking, steering and driving forces on the front axle tyres

Tyre rotation