The Kevin Burke Tyres team is constantly being asked about tyre maintenance and the regulations that come with that, and they love it.
Tyres are their world at KBT, but for those who need some help, it is handy to get advice!.
"The minute you own your first car or van, there is an awful lot to look after and keep an eye out for with tyres being one of them," the team says. " We’ve plenty of advice to share, and if there isn’t enough mentioned here, remember you can always give us a call."
1. SAFETY
"First things first, make sure not to drive using tyres that are defective or worn in any way. If you do, you’re risking an eighty euro fine and up to four penalty points on your license, if convicted. The minute you see a defect or the tyre getting a little worn, hop to the closest tyre depot and get it looked at."
2. TYRE BRAND
"We’re often asked if you need to use the same brand of tyre for the whole vehicle. The quick answer is no. All you need to do is ensure that you have the same type of tyre/wheel on each axle, otherwise you’ll struggle to pass the road worthiness test."
3. TYRE AGE
"You might also wonder whether the tyre’s age matters and to a degree, it does. For instance they can be six years old, but can’t have any defects and they need to meet the legal tread depth. That being said, the team here at KBT want you to know that the more tread depth, the safer they’ll be to use. Brand new tyres straight out of the factory have an impressive 8mm tread depth, that’s a big difference. We wouldn’t recommend using tyres that are pushing close to the legal limit."
4. TREAD DEPTH
"For those of you who want to keep a close eye on that tread depth ensuring to get the last wear out of those tyres, there are many ways to check. If you want to have a rough idea yourself you can always carry a euro coin with you! Place the coin between the grooves in the centre of the wheel. You don’t want to be able to see the gold in that coin and If you do, it means the tread is very low and reaching its limit. Remember checking it this way is a guideline so pop in to your local Kevin Burke Tyres and ask a member of the team to check for you if you want that expert reassurance."
5. PUNCTURES
"It never hurts to think what if when it comes to tyres, and one thing you need to be prepared for is a puncture. You’ll need to know what your options are but also what not to do. To mend a puncture, it is legal to plug the tyre but make sure to also plug the treaded area of the wheel. NEVER apply the plug to the sidewall. Remember it’s a temporary solution, you’ll need to replace the tyre with a new one as soon as you have the opportunity.
"If you have further questions about maintaining your tyres or any other tyre issues, call our team on 091 845329, alternatively if you would prefer to see a member of our team in person you can visit any one of our three locations (Galway City, Athenry and Gort )."
