If you have new car tyres fitted rather than running your old ones into the ground, then it can add up to some noteworthy cost savings. This is the case whether you negotiate the high mountain passes of the Highlands or spend most of your time motoring on the M27 and M3 around Southampton. High-speed motorway driving, such as negotiating the M90 in Fife, as well as slower city roads, like the A3204 which passes over the River Itchen, cause wear and tear on tyres. The good news is that newer tyres will help to bear down on your expenditure regardless of where you drive. How is this so? Read on to find out.
1. Burn Less Fuel
To begin with, newer tyres tend to be more fuel efficient. When you have new and properly inflated tyres, your car’s rolling resistance should drop significantly. This means that whenever your wheels turn, it takes less energy from the car’s engine to produce the same forward motion. As a result, fitting a new set of tyres should mean that you see a drop in fuel consumption and longer breaks between visits to the petrol station to refuel.
2. Stay Legal on the Road
Fitting new tyres in Scotland or England is a must because the same rules on tread wear apply north and south of the border. If you have worn down tread and get stopped by the police, then it could result in a costly fine or fixed penalty notice. Call 01383626100 to book your car tyres in Dunfermline and the surrounding areas from Fife Autocentre or find a local tyre fitter near you. If not, your car insurance could be invalid, leading to even more unwanted and unnecessary expenses.
3. Avoid Debris
Being able to steer out of the way of trouble is a big part of what tyres offer drivers. If you have older tyres with rubber compounds that have started to deteriorate, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to steer. Nevertheless, your car’s handling is likely to be more unresponsive. If you end up hitting something in front of you on the road, you could easily face a hefty repair bill.
4. Brake in Time
Just like being able to swerve properly, new tyres also offer improved braking distances. Whether you live close to the Firth of Forth or the Solent, the quicker you are able to stop your car in an emergency the better. As tyres age, they produce longer and longer braking distances even if they are in a reasonable condition. Braking in time could mean the difference between having a collision and not. Even if you’re covered by insurance following an accident, your premiums will necessarily rise next year as a result of a claim.
5. Disperse Water Properly
The tread in new tyres – even budget models which are not particularly expensive – help to throw water on the road’s surface to one side meaning that the rubber can maintain contact with the tarmac even when it is wet. Rainy and sleety conditions are when costly accidents tend to occur. If there is standing water on the road, then the chances of aquaplaning go up significantly. To avoid such undesirable outcomes, and the costs that follow on from them, it is worth investing in a new set of water-dispersing tyres.
6. Avoid Premature Replacements
From Rosyth to Romsey, fitting new tyres offers better value for money compared to buying part-worn ones. Although you might be fitting newer tyres than those you currently have if you opt for second-hand ones, they can already be suffering from wear you might not be able to detect. Therefore, if you want to save money, it is better to purchase brand-new tyres in the long run.