Tyre care is essential for maintaining car safety.

Tyres are the only parts of the car which are in contact with the road. Safety in acceleration, braking, steering and cornering all depend on a relatively small area of road contact. It is therefore of paramount importance that tyres should be maintained in good condition at all times and that when the time comes to change them the correct replacements are fitted.

The original tyres for a car are determined by joint consultation between the car and tyre manufacturers and take into account all aspects of operation. It is recommended that changes in tyre size or type should not be undertaken without seeking advice from the car or tyre manufacturers, as the effect on car handling, safety and clearances must be taken into account.

Tyre care is essential for maintaining car safety. Tyres should be checked on a regular basis and before any long driving trips. Correctly maintained tyres will improve fuel economy, tyre life and safety.

Tyre Wear
Worn and damaged tyres can be unsafe to drive on. It is important to regularly check your tyres for wear and damage.
Tread pattern must be at least 1.5mm deep across the entire surface of the tyre.
Tread wear indicator bars are moulded across the tread at regular spacings around the tyre. These can help to tell if your tyre needs replacing or not.
When the tread wears the wear bar may be level with the tread blocks. The letters TWI are often moulded into the edge of the tyre tread at the wear bar locations.
Tread helps pump water out from between the tyre and road.  Tyre grip on a wet road reduces considerably as the tread wears down.
It is a good idea to think about replacing worn tyres before they reach their minimum legal tread depth.

The following may also indicate that your tyres are unsafe:
Tyres must not have any deep cuts, bulges or exposed cords.
The tread pattern must be the original pattern - that is, the tyre must not have been re-grooved.
Vibrations in the steering may indicate the tyres require balancing.
Uneven wear patterns indicate possible wheel alignment or suspension problems

Tyre Pressure
Tyre pressure should be checked regularly (every 2 weeks and before any long trips) to ensure tyres have enough air in them. Correctly pumped up tyres can help to save fuel and handle better on the road.Check tyre pressure when tyres are cold. The recommended pressure for your tyres can be found in the owner's manual.

• Don't forget to check your spare tyre.