Tyres
All tyres that we sell are E marked and covered by the relevant tyre manufacturer’s guarantee as a matter of course.
Additionally, we offer a no hassle guarantee should there be a problem with a tyre sold by us as a result of a manufacturing error.
- If your tyre is less than 20% worn … No hassle direct free replacement on a like for like basis.
- If your tyre is more than 20% worn … Pro rata allowance based on treadwear remaining i.e. (40% of the tyre worn then you pay 40% and we cover 60% of the replacement cost.
Guarantee subject to certain terms and conditions available on request but nothing too awkward.
What makes a good tyre!
The major tyre companies spend millions of euro each year on research and development, so although a premium tyre may look almost identical to a budget alternative, there are often big differences. These include…….
Rubber compound
Like baking a good cake, it isn’t only what goes into the mixture, it’s the ratio of each ingredient and how they are all mixed together. Making a tyre that excels in one area-such as cornering in the dry-isn’t difficult, but road cars need to perform well in the wet too and also have decent lasting.
Tread Pattern
The pattern comes into play especially when the road is wet. Like the bow of a ship, a good design should cut through the water, allowing the rubber to make contact with the road. The groves need to dispel the water away from the contact patch, because failure to do so results in aquaplaning and maybe even an accident.
Internal Structure/skeleton
A good structure keeps the contact patch consistent and allows the tyre/tread pattern to do its work more effectively in all conditions especially the wet.
Speed symbols on tyres/ what do they mean?
How to explain this without using complicated jargon won’t be too easy but we’ll try. On the sidewall of every tyre there is a load of information some of it useful such as the tyre size, handy when reordering your next set. Beside the size is the load index which is the amount of weight the tyre can carry at a given air pressure and at a set speed also indicated on the tyre which when multiplied by 4 (4 wheels under the car) gives you the total weight the tyres are able to carry, this must be the same as the manufacturers advised weight otherwise you need to fit bigger tyres or those with a higher load index.
Speed Rating
This is identified on the tyre sidewall by a letter that follows the tyre size i.e. 175/65R14 82H, H being the speed symbol in the above example. This symbol corresponds both to a max. Speed of use and to a level of overall performance between road holding, grips, an enjoyable drive and, of course, safety.
I heard a very good non-scientific explanation of speed ratings once that stuck in my mind as being very practical if a little coarse and rude (forgive me).
S = slow coach
T = Town driving
H = High speed inclinations
V = Very high speed Dreamer
W = Wanker of a boy racer
Z = Zombie dead before his time…….
As already mentioned the above bear no relationship to any scientific facts or results………… but!
Below please see actual load and speed index chart as applying to most people carriers and family saloons.
{Chart to go here}
