If you’re savvy enough to know your way around a tyre jack, you’ve likely made the garage rounds between seasons to purchase the perfect winter, summer or general all-weather wheels.
Whether based in the countryside or city centre, the standard car isn’t exactly a Formula 1 vehicle. But this doesn’t mean that tyres shouldn’t be treated with the same diligence as a professional pit team.
Whether you’re a regular off-roader who consistently burns through wheels or a casual driver who has decided to cut out the middleman for car maintenance, here’s what to know before purchasing fresh rubber.
- Exact measurements: Tyre measurements can be found on tyre’s sidewall. These figures are standardised, so once you know the numbers it’s easy to get your hands on the correct replacement. The RAC says an example of tyre size lettering is 205/55 R16 91W – where 205 is the tyre’s width in mm, 55 is the tyre’s side profile, R16 is the diameter of the wheel the tyre will fit, 91 is the tyre’s load index and W is the tyre’s speed rating.
- Season: On occasion, parts of the UK experience extreme weather. This might be heavy snow and black ice in the winter, and fiery hot tarmac in the summer. Either way, you’ll want appropriate rubber. According to Barum Tyres, winter tyres enhance stability by providing better resistance, grip, steering and reducing the braking distance. Summer tyres offer better braking, driving comfort, grip in bends and help lower fuel consumption.
- Terrain: All-terrain tyres are far more durable than the standard option. They are structured with more layers (plies) have a more open tread, extra traction, anti-chip properties, immense durability and so much more. They may be expensive, but they’ll save you from costly damages in the long haul.
Maintaining tyres after purchase
For tyres to be legal, they must have at least 1.6mm of tread depth, the same width as a 20p coin piece. Always check your tyres after long journeys, and especially following inclement weather to ensure they are road-safe.
We’ve created an online directory of the best online tyre retailers for all your vehicular needs.
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MyTyres
Self-described as Europe’s biggest online tyre retailer, MyTyres offers brilliantly speedy delivery thanks to partnerships with over 2,100 garages.
The company offer budget car tyres at discounted prices from a selection of world-renowned tyre brands. No matter what type of high-quality tyre you’re looking for, MyTyres has a vast selection of summer, winter, all-season and speciality tyres.
Tyre Shopper
Based in the UK, Tyre Shopper has a handy system that allows you to input your registration or the tyre size on your wheel for an instant match with a variety of budget options.
What’s more, they offer a mobile tyre fitting service at home or your local garage if you’re not comfortable changing tyres yourself.
The cherry on top? They offer a 24-hour call centre service for any and all tyre-related queries.
Halfords
Whether you’re in need of wheel alignment, puncture repair, tyre safety checks or same-day mobile tyre fitting, market leader Halfords does it all under one roof. Shop car, van, campervan and 4x4 tyres in one convenient place from an array of top brands.
ProTyre
We love how all of ProTyre’s prices include tyre fitting too, so you won’t be slammed with an eye-watering garage fee once you’ve made it to online check-out.
Just pop in your registration and postcode for an array of value-for-money tyre options to suit your needs.
You never know when flat tyres are going to strike, so ProTyre also has a program with Klarna. It means you can pay for hefty tyre purchases in instalments with 0 per cent APR. Now, that’s wallet-friendly.
Kwik Fit
If you can manage to get an appointment with your local Kwik Fit, they offer a great online tyre purchase service so you’re not met with any confusing costs when you visit the garage in person. They offer a lifetime mileage guarantee on all new tyres, express and mobile tyre fitting and exclusive online prices. You’ll also be able to browse summer, winter and all-season tyres, including tyre storage for spares.
eTyres
eTyres is the perfect option for those looking for same-day fitting. Tyres are sold with lifetime guarantees and the retailer always has an array of brilliant bargains and deals.
Right now, enjoy up to £40 of Pirelli tyres and snag up to £40 in Amazon vouchers when you buy two or more 17-inch Continental tyres. Don’t miss the deals page for extra tyre bargains.
Asda Tyres
That’s right, national grocer Asda does tyres too. They’re fitted locally at a garage near you and can be browsed via size, speed and your vehicle registration. Asda Tyres also offers a mobile tyre service and even does the dirty work, disposing of old tyres for you, meaning you have one less thing on your to-do list. They offer a range of budget, mid-range and premium brands.
Black Circles
With over two million customers served, an impressive Trustpilot rating and a fully fitted service offered at over 2,200 local garages, Black Circles is a solid online tyre retailer. Though their most popular tyre brand is Continental (one in four cards made in Europe is originally fitted out with Continental tyres), they also stock a vast range of other mid-range and premium options.